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, February 28, 2008

February 28, 2008

Top News of the Day
June 4th

Tiananmen Mothers Call for China Dialogue on 1989
Reuters, February 27, 2008
Tiananmen Mothers issued an open letter through Human Rights in China, stating that members of the National People's Congress and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Congress should open a dialogue with the victims of the Tiananmen Crackdown and their families. The group stated that opening a dialogue before the Olympics would send a positive message on China's stance on human rights. In addition to a dialogue, the letter requests that the government open an investigation of the crackdown, issue public apologies and compensation, and investigate the accountability of those responsible.

Related Information:
HRIC Statement: Chinese Authorities Should Respond to Calls for Dialogue by the Tiananmen Mothers
Human Rights in China, February 27, 2008


News
Bilateral Ties
赖斯访华关注胡佳师涛 喜讯未至家属反遭警告 (Rice Questions China on Hu Jia and Shi Tao; Families Again Given Admonishments)
Radio Free Asia, February 27, 2008

Freedom of Association
上海公安局驳回市民反对磁悬浮游行申请 (Shanghai Public Security Bureau Rejects Residents' Application to Demonstrate Against the Maglev)
Radio Free Asia, February 27, 2008

Human Rights Defender - Jiranbayariin Soyolt
前内蒙异议人士索约尔特上月在北京被捕 (IMAR Dissident in Exile, Jiranbayariin Soyolt, Arrested in Beijing Last Month)
Radio Free Asia, February 27, 2008

Human Rights Defender - Liu Jie (刘杰)
正在进行绝食抗议的刘杰今天会见律师 (Liu Jie, Currently on a Hunger Strike, Allowed to See Lawyer)
Radio Free Asia, February 27, 2008

Human Rights Defender - Zhu Yufu (朱虞夫)
杭州法院将重审民主党人士朱虞夫案件 (Hangzhou, Zhejiang Court to Try Case of Democracy Party Activist Zhu Yufu)
Radio Free Asia, February 27, 2008

Macau
Macao SAR Gov't Proposes Major Revisions of Election Laws
Xinhuanet, February 27, 2008

Olympics
Chinese Resist Urban 'Clean-up' Drive
Radio Free Asia, February 27, 2008

IOC Backs China Human Rights Push
BBC, February 26, 2008

外国记者采访上访村被警察带走 奥运采访新规定再受质疑 (New Regulations on Olympics Coverage Again Challenged: LA Times Reporter Taken Away While Covering Beijing Petitioning Village)
Radio Free Asia, February 27, 2008

Police
北师大珠海分校教师被保安殴打头破血流 (Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai Campus Professor Beaten Severely by Security Guards)
Radio Free Asia, February 27, 2008

Protests and Petitions
两会期间各地加紧拦截经租户上访 (Housing Petitioners Increasingly Intercepted Throughout China During the Two Congresses)
Radio Free Asia, February 27, 2008

Public Health
China SFDA: Buyers Must Vet Drug Safety
Associated Press (available at YahooNews), February 27, 2008

Three Gorges
New Dam Repeats ‘Stupid Mistake’
Financial Times, February 27, 2008