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.

Monday, January 28, 2008

January 26 – 28, 2008

Top News of the Day
Human Rights Defender - Li Jinping (李金平)

北京李金平家遭暴力强拆 赵紫阳先生灵堂被毁 (Li Jinping’s Apartment Forcibly Demolished, Memorial Room for Zhao Ziyang Destroyed)
Radio Free Asia, January 25, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/01/25/li_jinping/
Beijing authorities reportedly demolished the apartment of rights defender Li Jinping (李金平) on January 24. Li, his mother and siblings were allegedly beaten in the process. All property, including furniture and communication tools, was taken away. The Li family is now separately staying in their friend’s homes. Li Jinping kept a memorial room for former Chinese leader Zhao Ziyang in the apartment and the room was damaged in the incident.

News
Civil Society

中国民主党地方委员会宣告成立 (China Democracy Party Establishes Local Committees in China)
Radio Free Asia, January 27, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/01/27/min/

Disasters
Big Freeze Brings Nation to a Standstill
South China Morning Post, January 28, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=6a27c5d96bbb7110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Government
村官敗選殺對手全家 (Rural Official Murders Competitor and His Family After Losing Election)
Ming Pao, January 28, 2008
http://www.mingpaonews.com/20080128/ccb1.htm

Human Rights Defender - Hu Jia (胡佳)
胡佳取保候审被拒 (Beijing Police Reject Hu Jia's Application to Be Released on Bail Pending Investigation)
Radio Free Asia, January 25, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/01/
25/hujia/


Human Rights Defender - Xu Yongchun (徐永春)
烟台农民维权代表徐永春突遭暴徒袭击受伤住院 (Shandong Rights Defender Xu Yongchun Hospitalized After Being Beaten By 4 Unidentified Thugs)
Radio Free Asia, January 25, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/01/
25/xu/


Labor
Rule Violation Blamed for East China Traffic Accident That Kills 18
Xinhuanet, January 26, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-01/26/content_7500750.htm

Media
《法人》杂志总编辑正式离职 (Magazine Chief Resigns After Issuing Statement Upholding Media Freedom)
Radio Free Asia, January 27, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/01/27/fa/

香港记者武汉花楼街拍摄拆迁情况遭殴打 (Hong Kong Reporter Beaten in Wuhan While Taking Photos of Eviction Situation)
Radio Free Asia, January 25, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/01/25/
wuhan/


Olympics
China Cracks Down on Tibetan Buddhism Ahead of Olympics
Radio Free Asia, January 25, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/2008/01/25/tibet_olympics/

Police
城管队保安被指当街打小贩 路人劝阻也遭殴 (Beijing Urban Management Officers Beat Hawkers and Intervening Passers-by)
Xinhuanet, January 28, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/legal/2008-01/28/content_
7508479.htm


Politics
Graft Laws Won't Succeed Until the Princelings Bow
South China Morning Post, January 28, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62e
cb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=6aeac5d96b
bb7110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD&ss=China&s=News


Non-CPC Members Make Up 60% of New Top Advisory Body
Xinhuanet, January 26, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-01/26/content_7499922.htm

Protests and Petitions
湖北两千多纺织工人上访请愿要求偿还拖欠款项 (Over 2,000 Hubei Workers Petition over Back Pay)
Radio Free Asia, January 25, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/01/25/hubei/

北京业主堵路反对建变电站警方拘20人 (Twenty Beijing Residents Taken Away While Protesting Construction of High-Voltage Substation)
Radio Free Asia, January 25, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/01/25/dian/

Public Health
河北艾滋感染者讨病历被殴 政府偏袒激化矛盾? (Hebei Hospital Beats HIV/AIDS Patients Demanding Medical Records)
Radio Free Asia, January 25, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/01/25/
aids/


Religion
独家报道:太原基督徒聚会受到当局骚扰 (Members of Taiyuan Protestant House Church Harassed During Gathering)
Radio Free Asia, January 25, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/xinwen/2008/01/25/china_religion_christian/

XUAR
Senior Party Official: Xinjiang's Stability Has National Strategic Value
Xinhuanet, January 27, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-01/27/content_7508129.htm