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.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

April 15, 2008

Top News of the Day
Human Rights Defender - Hu Jia (胡佳)

胡佳上诉期限 “投牢体检”? 不获见律师家人忧病情危机 (Lawyer Barred from Meeting Hu Jia on His Last Day for Appeal)
Radio Free Asia, April 14, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/04/14
/hujia2/

On April 14, the last day when AIDS activist and rights defender Hu Jia (胡佳) could appeal his sentence, the Beijing Municipal Detention Center reportedly refused to let his lawyer Li Fangping (李方平) to meet him on the grounds that Hu was having a "pre-imprisonment medical check." Hu's lawyer said he will go to the detention center again on April 15 to confirm whether Hu wants to appeal.

News
Bilateral Ties

Bush Envoy to Hold Talks with Dalai Lama on Tibet Turmoil
Agence France-Presse (available at YahooNews), April 14, 2008
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080414/wl_asia_afp/china
tibetunrestright_080414222214;_ylt=AlqND57O7foCq51ki
Yd7DBhPzWQA
4;_ylt=AlqND57O7foCq51kiYd7DBhPzWQA

Death Penalty
China Leading the Way in Global Executions: Amnesty
Agence France-Presse (available at YahooNews), April 15, 2008
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080415/wl_mideast_afp/
chinaunresttibetrightsoly2008rights_080415012637;_ylt=
Avifgaogwof1rfJhCO_VGqdPzWQA


Environment
China 'Now Top Carbon Polluter'
British Broadcasting Corporation, April 15, 2008
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7347638.stm

Ministry Targets Greenhouse Gas
South China Morning Post, April 15, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af6
2ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=b10d20effdd
49110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD&ss=China&s=News


Government
Rehired After Slavery Sacking
Agence France-Presse (available at The Standard), April 15, 2008
http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?we_cat
=3&art_id=64436&sid=18493190&con_type=1&d_str=20
080415&fc=2
90&con_type=1&d_str=20080415&fc=2

Human Rights Defender - Yang Tianshui (杨天水)
狱中作家杨天水获自由作家奖 (Jailed Yang Tianshui Given the 2008 PEN/Barbara Goldsmith Freedom to Write Award)
Radio Free Asia, April 14, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/04/14
/yang/


Labor
New Law Gives Chinese Workers Power, Gives Businesses Nightmares
Washington Post, April 14, 2008
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008
/04/13/AR2008041302214.html


Land Policy
China Punishes Thousands of People for Illegal Land Grabs
Xinhua (available at People's Daily), April 15, 2008
http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90776/6392452.html

Law
Hubei Mayor Suspended Only After Expose of Boy's Death
South China Morning Post, April 15, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af6
2ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=65fb20effdd49
110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD&ss=China&s=News


Media
Journalists Group Appeals to China
Associated Press (available at YahooNews), April 15, 2008
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080415/ap_on_re_as/
olympics_journalists_1;_ylt=Aj5vqdWGAL_M_gi.gvAMZm
BPzWQA
WGAL_M_gi.gvAMZmBPzWQA

Olympics
IOC Cites Further Risk for Torch-Run Violence
Wall Street Journal, April 15, 2008
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120820241850913647.htm
l?mod=hps_asia_whats_news


Beijing Drops Restaurants in Smoking Ban
Associated Press (available at YahooNews), April 14, 2008
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080414/ap_on_re_as/china
_smoking_ban_2;_ylt=AsKhW0HoSwZft5i8lAwG9iNPzWQ
A
W0HoSwZft5i8lAwG9iNPzWQA

Factories to Shut to Clean Beijing's Air
Associated Press (available at YahooNews), April 14, 2008
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080414/ap_on_re_as/oly_
beijing_pollution_8;_ylt=Amb.OYh1f5En9SwsZtykBIZP
zWQA
Yh1f5En9SwsZtykBIZPzWQA

Politics
New Role for Shenzhen Party Chief
South China Morning Post, April 15, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62
ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=af2c20effdd
49110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD&ss=China&s=News


Protests and Petitions
顺德千村民围镇政府与警冲突十八人伤 (Eighteen Guangdong Villagers Injured amid Clash with Police)
Radio Free Asia, April 14, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/04/14/
shunde/


Religion
河南又有120多家庭教会成员因聚会被抓 (Henan Police Arrest 120 Protestant House Church Members)
Radio Free Asia, April 14, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/04/14/
jiaohui/


Tibet
青海河卡镇藏人3.25抗议示威 十多人被捕 (Fifteen Tibetan Protestors Arrested in Heka Town, Qinghai Province)
Radio Free Asia, April 14, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/04/14/
zang/