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.

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

February 13, 2008

Top News of the Day
Olympics

山东赶造新胶济 奥运将致强拆有理? (Shandong Authorities Forcefully Resettle Villagers in Order to Build Railway Ahead of the Olympics)
Radio Free Asia, February 12, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/02/12/qiangchai/
According to RFA, on January 9 in Hancang Village #1 in Shandong Province, after failing to reach an agreement on terms of resettlement, more than 500 personnel forced villagers off of their land on a cold morning. The authorities were accompanied by men armed with wooden planks and steel bars. The clash soon began, with many villagers shouting, "Long Live Chairman Mao!" The clash resulted in approximately 40 wounded, with one 60-year-old woman still unaccounted for, but presumed to be under official custody. One villager attempting to film it from a rooftop was shot by a water cannon, but was later able to send some of the footage to RFA. The company responsible for the railway hopes to have the project completed by May, so that the transportation to the Olympic venue in Qingdao will run smoothly.

News
Corruption
新疆农六师处长举报领导涉嫌非法集资受攻击 (XUAR Corruption Whistleblower Attacked)
Radio Free Asia, February 12, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/02/12/xinjiang/

Environment
China Steps Up Efforts to Fight Pollution
Reuters, February 12, 2008
http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSPEK25663720080212

Human Rights Defender - Peng Xinzhong (彭新忠)
郴州异议人士申诉却遭公安副局长等围殴 (Chenzhou, Hunan Dissident Beaten by Vice-Bureau Chief of Public Security Bureau and Six Others)
Radio Free Asia, February 12, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/02/12/hunan

Human Rights Defender - Chen Shuqing (陈树庆)
陈树庆狱中劳动十小时 被严管并剥夺亲属探视权 (Democracy Activist Chen Shuqing Works 10 Hours a day in RTL: Deprived of Visitation Rights)
Radio Free Asia, February 12, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/02/12/chen/

Human Rights Defender - Yang Chunlin (杨春林)
杨春林被控颠覆罪案周二开庭 (Yang Chunlin's Charged with "Inciting Subversion of State Power", Trial to Start Next Tuesday)
Radio Free Asia, February 12, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/xinwen/2008/02/12/china_rights_trail/

Labor
Disney Case Highlights China Supply Chain Pitfalls
Reuters, February 12, 2008
http://www.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idUSSP16307520080212

Land Policy
China's Farmers Protest a Key Mao Tenet
Christian Science Monitor, January 22, 2008
http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0122/p01s01-woap.html

Media
云南政府表示要接受媒体的舆论监督 (Yunnan Government Announces That It Will Accept the Supervision by the Media and Public Opinion)
Radio Free Asia, February 12, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/02/12/yunnan/

Migrant Workers
Better Care for City's Migrants
Xinhuanet, February 13, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-02/13/content_7595829.htm

Olympics
Olympics-Nobel Laureates Join Pressure on China over Darfur
Reuters, February 12, 2008
http://www.reuters.com/article/homepageCrisis/idUSN11178254._CH_.2400

Steven Spielberg Quits as Adviser to Olympics Over Darfur
Reuters, February 12, 2008
http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSN1231478420080212

Rising Star Appointed to Clear Air Over Games
South China Morning Post, February 11, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=7995db551e308110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Police
我国拟建立社会治安综治巡视制度,发生严重危害社会稳定重大问题将查究领导责任 (China Considers Establishing Comprehensive Public Order Inspection Tour System)
Nanfang City News, February 13, 2008
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/southnews/jwxy/200802130053.asp

Protests and Petitions
北京维权女军医上访军委两度被拘 (Beijing Female Military Petitioner Detained)
Radio Free Asia, February 12, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/02/12/junyi/

四川溪洛渡电站移民赔偿款遭克扣 (Five Thousand People Resettling for Electric Hydropower Station Not Given Promised Compensation in Sichuan)
Radio Free Asia, February 12, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/02/12/xiluodu/

Public Health
Fake Malaria Pills Show Need for Joint Crackdown
Agence France-Presse (available at South China Morning Post), February 12, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=5996fb439bd08110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD