The HRIC Daily Brief is a daily selection of news stories and commentary related to human rights in China, drawn from Chinese- and English-language news and online media sources that we monitor daily. In addition to headlines and source links, HRIC also provides English translation of Chinese headlines.

Friday, February 20, 2009

February 20, 2009

Top News

Law
Human Rights Law Firm Ordered to Close
South China Morning Post, February 20, 2009
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=e2ab74622a29f110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Authorities in Beijing have ordered Yitong Law Firm to be shut down for six months, purportedly for allowing a lawyer to practice without a license. Yitong is known for defending well-known Chinese dissidents such as Hu Jia and Chen Guangcheng in court. It is believed that the action was taken to punish the firm after several of its lawyers signed an appeal for direct elections to the Beijing Lawyers Association last year.

Related News
Beijing Law Firm Faces Six-Month Shutdown for Attorneys’ Support of Direct Bar Election
Human Rights in China, February 19, 2009
http://www.hrichina.org/public/contents/132331
News

Death Penalty
今年起河南将全面采用注射方法执行死刑 (Henan to Switch to Lethal Injection Executions this Year)
Xinhuanet, February 18, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/legal/2009-02/18/content_10840774.htm

Government
Netizen Elected to National People's Congress
China.org.cn, February 19, 2009
http://www.china.org.cn/china/news/2009-02/19/content_17304218.htm

Labor
中国将建煤矿生产黑名单制度 重大隐患网上公布 (China to Create Coalmine Blacklist)
Xinhuanet, February 20, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2009-02/20/content_10855306.htm

Law
行政复议法酝酿修改 方向是逼退“官官相护” (Amendments to Improve Fairness of Administrative Reconsideration Law in Preparation)
Xinhuanet, February 20, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/legal/2009-02/20/content_10853455.htm

China Draft Law of Social Insurance Draws Nationwide Debate
Xinhuanet, February 19, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-02/19/content_10852445.htm

Macao
《南华早报》摄影记者遭澳门当局拒绝入境 (Hong Kong Photojournalist Blocked from Entering Macau)
Radio Free Asia, February 19, 2009
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/nanhua_zaobao-02192009092222.html

Military
Reports Vary on Death of Senior Military Official
South China Morning Post, February 20, 2009
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/
?vgnextoid=0eb06a7214f8f110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Multilateral
More Developing Nations Urged in Security Council
China Daily, February 20, 2009
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2009-02/20/content_7496481.htm

Olympics
Olympics Spending Still Not Inspected, Audit Chief Says
South China Morning Post, February 20, 2009
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/
?vgnextoid=2a8f6a7214f8f110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Police
Authorities Investigate Prison Death following Netizen Outcry
Xinhuanet, February 20, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2009-02/20/content_10852529.htm
Related News
“Hidden Cat”: A Prisoner’s Death Gives New Meaning to Children’s Game
Wall Street Journal, February 18, 2009
http://blogs.wsj.com/chinajournal/2009/02/18/hidden-cat-a-prisoners-death-gives-new-meaning-to-childrens-game/
Protests and Petitions
大批访民进京冀见希拉里 (Wave of Petitioners Go to Beijing with Hopes of Meeting Clinton)
Radio Free Asia, February 19, 2009
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/fangmin-02192009112002.html

Public Health
China Probes Kidney Stone Surge
BBC, February 19, 2009
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7899031.stm

Religion
Beijing is Blocking Many Catholic Websites
AsiaNews.it, February 20, 2009
http://www.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=14505&size=A

State Security
北京地铁安检检出迫击炮教练弹 拘留71人 (Dummy Explosive Discovered in Beijing Subway, 71 Detained)
Xinhuanet, February 20, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2009-02/20/content_10852651.htm

Tibet
Report: China Sentences 2 Nuns over Tibet Protests
Associated Press (available at YahooNews), February 20, 2009
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090220/ap_on_re_as/as_china_tibet

China Vows to 'Crush' Dalai Lama Supporters in Tibet
Telegraph.co.uk, February 19, 2009
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/tibet/4696475/China-vows-to-crush-Dalai-Lama-supporters-in-Tibet.html