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.

Thursday, January 10, 2008

January 10, 2008

Top News of the Day
Human Rights Defender - Yuan Weijing (袁伟静)
独家报道:德国记者欲访袁伟静未成行 陈光诚家人遭围困威胁恐吓 (German TV Station Prevented from Interviewing Yuan Weijing; Chen Guangcheng's Family Threatened)
Radio Free Asia, January 09, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/01/09/
yuan/

Shandong authorities prevented a German TV crew from interviewing Yuan Weijing (袁伟静) on January 9. A German journalist told Yuan on January 7 that they wanted to interview her on January 9. On January 8, the Public Security Bureau (PSB) of Yinan County, Shandong Province, reportedly called Yuan's brother-in-law Chen Guangfu (陈光福), telling him that the German crew would not be able to interview Yuan even if they entered her village. As a result the TV crew cancelled the interview the following morning. The PSB’s deputy director allegedly called Chen a traitor for having been repeatedly interviewed by foreign media, and told him that he could be arrested anytime. Yuan’s husband, blind human rights lawyer Chen Guangcheng (陈光诚), is in jail after revealing the presence of forced abortions in Linyi, Shandong Province.

News
Civil Society

In China, Grass-Roots Groups Stretch Limits on Activism
Wall Street Journal, January 09, 2008
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119980515239074901.html

Environment
Shoppers: It's BYO Bag in China
Associated Press (via YahooNews), January 10, 2008
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080110/ap_on_re_as/china
_plastic_bags_15;_ylt=AhqbHHeaXVax1E.eAplyVSNPzWQA

HeaXVax1E.eAplyVSNPzWQA

Beijing's Neighbors Report More Blue Sky Days in 2007
Xinhuanet, January 09, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-01/09/content_
7394475.htm


Human Rights Defender - Hu Jia (胡佳)
胡佳羁押期健康安全成疑虑 各方吁紧急关注病情 (Different Groups Concerned for Hu Jia's Health)
Radio Free Asia, January 09, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/01/09/
hujia/


Labor
Around the Nation - 3 Killed in Fireworks Factory Blast
South China Morning Post, January 10, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb
329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=dc877b93f7e5
7110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD&ss=China&s=News


重庆:硫化氢泄漏致5死13伤 出事的化工厂人员已全部疏散 (Five Chongqing Workers Die and 13 Injured in Hydrogen Sulfide Leakage Accident)
Nanfang City News, January 10, 2008
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/southnews/jwxy/20080
1100829.asp


Land Policy
江西丰城拆迁株连调查 (China Youth Daily Looks Into Eviction Tactics in Fengcheng, Jiangxi Province)
China Youth Daily, January 10, 2008
http://zqb.cyol.com/content/2008-01/10/content_2026961.htm

Law
本网独家披露:2008中国法院改革会有哪些大动作 (What Will Be the Big Reforms for China's Courts in 2008?)
Legal Daily, January 10, 2008
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/0705/2008-01/10/content_
778639.htm


Worker Given Life Sentence for ATM Windfall May Get Retrial
South China Morning Post, January 10, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb
329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=dd777b93f7e57
110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD&ss=China&s=News


Media
Reporter Receives Apology over Subpoena
South China Morning Post, January 10, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ec
b329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=de677b93f7e57
110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD&ss=China&s=News


Olympics
发改委称奥运期间北京将出台措施减少交通流量 (Beijing's Development and Reform Commission to Reduce Traffic During Olympics)
Jinghua Times (via Xinhua), January 10, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/society/2008-01/10/content_
7395960.htm


Rules Tightened for China Workers
British Broadcasting Corporation, January 09, 2008
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7179198.stm

Police
China to Start Prison Administration Reform Nationwide
Xinhuanet, January 09, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-01/09/content_
7394840.htm


City Staff Among 24 Held in China After Man Beaten to Death: Report
Agence France-Presse (via YahooNews), January 09, 2008
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080109/wl_asia_afp/chinar
ightsinspectorsbeating_080109192551;_ylt=AhokglS9nDL01a
7sWXvFxRFPzWQA
09192551;_ylt=AhokglS9nDL01a7sWXvF
xRFPzWQA


Protests and Petitions
湖北访民郑大靖在关押期间遭受毒打 (Hubei Petitioner Zheng Dajing Severely Beaten During Detention)
Radio Free Asia, January 09, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/01/09/
zheng_daijing/


200名北京市的经租户代表示威 (Two Hundred Beijing Private Apartment Owners Protest at Government Building)
Radio Free Asia, January 09, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/xinwen/2008/01/09/china_
rights_property/


永州教师不满薪资待遇罢课请愿 当局派防暴警察镇守 (Hunan Authorities Deploy Anti-Riot Police to Separate Protesting Teachers from Government Building)
Radio Free Asia, January 09, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/01/09/
hunan/


Religion
Differing Readings of the Bible in China
Asia Times Online, January 10, 2008
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/JA10Ad01.html