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, December 31, 2007

December 29 - 31, 2007

Top News of the Day
Human Rights Defender - Hu Jia (胡佳)

著名维权人士胡佳以“颠覆国家政权”罪被捕 (Prominent Rights Defender Hu Jia Arrested for "Inciting Subversion")
Radio Free Asia, December 31, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/12/30/
hu_jia/

On December 27, Beijing police detained rights defender Hu Jia (胡佳) on suspicion of "inciting subversion." Authorities reportedly disconnected his family's telephone, mobile, and Internet lines, as well as seizing a computer and documents from his residence. Hu's wife Zeng Jinyan (曾金燕), also a rights defense activist, remains under house arrest.

Related Information
HRIC Press Statement: Protest the Detention of Hu Jia
Human Rights in China, December 28, 2007
http://www.hrichina.org/public/contents/item?item_
id=46164

News
Children
China Ratifies UN Protocol to Safeguard Children from Armed Conflicts
Xinhuanet, December 29, 2007
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-12/29/content_
7335132.htm


Death Penalty
重庆三名厅级干部因受贿被判刑 (Chongqing Court Convicts Three High Ranking Officials on Corruption Charges)
Xinhuanet, December 30, 2007
http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2007-12/30/
content_7341350.htm


抢劫坐台女并杀人抛尸长江 三恶魔一审被判极刑 (Anhui Court Sentences Trio to Death for Murdering Two Sex Workers)
Anhui Commercial News (via Xinhua), December 30, 2007
http://news.xinhuanet.com/legal/2007-12/30/content_
7340240.htm


Economic Development
中国城乡居民收入差距继续拉大 (Income Gap Between Urban and Rural Residents Further Widens)
Radio Free Asia, December 28, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/12/28/
shouru/


Human Rights
2007年公民维权篇大事记 (Xinhua Selects Top Ten Rights Defense Cases in 2007)
Xinhuanet, December 31, 2007
http://news.xinhuanet.com/legal/2007-12/31/content_
7343281.htm


Human Rights Defender - Hu Jia (胡佳)
China Detains AIDS Activist, Clears Guangdong Protests
Radio Free Asia, December 30, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/2007/12/30/china_
olympics_rights/


Human Rights Defender - Li Guotao (李国涛)
李国涛已被软禁一个半月 (Shanghai Democracy Activist Li Guotao under House Arrest for 1.5 Months)
Radio Free Asia, December 30, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/12/30
/liguotao/


Human Rights Defender - Guo Feixiong (郭飞雄)
Chinese Rights Lawyer Beaten, Staging Hunger Strike in Prison
Radio Free Asia, December 28, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/english/china/2007/12/28/china_template/

Human Rights Defenders
三门峡失地农民代表被关押半月不准家人探视 (Families Barred from Visiting Detained Sanmen Gorge Farmers on State Security Grounds)
Radio Free Asia, December 28, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/xinwen/2007/12/28/china_
rights_rural/


Law
China's Top Legislature Approves Minister Nomination, Adopts a Number of Bills
Xinhuanet, December 31, 2007
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-12/29/content_
7334599.htm


Media
私人短片网上禁播 (New Regulations Require Internet Users to Seek Approval for Posting Audio and Visual Programmes Online)
Ming Pao, December 31, 2007
http://www.mingpaonews.com/20071231/cac1.htm

North Korea
China to Allow over 40 North Korean Refugees to Leave: Report
Agence France-Presse (via YahooNews), December 30, 2007
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20071230/wl_afp/nkoreaskore
achinausrightsrefugees_071230055621;_ylt=Ap5JOU.855JtE
2AKvcBpMbBPzWQA
230055621;_ylt=Ap5JOU.855JtE2AKv
cBpMbBPzWQA


Olympics
Beijing’s Olympic Quest: Turn Smoggy Sky Blue
New York Times, December 29, 2007
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/29/world/asia/29china.
html?hp


Protests and Petitions
广东掘墓千警民冲突 (One Thousand Guangdong Villagers Clash with Police over Burial Arrangement)
Ming Pao, December 31, 2007
http://www.mingpaonews.com/20071231/cca1.htm

Three Gorges
China's Massive Dam Project Causes Worry
Associated Press (via YahooNews), December 31, 2007
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071229/ap_on_re_as/china
_s_troubled_dam_2;_ylt=Ag_VmwnVKhD1JLfP6gDCunRP
zWQA
VmwnVKhD1JLfP6gDCunRPzWQA