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, September 21, 2007

September 21, 2007

Top News of the Day
Human Rights Defender – Mao Hengfeng (毛恒凤)

上海访民毛恒凤狱中遭受虐待 (Mao Hengfeng Abused in Prison)
Radio Free Asia, September 20, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/09/20/
maohengfeng/

Shanghai petitioner Mao Hengfeng (毛恒凤) is abused in prison. She was placed under solitary confinement for 70 days, in violation of the Prison Law and relevant international standards. Moreover, Mao has refused to wear a prison uniform as a protest of her innocence, and is thus forced to stay in her cell without clothes on. Mao has petitioned on the one-child policy since 1989. In January 2007, she was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for breaking two table lamps in protest of her detention by the Shanghai authorities in a guesthouse.

Related Information
HRIC Press Release: Mao Hengfeng Protests Abusive Confinement
Human Rights in China, September 19, 2007
http://www.hrichina.org/public/contents/item?item_
id=45049


News
Civil Society

天网获得台湾拨款 款项却被中国银行冻结 (Bank of China Freezes Funds for Human Rights Website from a Taiwan Foundation)
Radio Free Asia, September 20, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/09/20
/tianwang/


Corruption
Corruption Declining, Graft-Buster Says
South China Morning Post, September 21, 2007
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ec
b329d3d7733492d9253a0a0
a0/?vgnextoid=bb3a4a6a07
325110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD&ss=China&s=Ne


Human Rights Defender - Lu Gengsong (吕耿松)
吕耿松案被以涉密禁律师介入 (Lu Gengsong Barred from Appointing Lawyers as Case Involves State Secrets)
Radio Free Asia, September 20, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/09/20/lu/

Media
China Tightens Grip Ahead of Congress
BBC, September 21, 2007
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6992946.stm

More Talk Shows Put Off the Air
South China Morning Post, September 21, 2007
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62e
cb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0
a0/?vgnextoid=fa7a4a6a073
25110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD&ss=China&s=News


网络火星文日趋流行 (Code Words Challenge China's Internet Censorship)
Radio Free Asia, September 20, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/09/20/
huoxingwen/


Olympics
Beijing to Ban Smoking in Cabs
China Daily, September 20, 2007
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2007-09/20/content_
6122941.htm


China Lays Olympic Torch Path to Everest
Associated Press (via YahooNews), September 20, 2007
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070920/ap_on_re_as/china
_olympics_everest_1;_ylt=Au
k41bnef1xFzHK_tMBzAr9PzWQA

Politics
China Values Opinion Polls in Promoting Senior Cadres
Xinhuanet, September 21, 2007
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-09/21/content_
6762418.htm


Population
China's 'Perfect Child' Generation
BBC, September 21, 2007
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7001561.stm

Protests and Petitions
安徽学生抗议食堂伙食费大幅上涨发生骚乱 (Anhui Students Riot over Drastic Surge in Food Price)
Radio Free Asia, September 20, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/09/20/
anhui/


驻京办羁押访民业务外判 执法性质的商业服务? (Henan's Government Regional Office in Beijing Outsources the Detention of Petitioners to Private Companies)
Radio Free Asia, September 20, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/09/20/
petitioners/


Religion
China Protests US Criticism over Religious Freedom
Agence France-Presse (via YahooNews), September 20, 2007
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070920/wl_asia_afp/usrelig
ionrightschina_0709200701
43;_ylt=
AiUS4AYFWVlNEWLqBsSag9NPzWQA


China Slashes U.S. Criticism of China's Religious Situation
Xinhuanet, September 20, 2007
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-09/20/content_
6762119.htm


Tibet
Don't Meet the Dalai Lama, China Urges Foreign Leaders
South China Morning Post, September 21, 2007
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ec
b329d3d7733492d9253a0a0
a0/?vgnextoid=bff94a6a07
325110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD&ss=China&s=News


China Detains Tibetan Boys over Graffiti Calling for Dalai Lama's Return
Reuters (via Phayul), September 20, 2007
http://www.phayul.com/news/article.aspx?id=17967&
article=China+detains+Tibetan+boy
s+over+graffiti+calling
+for+Dalai+Lama's+return&t=1&c=1