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.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

March 17, 2010

Top news
Human Rights Defender – Gao Zhisheng (高智晟)

China Fails to Dispel Mystery about Missing Dissident
New York Times, March 16, 2010
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/17/world/asia/17china.html
Related news:
China Says Missing Dissident Not Being Tortured
Voice of America, March 16, 2010
http://www1.voanews.com/english/news/asia/China-says-Missing-Dissident-Not-Being-Tortured--87785347.html

高智晟国际拯救小组向联合国人权部门投诉 (Group of International Human Rights Specialists Files Official Complaint with UN Human Rights Council on Gao Zhisheng's Situation)
Radio Free Asia, March 16, 2010
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/China-Gao-03162010101918.html

德国呼吁释放高智晟 (Germany Calls for the Release of Gao Zhisheng)
Radio France Internationale, March 16, 2010
http://www.rfi.fr/actucn/articles/123/article_20061.asp

On March 16, 2010, Minister of Foreign Affairs Yang Jiechi (杨洁篪) stated in a news conference with British Foreign Secretary David Miliband that prominent rights defense lawyer Gao Zhisheng (高智晟) had been sentenced on charges of subversion of state power and imprisoned. He did not elaborate further on Gao’s location. Gao Zhisheng, who is well-known for representing politically sensitive cases and for his outspokenness, has been missing since February 2009, when he was seen being forcibly taken from his hometown by more than ten state security officers. In February 2010, the Chinese Embassy in the U.S. stated that Gao was working in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and that he had been in contact with his family; however Gao’s wife, Geng He, denies that she has had any contact with Gao since leaving China.


News
Civil Society

中国收紧NGO外汇捐赠管理 (China Tightens Management of Foreign Currency Donations to NGOs)
British Broadcasting Corporation, March 16, 2010
http://www.bbc.co.uk/zhongwen/simp/china/2010/03/100316_ana_china_ngo_donation.shtml

Environment
As Economy Booms, China Faces Major Water Shortage
The Washington Post, March 16, 2010
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/15/AR2010031503564.html

Hong Kong
Arrests Will Be Protest Focus in June 4 Event
South China Morning Post, March 17, 2010
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=c048f1fcf0867210VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Law
被征农地撂荒近十年 农民复耕被指敲诈勒索 (Guangdong Farmer Who Planted on Requisitioned Farm Land Left to Waste Tried, Accused of Extortion)
Southern Metropolis Daily, March 17, 2010
http://gcontent.nddaily.com/f/01/f016e59c7ad8b1d7/Blog/031/136036.html

Media
China Warns Google to Obey Rules Even If It Pulls Out
Reuters, March 16, 2010
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE62E11L20100316
Related news:
Google Partners in China Issue Plea to Web Giant
The Wall Street Journal, March 17, 2010
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB30001424052748704688604575125420301711134.html

美官與內地網民對話:Google談判不涉美政府 (U.S. Official: Google Negotiations Are between PRC and Google, Not Us)
Ming Pao, March 17, 2010
http://news.sina.com.hk/cgi-bin/nw/show.cgi/94/1/1/1460515/1.html
中国官方媒体指责诺贝尔和平奖成为反华工具 (Official Media Censures Nobel Peace Prize as Tool of Anti-China Forces)
Radio Free Asia, March 16, 2010
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/China-Nobel-03162010104504.html
Related information:
诺贝尔和平奖,中国不应躲着走 (China Should Not Hide from the Nobel Peace Prize)
Global Times, March 15, 2010
http://opinion.huanqiu.com/roll/2010-03/745176.html
Protests and Petitions
南通继续羁留两会期间被关押的访民 (Nantong, Jiangsu Authorities Continue to Detain Petitioners despite Calls for Release)
Radio Free Asia, March 16, 2010
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/China-petitioner-03162010104756.html

Public Health
China Defends Detention of Lead Poisoning Victims Who Sought Medical Help
The Guardian, March 16, 2010
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/mar/16/china-lead-poison-victims
Related news:
250 Kids Diagnosed with High Lead Levels
China Daily, March 17, 2010
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2010-03/17/content_9599800.htm
Taiwan
Public Has Reservations over Death Row Pardons: Premier
Central News Agency, March 16, 2010
http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=1204478