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, March 03, 2008

March 4, 2008

Top News of the Day
Human Rights Defender - Liu Jie (刘杰)
黑龙江女访民刘杰在劳教所绝食五日后恢复进食 (Petitioner Liu Jie Ends Hunger Strike; Resumes Eating After Five Days)
Radio Free Asia, March 03, 2008
Authorities at the Qiqihar Labor Camp informed the son of petitioner Liu Jie (刘杰) that Liu resumed eating on March 2. Liu had staged a hunger strike for five days in protest of her Reeducation-Through-Labor sentence. Liu, the organizer of a public letter with over twelve thousand signatures, was sentenced to eighteen months of Reeducation-Through-Labor in November 2007.

Human Rights Defender - Lü Gengsong (吕耿松)
异议人士吕耿松的妻子致信人大希望关注吕案 (Dissident Writer Lü Gengsong's Wife Asks that NPC Pay Attention to Lü's Case)
Radio Free Asia, March 03, 2008
Wang Xue'e (汪雪娥), wife of dissident writer Lü Gengsong (吕耿松), has published an open letter online before the annual sessions of the National People's Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), showing concerns to Lü’s deteriorating health in prison and calling for earlier Lü’s earlier release. Wang told RFA that prison authorities punish other inmates who talk to Lü.

Related Information:
HRIC Case Update: Families
of Lü Gengsong and He Depu Appeal to National People's Congress

Human Rights in China, March 03, 2008


News
Environment

SEPA Admits It Lacks Sway to Block Big Oil Refinery
South China Morning Post, March 04, 2008

China's Killer "Yellow Dust" Hits Korea and Japan
Reuters, March 03, 2008

Food Security
China Reports Big Rise in Food-Poisoning Deaths
Reuters, March 03, 2008

Human Rights Defenders - Hu Jia (胡佳)
警称胡佳家将解封 人权劣迹下待观察 (Police State that Hu Jia's Apartment, Currently Under Police Surveillance, Will Be "Unblocked" After Two Congresses)
Radio Free Asia, March 03, 2008

Human Rights Defenders - Yang Chunlin (杨春林)
维权人士杨春林家人被警告不准与外界联系 (Family of Human Rights Defender Yang Chunlin Told By Police to Not Speak with Outsiders)
Radio Free Asia, March 03, 2008

Human Rights Defenders - Zheng Mingfang (郑明芳)
天津市维权人士郑明芳被逮捕 (Tianjin Human Rights Defender Zheng Mingfang Arrested)
Radio Free Asia, March 03, 2008

Land Policy
北京复员军人因强迫拆迁被逼疯 (Beijing Demobilized Soldier Admitted to Psychiatric Hospital Due to Pressure Following Forced Relocation: Wife)
Radio Free Asia, March 03, 2008

Politics
China's Reform Anniversary Stirs Political Debate
Reuters, March 03, 2008

Protests and Petitions
在京访民被拦截 马家楼1000多人在押 (Petitioners in Beijing Intercepted; Over a Thousand in Custody in Majialou)
Radio Free Asia, March 03, 2008

Public Health
Women's Health in Rural Areas Targeted
China Daily (available at Xinhua), March 03, 2008

Religion
政协贾庆林强调宗教和谐 会下基督徒继续受压 (Christians Continue to Face Pressure Despite CPPCC Chairman Jia's Emphasis on Religious Harmony)
Radio Free Asia, March 03, 2008

贾庆林提出利用宗教促进民族团结和社会和谐 (Jia Qinglin Proposes that Religion Be Used to Promote Unity and Social Harmony with Minorities)
Radio Free Asia, March 03, 2008

March 1 - 3, 2008

Top News of the Day
June 4th

张先玲遭当局监视并限制其行动 (Zhang Xianling Encounters Authority Supervision and Restriction of Other Activities)
Radio Free Asia, March 02, 2008

Zhang Xianling (张先玲), member of the Tiananmen Mothers, has had six people posted outside her home, supervising her and restricting her movement, since March 1. Tiananmen Mothers jointly issued an open letter to the National People's Congress and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference on February 28. Zhang personally delivered the open letter to the General Office of the National People's Congress on February 26, however, it was refused.

News
Civil Society

万名大陆公民致函胡温及两会要求成立中国公民监政会 (10,000 Mainland Citizens Issue Open Letter Demanding That a Citizens' Supervision Conference Be Established)
Radio Free Asia, March 02, 2008

Environment
China Environment Agency Gets More Power
Associated Press (available at YahooNews), February 29, 2008

Land Policy
成都当局唆使数十名黑社会人员强拆太平 (Chengdu Authorities Instigate Dozens of Triad Members to Forcefully Evict Taiping Village)
Radio Free Asia, February 29, 2008

长沙芙蓉区居民住宅被当局强拆,两名上前阻止的邻居却遭拘留 (Furong, Changsha Residential Homes Destroyed by Authorities; Two Neighbors Detained When Attempting to Stop Destruction)
Radio Free Asia, February 29, 2008

征地选举引发大规模抗议 番禺当局出动千警震慑 (Land Grab, Election Set off Large-Scale Protest; Panyu Authorities Send a Thousand Police to Intimidate)
Radio Free Asia, February 29, 2008

Law
China Migrant Laborers Learn the Law to Win Rights
Reuters, March 01, 2008

Media
UPDATE 1-China Faces WTO Case over Financial News-Sources
Reuters, March 02, 2008

HK Star's Nude Photos Lead to Arrests in China
Reuters, March 01, 2008

Olympics
Advertisers Will Not Shy from Beijing: WPP Head
Reuters, February 29, 2008

Politics
Congress 'Failing to Exert Its Powers'
South China Morning Post, March 03, 2008

Outspoken Deputy Loses Place over Calls for New Income-Disclosure Rules
South China Morning Post, March 03, 2008

Annual Session of China's Top Advisory Body to Open Monday, Lasting 11 Days
Xinhuanet, March 02, 2008

China Muzzles Capital Ahead of Annual Parliament
Reuters, March 02, 2008

两会前夕上海开始大抓捕 (Shanghai Begins Mass Arrests on the Eve of the "Two Congresses")
Radio Free Asia, February 29, 2008

Population
China Denies Plan to Scrap One-child Policy: Report
Reuters, March 02, 2008

Protests and Petitions
Chemical Plant Plan Enrages Islanders
South China Morning Post, March 03, 2008

Shanghai Residents Stop Maglev Protest
Associated Press (available at YahooNews), March 01, 2008

Open Letter Calls for China Human Rights
Associated Press (available at YahooNews), February 29, 2008