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.

Thursday, January 31, 2008

January 31, 2008

News
Corruption

Anti-Graft Spending Card System to Be Expanded
South China Morning Post, January 31, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=be1896da1bbc7110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Disasters
We Will Require Global Help, Says Disaster Chief
South China Morning Post, January 31, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=02aef690f1bc7110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Government
辽宁从公务员扣薪筹资赔偿蚂蚁养殖户 (Pay Cut for Liaoning's Civil Servants to Compensate Ant Raisers)
Radio Free Asia, January 30, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/xinwen/2008/01/30/china_government_investor/

Hukou
中国发改委建议三到五年内取消户口制度 (National Development and Reform Commission Proposes to Abolish Hukou System Within 3 to 5 Years)
Radio Free Asia, January 30, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/01/30/hukou/

Human Rights Defender - Hu Jia (胡佳)
Chinese Dissident Watched, Then Taken
Associated Press (available at YahooNews), January 30, 2008
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080130/ap_on_re_as/china_life_of_dissent_2

Human Rights Defender - Guo Qizhen (郭起真)
维权人士郭起真在狱中健康恶化 大腿股坏死 (Jailed Rights Defender Guo Qizhen's Femur Deteriorates)
Radio Free Asia, January 30, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/01/30/guo/

Human Rights Defender – Wang Guilin (王桂林)
王桂林案开庭未判决家人受威胁 (Wang Guilin Stood Trial on January 29; Family Threatened for Speaking to Foreign Media)
Radio Free Asia, January 30, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/01/30/wang_guilin/

Labor
25 Confirmed Dead in N China Coal Mine Blast
Xinhuanet, January 30, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-01/30/content_7528096.htm

Two More Electricians Die Repairing China's Snow-Damaged Power Grid
Xinhuanet, January 30, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-01/30/content_7526839.htm

Land Policy
成都拆迁户因拒绝拆迁被黑恶势力打伤 (Chengdu Evictee Suffers Concussion After Being Beaten by Thugs)
Radio Free Asia, January 30, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/01/30/chengdu/

镇政府报复村民上访强拆鸽场 (Guangdong Authorities Demolish Pigeon Farm After Villagers Petition Land Grab)
Radio Free Asia, January 30, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/xinwen/2008/01/30/china_petition_abuse/

Media
北京《中国经营报》女记者武真遇害 (China Business Journal Reporter Murdered)
Radio Free Asia, October 30, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/xinwen/2008/01/30/china
_media_reporter/


China Steps Up Internet Video Control
Associated Press (available at Washington Post), January 30, 2008
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/30/AR2008013000898.html

Olympics
全国首部关于安检方面的政府规章3月1日起实施 (Beijing's New Measures on Security Check for Mass Social Activities to Take Effect on March 1)
Legal Daily, January 31, 2008
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/0705/2008-01/31/content_
792072.htm


Bureau Looking Ahead Seven Months to Rain-Free Olympics
South China Morning Post, January 31, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=531cf690f1bc7110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Police
China Sees Rise in Economic Crimes in 2007
Xinhuanet, January 30, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-01/30/content_7528374.htm

Protests and Petitions
攀枝花退休工人追讨欠薪被警察打伤 (Sichuan Police Beat and Detain Workers Who Demand Back Pay)
Radio Free Asia, January 30, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/xinwen/2008/01/30/china_labor_wage/

访民北京街头游行乞讨 诉生活不济有家难归 (Sixty Petitioners Hold Demonstration in Beijing)
Radio Free Asia, January 30, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/01/30/fangmin/

Public Health
Tainted Drugs Linked to Maker of Abortion Pill
New York Times, January 31, 2008
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/31/world/asia/31pharma.html

Rural Issues
No.1 Central Document Focuses on Rural Issues for 5th Year
Xinhuanet, January 30, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-01/30/content_7529372.htm