Monday, March 03, 2008

March 4, 2008

Top News of the Day
Human Rights Defender - Liu Jie (刘杰)
黑龙江女访民刘杰在劳教所绝食五日后恢复进食 (Petitioner Liu Jie Ends Hunger Strike; Resumes Eating After Five Days)
Radio Free Asia, March 03, 2008
Authorities at the Qiqihar Labor Camp informed the son of petitioner Liu Jie (刘杰) that Liu resumed eating on March 2. Liu had staged a hunger strike for five days in protest of her Reeducation-Through-Labor sentence. Liu, the organizer of a public letter with over twelve thousand signatures, was sentenced to eighteen months of Reeducation-Through-Labor in November 2007.

Human Rights Defender - Lü Gengsong (吕耿松)
异议人士吕耿松的妻子致信人大希望关注吕案 (Dissident Writer Lü Gengsong's Wife Asks that NPC Pay Attention to Lü's Case)
Radio Free Asia, March 03, 2008
Wang Xue'e (汪雪娥), wife of dissident writer Lü Gengsong (吕耿松), has published an open letter online before the annual sessions of the National People's Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), showing concerns to Lü’s deteriorating health in prison and calling for earlier Lü’s earlier release. Wang told RFA that prison authorities punish other inmates who talk to Lü.

Related Information:
HRIC Case Update: Families
of Lü Gengsong and He Depu Appeal to National People's Congress

Human Rights in China, March 03, 2008


News
Environment

SEPA Admits It Lacks Sway to Block Big Oil Refinery
South China Morning Post, March 04, 2008

China's Killer "Yellow Dust" Hits Korea and Japan
Reuters, March 03, 2008

Food Security
China Reports Big Rise in Food-Poisoning Deaths
Reuters, March 03, 2008

Human Rights Defenders - Hu Jia (胡佳)
警称胡佳家将解封 人权劣迹下待观察 (Police State that Hu Jia's Apartment, Currently Under Police Surveillance, Will Be "Unblocked" After Two Congresses)
Radio Free Asia, March 03, 2008

Human Rights Defenders - Yang Chunlin (杨春林)
维权人士杨春林家人被警告不准与外界联系 (Family of Human Rights Defender Yang Chunlin Told By Police to Not Speak with Outsiders)
Radio Free Asia, March 03, 2008

Human Rights Defenders - Zheng Mingfang (郑明芳)
天津市维权人士郑明芳被逮捕 (Tianjin Human Rights Defender Zheng Mingfang Arrested)
Radio Free Asia, March 03, 2008

Land Policy
北京复员军人因强迫拆迁被逼疯 (Beijing Demobilized Soldier Admitted to Psychiatric Hospital Due to Pressure Following Forced Relocation: Wife)
Radio Free Asia, March 03, 2008

Politics
China's Reform Anniversary Stirs Political Debate
Reuters, March 03, 2008

Protests and Petitions
在京访民被拦截 马家楼1000多人在押 (Petitioners in Beijing Intercepted; Over a Thousand in Custody in Majialou)
Radio Free Asia, March 03, 2008

Public Health
Women's Health in Rural Areas Targeted
China Daily (available at Xinhua), March 03, 2008

Religion
政协贾庆林强调宗教和谐 会下基督徒继续受压 (Christians Continue to Face Pressure Despite CPPCC Chairman Jia's Emphasis on Religious Harmony)
Radio Free Asia, March 03, 2008

贾庆林提出利用宗教促进民族团结和社会和谐 (Jia Qinglin Proposes that Religion Be Used to Promote Unity and Social Harmony with Minorities)
Radio Free Asia, March 03, 2008