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.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

March 17, 2009

Top News

Human Rights Defender- Yao Fuxin (姚福信)
China Labour Leader Freed after 7 Years in Jail
Agence France-Presse (via Google), March 17, 2009
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hZCINfI4r4UzOK3o0zYwqaxTvL0
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Prominent labor activist Yao Fuxin (姚福信) was released from prison on Monday after serving out his seven-year term. Yao was detained in 2002 after speaking at a peaceful demonstration on behalf of workers demanding back wages and pension payments and charged with “subversion of state power.” Yao endured beatings and persecution from other inmates while in prison.

Related News
Labor Leader Activist Yao Fuxin is Released after Completing Seven-Year Term
Human Rights in China, March 16, 2009
http://hrichina.org/public/contents/143850

Food Security
Fake Food Cases in '08 at 76,500
Xinhua (via China Daily), March 17, 2009
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2009-03/16/content_7581236.htm

河南毒奶粉受害者家长因拒领补偿金受恐吓 (Father Threatened for Refusing Tainted Milk Compensation Money)
Radio Free Asia, March 16, 2009
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/dunai-03162009165101.html

Hong Kong
Diplomats Voice Fears over Macau Entry Row
South China Morning Post, March 17, 2009
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0
a0/?vgnextoid=16c3f24d5af00210VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Human Rights Defenders
Chinese Journalist Stranded in Thailand
Radio Free Asia, March 16, 2009
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/Stranded-03162009115613.html

Labor
陕西安康首例“黑砖厂虐工案”一审主犯被判刑 (Sentencing Reached in Shaanxi Brick Kiln Case)
Xinhuanet, March 17, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/legal/2009-03/17/content_11024593.htm

Media
Officials Ban Media from Plagiarism Court Case
South China Morning Post, March 15, 2009
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0
a0/?vgnextoid=632ef2a880600210VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Police
3 More Prison Deaths Highlight Need for Reform
South China Morning Post, March 17, 2009
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0
a0/?vgnextoid=c717f24d5af00210VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Protests and Petitions

Villagers Arrested after Dam Relocation Protest
South China Morning Post, March 17, 2009
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0
a0/?vgnextoid=7ed6f24d5af00210VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

大陆两万名复员军官投诉总政治部 (20 Thousand Demobilized Officers File Complaint against Military)
Radio Free Asia, March 16, 2009
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/jundui-03162009133902.html

Public Health

Gravel Factory Link to Fatal Disease
Shanghai Daily, March 16, 2009
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/article/?id=394418

Religion
Vatican Sets Up Chinese Web Site
China Post, March 17, 2009
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/china/national-news/2009/03/17/200391/Vatican-sets.htm

Society
Crime Warning in Guangdong
South China Morning Post, March 17, 2009
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0
a0/?vgnextoid=6af6f24d5af00210VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

State Security
中國加強監管外國人測繪 (China to Strengthen Supervision over Surveying and Mapping by Foreigners)
Ming Pao, March 16, 2009
http://www.mpinews.com/htm/INews/20090316/ca11511c.htm

Tibet
'Modern Redesign' of Lhasa Approved
South China Morning Post, March 17, 2009
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0
a0/?vgnextoid=d6e8045777210210VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Bomb Blast in Tibetan Area: Police
Agence France-Presse (available at YahooNews), March 17, 2009
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090317/wl_asia_afp/chinatibetunrestblast

XUAR
China Jails 2 Ethnic Minorities for Protests
Associated Press (available at YahooNews), March 17, 2009
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090317/ap_on_re_as/as_china_restive_west