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, January 14, 2008

January 12 - 14, 2008

Top News of the Day
Human Rights Defender - Lü Gengsong (吕耿松)

简要新闻∶杭州网络作家吕耿松被起诉 (Hangzhou-based Internet Writer Lü Gengsong Indicted)
Radio Free Asia, January 11, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/xinwen/2008/01/11/
Hangzhou-based Internet writer Lü Gengsong (吕耿松) will stand trial on January 22, 2008, on charges of "inciting subversion of state power." The Hangzhou Intermediate People's Court called Lü’s wife, Wang Xue'e (汪雪娥), telling Wang that the procuratorate submitted Lü's indictment to the court on January 10 and sent a copy to Lü. Lü has recently been involved in different rights defense activities.

Related Information
HRIC Press Release: Writer Lü Gengsong Indicted
Human Rights in China, January 11, 2008
http://www.hrichina.org/public/contents/46847


News
Death Penalty

全国首个规定故意杀人死刑案件证据规则引关注 (China's First Circular Standardizing Regulations Concerning Evidence in Murder Cases Draws Attention)
Legal Daily, January 14, 2008
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/0705/2008-01/14/content_
780523.htm


Environment
China Bans Free Plastic Bags
Voice of America, January 12, 2008
http://www.voanews.com/english/2008-01-12-voa16.cfm

Human Rights Defender - Yue Tianxiang (岳天祥)
简要新闻∶甘肃天水民运人士岳天祥刑满出狱 (Gansu Democracy Activist Yue Tianxiang Released from Jail)
Radio Free Asia, January 12, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/xinwen/2008/01/12/xiwen/

Human Rights Defender - Jing Chu (荆楚)
简要新闻: 广西异议作家荆楚被取保候审释放 (Guangxi-based Dissident Writer Jing Chu Released on Bail Pending Further Investigation)
Radio Free Asia, January 12, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/xinwen/2008/01/12/xiwen/

Labor
China Says Coal mine Deaths Fall One Fifth in 2007
Reuters, January 12, 2008
http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSPEK329219

China Frees Brick Kiln Slaves and Then Loses Them
Reuters, January 11, 2008
http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/
idUSPEK31987820080111


广东蓄电池厂工人普遍铅中毒 (Workers in a Guangdong Battery Factory Suffer Lead Poisoning)
Radio Free Asia, January 11, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/xinwen/2008/01/11/china_
labor_protection/


Over 100,000 Died in China Work Accidents in 2007
Reuters, January 11, 2008
http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/
idUSPEK33212820080111


Migrant Workers
Migrant Worker Asked for His Pay, Got Beating Instead
South China Morning Post, January 14, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb
329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=a654bfcc6537
7110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD&ss=China&s=News


Half of China's Migrant Workers Unhappy with Social Status
Xinhuanet, January 13, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-01/13/content_
7412708.htm


Police
2,717 Chinese Police Officers Die in Line of Duty in Past Six Years
Xinhuanet, January 11, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-01/12/content_
7408398.htm


城管打死人公安抢尸体 死者家属要求杀人偿命 (Hubei Authorities Take Away Victim's Corpse in Urban Management Abuse Case; Family Demands Justice)
Radio Free Asia, January 11, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/01/11/
chengguan/


Politics
地方人大换届新迹象:农民工声音渐响 官员悄隐退 (As Local People's Congresses Get New Representatives, A Trend Emerges: More Rural Migrant Workers, Less Cadres)
Xinhuanet, January 14, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2008-01/14/content_
7415376.htm


Poverty
Lives of Poverty, Untouched by China’s Boom
New York Times, January 13, 2008
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/13/world/asia/13china.
html?scp=4&sq=


Protests and Petitions
湖北潜江征地发生血案四村民受伤 (Four Villagers Hurt in Violent Hubei Land Grab)
Radio Free Asia, January 13, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/01/13/
hu/


成都出动六百名公安武警继续强拆民房 (Chengdu Dispatches 600 Police Officers and Paramilitary Police Officers for Forced Evictions)
Radio Free Asia, January 11, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/xinwen/2008/01/11/china_
demolition_clash/


福建女子魏香平上访17年被拘60次 (Fujian Woman Has Been Petitioning for 17 Years, Detained 60 Times)
Radio Free Asia, January 11, 1008
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/xinwen/2008/01/11/china_
petition_abuse/


Religion
家庭教会会长再发表致胡锦涛公开信 呼吁关注严厉迫害 (Protestant House Church President Once Again Sends Open Letter to Hu Jintao Urging Halt to Persecution)
Radio Free Asia, January 11, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/01/
11/zhang/