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, January 02, 2008

January 1 - 2, 2008

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

胡佳涉嫌煽动颠覆国家政权罪被刑事拘留 (Hu Jia Placed Under Criminal Detention on Suspicion of Inciting Subversion)
Radio Free Asia, December 31, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/xinwen/2007/12/31/china_
rights_detain/

Hu Jia (胡佳) has been reportedly placed under criminal detention at the Beijing Municipal Detention Center on suspicion of inciting subversion. An anonymous source told Radio Free Asia that the police had allegedly told Hu's family that they are investigating him for articles he had posted online, including some that call for a boycott of the Beijing Olympics.

News
Environment
Corporate Ecology Urged in China
China Daily, December 31, 2008
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2007-12/31/content_
6361820.htm


Beijing 'Meets Pollution Target'
British Broadcasting Corporation, December 31, 2007
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7165610.stm

Human Rights Defenders
收费:中国维权律师的窘境 (Rights Defense Lawyers Not Paid After Providing Services)
Radio Free Asia, January 01, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/01/01
/lawyer/


沈阳公安逮捕三名受理蚁力神案的律师 (Shenyang Police Arrest Three Lawyers Who Represent Victims in a Get-Rich-Quick Scheme)
Radio Free Asia, December 31, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/xinwen/2007/12/31/china_
rights_lawyer/


Labor
Labor Protection Official Underlines Breakthroughs in New Disputes Arbitration Law
Xinhuanet, January 01, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-01/02/content_
7349659.htm


New Labor Contract Law Changes Employment Landscape
Xinhuanet, January 01, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-01/01/content_
7348036.htm


深圳市元升公司新劳工法前解雇资深员工 (Shenzhen Company Dismisses Senior Employees Before New Labor Contract Law Takes Effect)
Radio Free Asia, January 01, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/xinwen/2008/01/01/China_
Labor/


China Coal Mine Death Toll Rises to 19
Reuters, December 31, 2007
http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSPEK219118

Media
In Brief: Fake Reporters Detained after Trying to Extort Money
South China Morning Post, January 02, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb
329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=a73c26635c5
37110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD&ss=China&s=News


Olympics
China Exudes Optimism Despite Critical New Report
Reuters, January 01, 2008
http://www.reuters.com/article/sportsNews/idUSSP598592
0080102?sp=true


China's Sports System Delivers, but at a Cost
Reuters, January 01, 2008
http://www.reuters.com/article/sportsNews/idUSN31554693
20080102?pageNumber=3&virtualBrandChannel=0&sp=
true
&virtualBrandChannel=0&sp=true

The Glory of Games Is Fraught with Risk
Chicago Tribunal, January 01, 2008
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-china08
_osnosjan01,1,6250460.story?ctrack=1&cset=true
china08_osno
sjan01,1,6250460.story?ctrack=1&cset=true


Activists Fail to Stir Opposition to China's Float
Los Angeles Times, December 30, 2007
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-chinarose30dec30,
0,2373323,full.story?coll=la-home-center
chinarose30dec30,0,
2373323,full.story?coll=la-home-center


Blogging Boom Sets Up Stars for Bonanza
South China Morning Post, December 30, 2007
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ec
b329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=987aadc9ad5271
10VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD&ss=China&s=News


Population
County Adviser Fined 765,500 Yuan for Having Second Child
South China Morning Post, January 02, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb3
29d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=c47c26635c537
110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD&ss=China&s=News


Protests and Petitions
万人公开信呼吁奥运年批准《公民权利和政治权利国际公约》 (14,000 People Sign Open Letter Urging Ratification of ICCPR in 2008)
Radio Free Asia, January 01, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/01/01/rights/

独家报道:广东电网再引发大规模抗议 顺德参照汕尾铁腕镇压 (Shunde Authorities Learn from Shanwei Police's Tactics to Suppress Villagers Who Protest Undercompensation for Electricity Project)
Radio Free Asia, January 01, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/01/01/
shunde/


Religion
World's Biggest Bible Factory Opens in a 'Godless' China
China Post, December 31, 2007
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/china/2007/12/31/137078/World

Three Gorges
Canada's Aid Seeded China Dam
Wall Street Journal, December 31, 2007
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119906431204358677.html