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, February 04, 2008

February 2 - 4, 2008

Top News of the Day
Human Rights Defender - Qi Zhiyong (齐志勇)

六四伤残民运人士齐志勇己失踪一个月 (June 4th Disabled Democracy Activist Qi Zhiyong Disappeared Over a Month Ago)
Radio Free Asia, February 01, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/xinwen/2008/02/01/china_dissident_64/
Disabled democracy activist Qi Zhiyong (齐志勇) has been out of contact since around January 8. His friend Li Hai (李海) said he has tried to contact Qi through the Internet, Qi’s cell phone, and other methods, but has had no success. Li speculated that if Qi has been detained by the authorities, then the reason for his detention is that he revealed information about Hu Jia (胡佳) after Hu was detained late last December.

News
Disasters

Premier Calls for Courage, Patience as Snow Not Over
Xinhuanet, February 03, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-02/03/content_7561194.htm

China Winter Chaos Sparks Railway Stampede; 1 Dead
Reuters, February 02, 2008
http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSPEK17383320080203

Food Security
Chinese, Japanese Officials Meet over Food Poisoning
Xinhuanet, February 03, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-02/03/content_7562419.htm

Human Rights Defender - Hu Jia (胡佳)
当局正式逮捕胡佳但批准家人探望 (Hu Jia Formally Arrested; Father Allowed to Visit Him in Detention Center)
Radio Free Asia, February 01, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/xinwen/2008/02/01/china_rights_hujia/

Related Information
HRIC Press Statement: HRIC Condemns the Formal Arrest of Hu Jia
Human Rights in China, February 1, 2008
http://www.hrichina.org/public/contents/47275
Human Rights Defender - Zeng Jinyan (曾金燕)
百访民探望胡佳妻女受阻 民间持续质疑当局各种做法 (One Hundred Petitioners Barred from Visiting Zeng Jinyan and Her Daughter)
Radio Free Asia, February 03, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/02/03/hu/

Human Rights Defender - Chen Guangcheng (陈光诚)
中国人权敦促中国政府释放陈光诚 (Human Rights in China Urges the Chinese Government to Release Chen Guangcheng)
Radio Free Asia, February 02, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/xinwen/2008/02/02/xinwen/#2
Related Information
HRIC Press Advisory: With Six-Month Olympic Countdown Looming, HRIC Calls on China to Release Chen Guangcheng
Human Rights in China, February 1, 2008
http://www.hrichina.org/public/contents/item?item_id=47260
Human Rights Defender - Lü Gengsong (吕耿松)
吕耿松案在2月5号开庭审理 (Lü Gengsong to Stand Trial on February 5)
Radio Free Asia, February 02, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/xinwen/2008/02/02/xinwen/#4

Labor
China Mine Blast Kills 9 Amid New Drive for Coal
Reuters, February 03, 2008
http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSPEK132605

Land Policy
Illegal Land Use in Cross Hairs of New Nationwide Scheme
China Daily (available at Xinhua), February 02, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-02/02/content_7549354.htm

Media
SPPA: Protect Right to Know Amid Snow Disaster
Xinhuanet, February 02, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-02/02/content_7553670.htm

Google Faces Lawsuit for Blocking Name
Financial Times, February 01, 2008
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/9abb5ca2-d0e2-11dc-953a-0000779fd2ac.html

Migrant Workers
For Migrants, Trip Home Only Break in Lonely Year of Labour
South China Morning Post, February 04, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=1619a578750e7110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Olympics
China Detains Nine over Olympic Website Scam
Xinhuanet, February 03, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-02/03/content_7557904.htm

China Says No Cover-Up in Olympics Construction Deaths
Xinhuanet, February 03, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-02/03/content_7556199.htm

Beijing Closes 10 Industrial Polluters to Keep Air Fresher
Xinhuanet, February 02, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-02/02/content_7555187.htm

Police
Chinese Police Nab 10,000 Homicide-Linked Fugitives in 2007
Xinhuanet, February 01, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-02/01/content_7545664.htm

Protests and Petitions
江苏女访民徐平遭非法拘押及人身虐待 (Jiangsu Petitioner Illegally Detained and Tortured)
Radio Free Asia, February 01, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/02/01/xuping/

Religion
河南洛阳基督徒因宣教被刑事拘留 (Henan Christian Criminally Detained over Preaching)
Radio Free Asia, February 01, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/02/01/henan/