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, March 13, 2008

March 13, 2008

Top News of the Day
Human Rights Defender - Hu Jia (胡佳)
胡佳周三与律师会面讨论案情 (Hu Jia Met with Lawyers on Wednesday to Discuss Case)
Radio Free Asia, March 12, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/xinwen/2008/03/12/china_rights_hujia/
HIV/AIDS activist and rights defender Hu Jia (胡佳) met with his lawyers on March 12 to discuss his defense. His lawyers believe that the authorities cannot solely rely on Hu's essays and interviews in order to convict him. They also believe that his trial will be public. Hu Jia was detained in December 2007, arrested in January 2008, and charged with “inciting subversion of state power” earlier this month.
Related information:
HRIC Statement: Drop Politically-Motivated Charges against Hu Jia
March 12, 2008
http://www.hrichina.org/public/contents/47723

News
Bilateral Ties
China Attacks US Rights Criticisms
Associated Press (available at YahooNews), March 12, 2008
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080312/ap_on_re_as/china_us_1;

Vatican Plan to Spell out Meaning of Pope's Letter
South China Morning Post, March 13, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d
7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=ca5c384be63a8110VgnVCM1000
00360a0a0aRCRD


Corruption
Corruption Threatens China's Economic Edge: Survey
Reuters, March 12, 2008
http://www.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idUSSIN15635020080312

Environment
Lay Off China on Climate Change - Foreign Minister
Reuters, March 12, 2008
http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSPEK269416

Human Rights Defender - Hu Jia (胡佳)
妙觉慈智法师呼吁释放胡佳等政治犯 (Buddhist Priest Miaojue Cizhi Calls for the Release of Hu Jia and Other Political Prisoners)
Radio Free Asia, March 12, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/03/12/fashi/

Human Rights Defender - Zan Aizong (昝爱宗)
昝爱宗发公开信呼吁新闻立法 (Zan Aizong Issues Public Letter Calling for Media Law)
Radio Free Asia, March 12, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/03/12/press/

Labor
中国完善劳动合同法提案激起热辩 (Draft Amendments to the Labor Contract Law Spark Debate)
Voice of America, March 12, 2008
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/w2008-03-12-voa38.cfm

Olympics
China Again Vows Cleaner Air for Beijing
Reuters, March 12, 2008
http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSPEK27317420080312

China Tells Critics to Back Off Ahead of Olympics
Reuters, March 12, 2008
http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSPEK26941620080312

Olympics-China Hands Security to Likely Next President
Reuters, March 12, 2008
http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSPEK279282

Olympic Pressure on China
Washington Post, March 11, 2008
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/11/
AR2008031102086.html


Politics
Hu's Men to Become Advisers to China's Parliament
Reuters, March 12, 2008
http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSPEK25899020080312

Protests and Petitions
东莞一百多名公车司机罢工两小时后复工 (Dongguan Bus Drivers Strike for Two Hours over New Labor Contracts, Return to Work)
Radio Free Asia , March 12, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/xinwen/2008/03/12/china_labor_protest/

Guangdong Detains 14 as Strikers Protest Reported Death
Radio Free Asia, March 12, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/2008/03/12/china_strike/

河南两会期间阻止艾滋病患者到北京开会上访 (Henan AIDS Patients Prevented from Petitioning in Beijing during the Two Conferences)
Radio Free Asia, March 12, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/03/12/AZT/

湖北千名教师发公开信 呼吁政府维护权益 (A Thousand Hubei Teachers Issue an Open Letter Calling on the Government to Protect Their Rights)
Radio Free Asia, March 12, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/03/12/hubei/

Tibet
China Restricts Everest Ascents as Issues from Tibet to Labor Rights Heat up Before Olympics
Associated Press (available at YahooNews), March 13, 2008
http://malaysia.news.yahoo.com/ap/20080313/tsp-as-spt-oly-
beijing-squabbles-6e81073.html


Indian Police Arrest Tibetan Marchers
Reuters, March 12, 2008
http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSISL10146

拉萨周二再有数百名喇嘛上街举行抗议 (Lamas Protest on the Streets of Lhasa, Police Fire Tear Gas to Disperse the Crowd)
Radio Free Asia, March 12, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/xinwen/2008/03/12/china_tibetan/