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, April 14, 2008

April 12-14, 2008

Top News of the Day
Protests and Petitions

Anguish over Fate of Detained HIV Patients
South China Morning Post, April 14, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733
492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=b61a5afa63849110VgnVCM100000360a0a
0aRCRD

Several HIV patients and their family members were detained for petitioning Premier Wen Jiabao in Shahe, Hebei, on April 5. The HIV patients intended to petition on their dismal situation, which they believe is due to tainted blood. The petitioners were taken to a police vehicle and sprayed with an unknown substance subdue them. There is no information on whether those detained will be charged. Three people have been reportedly released on bail.

News
Bilateral Ties

Chinese Envoy Walks out on Irish Minister's Speech
Reuters, April 14, 2008
http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSL1381591

China Outraged by US-Tibet Resolution
Associated Press (available at YahooNews), April 11, 2008
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080411/ap_on_re_as/china_tibet_us_4

Reinfeldt Pushes China over Political Prisoners
The Local, April 13, 2008
http://www.thelocal.se/11074/20080413/

Why Won't West Try to Understand China, Ambassador Asks
Agence France-Presse (available at YahooNews), April 13, 2008
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080413/wl_uk_afp/chinabritaindiplomacy
oly2008_080413010759


Civil Society
胡锦涛被无国界记者组织评为新闻自由的杀手 (Hu Jintao calls Reporters Without Borders "Assassins of Freedom of the Press")
Radio Free Asia, April 11, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/04/11/rsf

Corruption
Ex-Shanghai Party Boss Gets 18 Years
Associated Press (available at YahooNews), April 11, 2008
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080411/ap_on_re_as/china_shanghai_
scandal_5


中国年轻官员成为犯罪高危群体 (Young Chinese Officials High-Risk Group for Crimes: Chongqing Procuratorate)
Radio Free Asia, April 12, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/04/12/guan/

Environment
NE China Province Braces for Drought
Xinhuanet, April 13, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-04/13/content_7968535.htm

Human Rights Defender - Yan Zhengxue
严正学在劳改医院病情恶化 (Yan Zhengxue's Condition Worsens in Hospital of Reeducation Through Labor Camp)
Radio Free Asia, April 14, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/xinwen/2008/04/11/China_Activist

Law
China's Top Judge Vows to Severely Punish Violent Criminals
Xinhuanet, April 12, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-04/13/content_7967826.htm

Media
北京法院拒绝受理博客文章被锁定纠纷案 (Beijing Courts Refuse to Hear Case on Online Censorship by Sohu)
Radio Free Asia, April 12, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/04/12/bei/

Olympics
奥运前中国将展开严打 (China to Take Severe Measures against Criminal Activity and "Strengthen Management" over Migrant Population before Olympics)
Radio Free Asia, April 11, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/04/11/yanda

China Tries to Reverse Bad Olympic Buzz
Associated Press (available at YahooNews), April 11, 2008
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080411/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/olympic_
torch_154


China's Security Runners Not Welcome in Japan for Olympic Torch Relay
Associated Press (available at the International Herald Tribune), April 11, 2008
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/04/11/sports/AS-SPT-OLY-Japan-
Torch.php


India Tells China It Won't Ban Tibet Protests: Report
Agence France-Presse (available at YahooNews), April 12, 2008
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080412/wl_sthasia_afp/indiachinafrance
unresttibetrightsoly2008_080412091739


Protests and Petitions
失地农民预下跪请愿 遭严密监控未能成行 (Hainan Peasants Prevented from Protesting at Boao Forum for Asia)
Radio Free Asia, April 13, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/04/13/di/

Public Health
China Rejects Human-to-Human Bird Flu Report
Agence France-Presse (available at YahooNews), April 12, 2008
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080412/wl_asia_afp/healthfluchina_
080412053556


Religion
江苏南京法轮功学员胡珍如狱中受酷刑虐待 (Nanjing Falun Gong Practitioner Hu Zhenru Tortured, Abused in Jail)
Radio Free Asia, April 11, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/xinwen/2008/04/11/China_Torture/

Tibet
China Says Firearms Found in Tibetan Temple
Reuters, April 14, 2008
http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSPEK226639

China's Hu Hits Back over Tibet Crackdown
Agence France-Presse (available at YahooNews), April 12, 2008
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080412/wl_sthasia_afp/chinarightstibet
unrestoly2008_080412203425


Dalai Lama Threatens to Resign if Tibet Violence Worsens
Voice of America, April 13, 2008
http://www.voanews.com/english/2008-04-13-voa20.cfm

Police Crack Bombing at Tibetan Township Government Building
Xinhuanet, April 12, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-04/12/content_7966393.htm

四川藏区武警渐撤 阿坝汉人指打砸抢者非本地人 (Military Gradually Withdraws from Tibetan Areas of Sichuan)
Radio Free Asia, April 11, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/04/11/tibetan

Tibetan Task Force Wants 'Normalcy' before China Talks
Agence France-Presse (available at YahooNews), April 13, 2008
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080413/wl_sthasia_afp/chinaunrest
tibet_080413073534