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, March 12, 2008

March 12, 2008

Top News of the Day
Human Rights Defender - Hu Jia (胡佳)
China Charges AIDS Activist with Subversion
Radio Free Asia, March 11, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/2008/03/11/
china_hujia/

On March 11, the Beijing No. 1 Intermediate People’s Court gave the indictment of Hu Jia (胡佳) on the charge of “inciting subversion of state power” to his lawyers Li Jingsong and Li Fangping. Li Jingsong reportedly said Hu and his family have also been informed of the indictment and believed there will be a public trial for Hu, although the exact trial day is yet to announce. Police had reportedly told Hu's family that they were investigating him for articles he had posted online.

News
Bilateral Ties
US Report Softens Stance on China
British Broadcasting Corporation, March 11, 2008
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7291055.stm

Economic Development
China Inflation Hits Fresh High
British Broadcasting Corporation, March 11, 2008
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7288940.stm

Environment
Uphill Battle to Reach Green Targets by 2010
South China Morning Post, March 12, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2
af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a
0a0/?vgnextoid=9c cfa2d504e98110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD&ss
=China&s=


Government
State Council Shake-up Plan Unveiled
South China Morning Post, March 12, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62e
cb329d3d7733492d9253a0a
0a0/?vgnextoid=d297a2d50
4e98110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD&ss=China&s=


First Reactions to China's Gov't Reshuffle
Xinhuanet, March 11, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-03/11/content_
7768065.htm


Labor
27 Miners Missing in Concealed Accidents
Associated Press (available at South China Morning Post), March 12, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb
329d3d7733492d9253a0a
0a0/?vgnextoid=d682e92502
1a8110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD&ss=China&s=


Land Policy
广州番禺村民举报村官被砍伤 (Guangzhou Villager Assaulted After Revealing Local Officials’ Corruption)
Radio Free Asia, March 11, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/03/
11/panyu/


Law
美籍华人春节返京遭警察殴打 离境前委托滕彪争取行政复议 (Chinese American Hires Teng Biao in Case of Police Beating in Beijing)
Radio Free Asia, March 11, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/03/
11/teng/


Olympics
Capital Leans on Its Neighbours to Help Clear Olympic Air
South China Morning Post, March 12, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb
329d3d7733492d9253a0a
0a0/?vgnextoid=3c00a2d5
04e98110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD&ss=China&s=


应对奥运突发事件政府向律师“借脑” (New Olympic Games "Legal Services Reserve Group" Established)
The Beijing News, March 12, 2008
http://www.thebeijingnews.com/news/olympic/2008/03-
12/021@083919.htm


Olympic Migrant Workers Face 'Routine Abuse'
Reuters (available at South China Morning Post), March 12, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb3
29d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=541d901db21a811
0VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD&ss=China&s=News
0

Terror Attempts on Games Will Be 'Nipped in the Bud'
South China Morning Post, March 10, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af
62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=9d98c7b8
e2498110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD&ss=China&s=News
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Poverty
本网专稿:"扔"乞丐被判刑事件点中救助制度死穴 (Sentence of Official Over “Abandoning” of Beggar Highlights Shortfall in Relief System) Legal Daily, March 12, 2008
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/0705/2008-03/12/content
_813607.htm


Protests and Petitions
China Cracks Down on Rights Petitioners
Associated Press (available at YahooNews), March 11, 2008
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080311/ap_on_re_as/china
_petitioner_rights_1


惠州台资厂千人罢工抗议 造警方催泪瓦斯驱散 (Guangdong Police Fire Tear-Gas to Disperse 1,000 Protesting Factory Workers)
Radio Free Asia, March 11, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/03
/11/bagong/


湖南农场职工代表上访被截访和软禁 (Hunan Farm Worker Representatives Barred from Petitioning in Beijing, Put Under House Arrest)
Radio Free Asia, March 11, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/xinwen/2008/03/11/
china_petition_detain/


大批进京上海访民被截回 有人被打或被关押 (Large Number of Shanghai Petitioners "Retrieved" from Beijing, Some Beaten or Detained)
Radio Free Asia, March 11, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/
03/11/shanghai/


交警执法见死不救犯众怒 台山数千人抗议警察遭欧 (Thousands of Protesters Clash with Guangdong Police After Incident of Traffic Police Abuse)
Radio Free Asia, March 11, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/03/
11/taishan/


Tibet
Beijing Confirms Tibet Protest But Denies Arrest of Monks
South China Morning Post, March 12, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.
2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid
=3b10a2d504e98110VgnVCM100000360
a0a0aRCRD&ss=China&s=News
0

Chinese FM: Dalai Lama Issue Not a Religious or Ethnic Issue
Xinhuanet, March 12, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-03/12/content
_7771804.htm