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 10, 2008

March 8-10, 2008

Top News of the Day
Human Rights Defenders Hu Jia (胡佳)
China Dissident Hu Jia to Stand Trial: Lawyer
Reuters, March 10, 2008
Rights defender Hu Jia's (胡佳) case has been accepted by the Beijing municipal procuratorate, and he will soon face trial. According to Hu's lawyer, he has been charged with "inciting subversion of state power," based on his statements to foreign media and essays. Hu Jia is a long-time HIV/AIDS activist and an internationally recognized Chinese rights defender.

Human Rights Defenders - Teng Biao (滕彪)
Chinese Police Release Activist Lawyer
Associated Press ( available at YahooNews), March 08, 2008
Beijing rights defense lawyer Teng Biao (滕彪) was released on Saturday, March 8, after going missing on the evening of Thursday, March 6. According to Teng, the police questioned him about his essays and other activities. Teng was reluctant to elaborate on the questioning as he was warned by the police to remain quiet. Teng Biao is a lecturer on law at the Chinese University of Politics and Law and a practicing lawyer, currently defending several controversial cases.
Related information:
HRIC Statement: Violent Assaults on Rights Defense Lawyers Must Stop
March 07, 2008


News
Civil Society
China's Top Legislator Promises More Public Participation in Food Safety Legislation
Xinhuanet, March 08, 2008

Death Penalty
China Not Ready to End Death Penalty
Associated Press (available at YahooNews), March 08, 2008

Gender
Rural Women's Rights Need Protection
Xinhuanet, March 08, 2008

Human Rights Defenders
《中国民主报》正式发行 ("China Democracy Journal" Formally Published)
Radio Free Asia, March 10, 2008

Human Rights Defenders - Teng Biao (滕彪)
Rights Lawyer Kidnap 'Shocking,' Say China Activists
Agence France-Presse (available at YahooNews), March 08, 2008

Law
Water Pollution, Laborers' Rights Top Chinese Legislature's Supervision List
Xinhuanet, March 08, 2008

Macao
Macao Group Calls for Criminalizing Cruelty to Animals
Xinhuanet, March 09, 2008

Media
China Vows Curbs after Björk Sings for Tibet
Agence France-Presse (available at YahooNews), March 07, 2008

中国广电总局重申电影审查标准 (SARFT Reaffirms Film Review Criteria)
Radio Free Asia, March 08, 2008

Olympics
China Says Thwarted Attack on Olympics: State Media
Agence France-Presse (available at YahooNews), March 08, 2008

Compensatory Traffic Ban to Be Imposed During the Olympics
Xinhuanet, March 07, 2008

Dalai Lama Supports Beijing Olympics: Aide
Reuters, March 08, 2008

Olympics Clean-Up Chinese Style: Inside Beijing's Shocking Death Camp for Cats
The Daily Mail, March 08, 2008

世界报章协会要求中国奥运前释放被监禁的新闻工作者 (World Association of Newspapers Pressures China to Free Journalists Before Olympics)
Radio Free Asia, March 10, 2008

Politics
当局要求鲍彤取消丹麦记者的采访安排 (Authorities Demand Force Bao Tong, Former Secretary to Zhao Ziyang, to Cancel Scheduled Interview with Danish Reporters)
Radio Free Asia, March 07, 2008

中国将允许一万余家小煤矿“死灰复燃” (China Will Permit over 10,000 Small Coal Mines to Reopen Following Two Congresses)
Radio Free Asia, March 07, 2008

中国农民工首次出任全国人大代表 (Chinese Migrant Workers Represented in NPC for First Time)
Radio Free Asia, March 08, 2008

Poverty
Chinese Female Tycoon Triggers Controversy with "Pro-Rich" Proposals
Xinhuanet, March 09, 2008

Protests and Petitions
长沙经租房维权代表王季勇等被截访遣返 (Changsha Housing Petitioner Wang Jiyong Forced to Return to Hunan)
Radio Free Asia, March 07, 2008

当局恐吓漳州居民不得再进行反PX示威 (Authorities Threaten that Zhangzhou, Fujian Residents Must Not Further Protest the PX Plant)
Radio Free Asia, March 07, 2008

卡西欧抗议工人被拘留 罢工继续蔓延 (Protesters at Guangdong Casio Factory Detained as Strike Spreads)
Radio Free Asia, March 07, 2008

Social Security
温家宝承诺增加社保投资改善民生 (Wen Jiabao Promises Social Insurance Will Be Increased)
Voice of America, March 07, 2008

Tibet
Anti-China Exiles Ready for Tibet Trek
Agence France-Presse (available at YahooNews), March 09, 2008

西藏那曲大批僧人抗议官方强制洗脑离开寺院 (Tibetan Monks Leave Monastery in Protest of Government Brainwashing)
Radio Free Asia, March 07, 2008

Tibetan Monks Warned to Return to Monastery
Radio Free Asia, March 06, 2008

XUAR
President Hu Calls for Scientific Development, Social Harmony in Uyghur Region
Xinhuanet, March 10, 2008