February 6, 2008

Top News of the Day
Human Rights Defender - Lü Gengsong (吕耿松)
浙江网络作家吕耿松被判刑四年 (Hangzhou-based Writer Lu Gengsong Sentenced to 4 Years’ Imprisonment)
Radio Free Asia, February 05, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/02/05/lugengsong/
On February 5, Hangzhou-based writer Lü Gengsong (吕耿松) was sentenced to four years for "inciting subversion of state power" and his political rights will subsequently be deprived for one year. Lü was sentenced based on 19 articles that he posted online. Only Lü's immediate family and two friends were allowed to attend the hearing, which lasted only 15 minutes. Outside the courthouse, more than 20 people came to voice their support, one was detained. According to RFA, his wife said that he plans to appeal.

Related Information
HRIC Statement: Ching Cheong's Release Sends Mixed Message
Human Rights in China, February 05, 2008
http://www.hrichina.org/public/contents/47310

Human Rights Defender - Wang Guilin (王桂林)
王桂林被劳教一年半 举证不构犯罪劳教何理？ (Heilongjiang Petitioner Wang Guilin Sentenced to 1.5 Year of RTL)
Radio Free Asia, February 05, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/02/05/wang/
On February 5, Heilongjiang police informed the wife of rights defender Wang Guilin (王桂林), surnamed Sun, that he has been sentenced to 1.5 year in Reeducation-Through-Labor (RTL) for “disturbing social order”. Wang was detained on January 10. The authorities held a hearing on his case on January 22 and sent him to a RTL facility on January 28; it was unclear when exactly he was sentenced. Sun said the police alleged in the hearing that Wang was involved in the open letter campaign which held the slogan “We want human rights, not the Olympics,” and that he gave interviews to the overseas Epoch Times website.

News
Disasters
Millions in China to Greet New Year Without Power
Reuters, February 05, 2008
http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSPEK16157020080205

Food Security
FDA Looks for "Boots on the Ground" in China
Reuters, February 05, 2008
http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN0518943220080205

Japan: China Dumpling Poisoning May Be Deliberate
Reuters, February 05, 2008
http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssConsumerGoodsAndRetailNews/idUST171196200802050205

Government
Officials Admit Being Too Hasty with Tiger News
South China Morning Post, February 06, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=fa4ce5b782ae7110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

CPC Vows Penalties for Lax Officials During Snow Crisis
Xinhuanet, February 05, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-02/05/content_7574500.htm

Human Rights Defender - Guo Quan (郭泉)
原南京师范教授郭泉宣布成立中国网民党 (Former Nanjing Professor Guo Quan Announces Establishment of "Chinese Netizen Party")
Radio Free Asia, February 05, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/xinwen/2008/02/05/china_internet_freedom/

Media
Cadre Told to Step Down Over Arrest Order
South China Morning Post, February 06, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=26cb3d7ae9ae7110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

China Cuts Online Video a Little Slack
Associated Press (available at CNN), February 05, 2008
http://edition.cnn.com/2008/TECH/02/05/china.video.ap/index.html

Migrant Workers
Migrant Workers Bear the Brunt of China's Transport Chaos as Cold Snap Continues
The Guardian, February 05, 2008
http://www.guardian.co.uk/china/story/0,,2252561,00.html

Olympics
'Great Firewall' May Be Dropped
South China Morning Post, February 06, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=3c78e5b782ae7110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Report: Manners to Make a Better Beijing Olympic Games
Xinhuanet, February 06, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-02/06/content_7576536.htm

Protests and Petitions
温江农民维权取得成果 (Farmers' Protest Yields Good Results in Wenjiang, Chengdu)
Radio Free Asia, February 05, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/02/05/wenjiang/

江阴市利港镇长拒绝支付农民补偿费 (Farmers Refuse Land Compensation Payment in Jiangyang, Jiangsu)
Radio Free Asia, February 05, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/02/05/ligang/

State Security
甘孜县曲仓达隆寺藏族住持堪布金巴被判刑 (Tibetan Abbot Sentenced to Three Years for "Inciting Subversion of State Power")
Radio Free Asia, February 05, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/xinwen/2008/02/05/china_tibetan/