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.

Monday, May 21, 2007

May 19 – 21, 2007

Top News of the Day
Human Rights Defenders - Zeng Jinyan (曾金燕) / Hu Jia (胡佳)

Aids Activist, Wife Barred from Trip
South China Morning Post, May 21, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZ91EQXH1F.html
Beijing-based activist Hu Jia and his wife Zeng Jinyan have been barred from traveling to Europe and were put under house arrest on May 18 on "suspicion of endangering national security." Hu believes the ban was aimed at stopping them from contacting "influential people" overseas to alert them to the human rights situation in China in the run-up to the Beijing Olympic Games. Zeng believes that the ban may be related to her being named by Time magazine as one of this year's 100 most influential people in the world.

News
Bilateral Ties
Howard Shrugs Off Dalai Lama Issue
South China Morning Post, May 19, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZ1RDQXH1F.html

Civil Society
Chinese Activists Looking to Africa
Christian Science Monitor, May 21, 2007
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0521/p01s02-woap.html

Environment
Pledges on Air Quality After Top Athletes Fall Ill
South China Morning Post, May 21, 2007
http://www.scmp.com/topnews/ZZZP2W5RV1F.html

Food Security
China a Top Violator of US Food Standards: Reports
Agence France-Presse (via YahooNews), May 21, 2007
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070521/wl_asia_afp/uschi
nafoodtrade_070520203417;_
ylt=AusTkR07YlXhN0jSYVA
cn1BPzWQA


Government
中国评论﹕安全为上 应公布检查报告 (Commentary: China Should Publish Report on Qinghai-Tibet Railway)
Ming Pao, May 21, 2007
http://www.mingpaonews.com/20070521/cat1.htm

Human Rights Defender - Zhu Yufu (朱虞夫)
朱虞夫父子正式被捕 (China Formally Arrests Rights Defender Zhu Yufu and His Son)
Radio Free Asia, May 18, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/xinwen/2007/05/18/china_d
issident_trial/


Human Rights Defender - Chen Shuqing (陈树庆)
中国民主党杭州成员陈树庆狱中绝食抗议被长期关押 (Hangzhou-Based China Democracy Party Member Chen Shuqing Launches Hunger Strike over Prolonged Detention)
Radio Free Asia, May 18, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/xinwen/2007/05/18/china
_dissident_detain/


Labor
Officials Try to Shirk Responsibilities for Injuries at Illegal Pits
South China Morning Post, May 19, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZXQZE0I1F.html

Land Policy
夏洁:四合院是我的家 (Owner Tries to Protect Beijing Quadrangle from Demolition)
The Beijing News, May 21, 2007
http://news.thebeijingnews.com/0554/2007/05-21/018@26
3658.htm


Law
Debate on Ideology Defined Property Law's Formation
South China Morning Post, May 21, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZTZPUQV1F.html

Olympics
Minister Decries Linking of Darfur and Olympics
South China Morning Post, May 19, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZLQZE0I1F.html

Thousands from Christian Mission Groups Plan to Defy Ban at Games
South China Morning Post, May 19, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZ11EQXH1F.html

Protests and Petitions
广西多镇苏乱烧政府楼 (Angry Guangxi Residents Set Government Buildings on Fire over One-Child Policy)
Ming Pao, May 21, 2007
http://www.mingpaonews.com/20070521/cca1h.htm

湖北十堰市警察拘留女访民和她八岁的儿子 (Hubei Police Detain Female Petitioner and Her 8-Year-Old Son)
Radio Free Asia, May 18, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/xinwen/2007/05/18/china_
petition_detain/


Public Health
Cancer Eating Away at Jiangsu
South China Morning Post, May 21, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZD2W5RV1F.html

Hong Kong
Teachers Tread Warily on the History of June 4
South China Morning Post, May 21, 2007
http://hongkong.scmp.com/hknews/ZZZVFS5RV1F.html

Tiananmen Leaders Must Also Be Condemned, Says Adviser
South China Morning Post, May 21, 2007
http://hongkong.scmp.com/hknews/ZZZR0QUQV1F.html