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, February 01, 2008

February 1, 2008

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

简要新闻: 北京市以涉嫌煽动颠覆国家政权罪对胡佳提起公诉 (Beijing Authorities Indict Hu Jia on Suspicion of Inciting Subversion of State Power)
Radio Free Asia, January 31, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/xinwen/2008/01/31/
On January 30, rights defender Hu Jia (胡佳) was reportedly indicted on the charge of “inciting subversion of state power.” Hu's wife Zeng Jinyan (曾金燕), also a rights defense activist, and their new-born baby remain under house arrest.

Related News
Dissident’s Arrest Hints at Olympic Crackdown
New York Times, January 30, 2008
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/30/world/asia/3
0dissident.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
News
Civil Society

Public to Be Consulted Over Maglev Train Route
South China Morning Post, February 01, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=29b3f85dccfc7110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

简要新闻: 律师学者要求人大批准联合国公民与政治权利公约 (Chinese Lawyers and Scholars Demand NPC Ratify UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights)
Radio Free Asia, January 31, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/xinwen/2008/01/31/

Corruption
Audit Exposes 4.2b Yuan Graft
South China Morning Post, February 01, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=28c3f85dccfc7110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Disasters
Storm Damage to Cash Crops 'Severe'
South China Morning Post, February 01, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=f5b4f85dccfc7110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Economic Development
中国大城市开始以本地“常住人口”统计人均GDP (GDP Per Capita Statistics of Big Cities to Be Based on "De Facto Residents," Not Just Hukou Holders)
Legal Daily, February 01, 2008
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/0705/2008-02/01/content_793508.htm

Food Security
China Dumplings Spark Food Scare in Japan
Reuters, January 31, 2008
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUST17508220080131

Government
Psychologists Treat China's Stranded at Rail Stations
Reuters, January 31, 2008
http://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idUSPEK15833120080131

Human Rights
人权观察年度报告批评中国人权状况 (Human Rights Watch Annual Report Criticizes China's Human Rights Situation)
British Broadcasting Corporation, January 31, 2008
http://news.bbc.co.uk/chinese/simp/hi/newsid_7220000/newsid_7220700/7220761.stm

Land Policy
Beijing Rejects Farmers' Call for Land Privatisation Rights
South China Morning Post, February 01, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=27d3f85dccfc7110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Media
中国网络视频控制升级 (Chinese Government Upgrades Control on Internet Videos)
Radio Free Asia, January 31, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/01/31/wangluo/

US Hints at New WTO Challenge Vs. China
Associated Press (available at the New York Times), January 31, 2008
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/world/AP-WTO-China-News-Controls.html

Politics
汪兆钧再度向中央领导发公开信 (Anhui CPPCC Standing Committee Member Wang Zhaojun Sends Open Letter to National Leaders)
Radio Free Asia, January 31, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/xinwen/2008/01/31/china_openletter/

Protests and Petitions
福建南平非法采矿严重伤害农民耕地 (Fujian Illegal Mine Impacts Farmers)
Radio Free Asia, January 31, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/01/31/nanping/

河南商城县两名维权农民被逮捕 (Two Henan Rights Defending Farmers Arrested )
Radio Free Asia, January 31, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/01/31/henan/

烟台福山又有维权农民被打 三令五申地方继续违法征地 (Yantai Rights Defending Farmers Beaten in Clash with Government)
Radio Free Asia, January 31, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/01/31/zhengdi/

Rural Issues
China Vows to Boost Rural Spending by $14 Bln
Reuters, January 31, 2008
http://www.reuters.com/article/companyNewsAndPR/idUSPEK34732220080131

State Security
Keeping an Eye on China’s Security
New York Times, January 31, 2008
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/31/business/worldbusiness/31security.html

Tibet
Panchen Lama Pays Formal Visit to China's Top Legislator
Xinhuanet, January 31, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-12/28/content_7328581.htm