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.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

April 16, 2008

Top News of the Day
Human Rights Defender - Lü Gengsong (吕耿松)
吕耿松案浙江高法维持原判 (Zhejiang's Higher People's Court Upholds Lü Gengsong's Original Verdict)
Radio Free Asia, April 15, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/04/15/
lu_gengsong/

On April 14, 2008, the Hangzhou City Higher People's Court in Zhejiang Province upheld the original verdict for anti-corruption writer Lü Gengsong (吕耿松), who was sentenced to four years in prison and one year of deprivation of his political rights for "inciting subversion of state power.” Lü was tried on January 22, 2008 and found guilty of publishing anti-corruption writings and participating in rights defense activities.

News
Environment
Mainland to Face Pressure at Meeting of Big Polluters
South China Morning Post, April 16, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62e
cb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=
ff9f726210359110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD


World Food Shortages May Raise China's Prices: Official
South China Morning Post, April 16, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af6
2ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=355e726
210359110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD


Government
广东太石村选举大搞白色恐怖 ("White Terror" Reportedly Prevails During Election Campaign in Guangdong Village)
Radio Free Asia, April 15, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/04/
15/xuan/


山西黑砖窑案被撤职的副区长违规复出 (Shanxi Yaodu District Official Dismissed After Brick Kiln Slave Labor Incident, Returns to Work)
Radio Free Asia, April 15, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/04/
15/shanxi/


Human Rights Defender - Hu Jia (胡佳)
当局拒告知胡佳上诉与否 法律援助受阻 (Authorities Refuse to Confirm Whether Hu Jia Wants to Appeal)
Radio Free Asia, April 15, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/04/
15/hujia2/


再拒律师会见,胡佳现状不明 (Hu Jia's Current Conditions Still Unknown While Lawyer Barred from Meeting Hu Again)
Radio Free Asia, April 15, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/04/
15/hujia/


Media
China Demands Apology from CNN over Comments
Associated Press (available at YahooNews), April 15, 2008
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080415/ap_on_re_as/
china_cnn;_ylt=AkfZZl_X6F6G09NdSzwGNeIBxg8F
dSzw
GNeIBxg8F


Olympics
China Defends Torch 'Volunteers'
Financial Times, April 16, 2008
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/8ef3ad9e-0b4c-11dd-8ccf-
0000779fd2ac.html?nclick_check=1
0000779fd2ac.html?
nclick_check=1


Beijing Gives Tacit Support to Calls for Boycott of French Goods
Agence France-Presse (available at South China Morning Post), April 15, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2
af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=
69a6f77634059110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD
&ss=China&s=News
0a0

Carrefour Faces China Boycott Bid
British Broadcasting Corporation, April 15, 2008
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7347918.stm

Protests and Petitions
湖北十堰司机总罢工 全城交通大瘫痪 (Hubei's Mass Strike Brings Public Transportation to a Halt)
Radio Free Asia, April 15, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/04
/15/bagong


陕西省两千多名民办教师集体请愿 (Over 2,000 Teachers from Private Schools in Shaanxi Province Organize Mass Protest)
Radio Free Asia, April 15, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/xinwen/2008/04/15/
China_Petition/


Tibet
Leading Tibetan Writer, Performer, Producer Arrested
Radio Free Asia, April 15, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/2008/04/15/arrest/

藏芒康县二千警围寺院 僧侣拒“洗脑”出走 (Two Thousands Armed Police Surround Temple in Tibet After Monks Walk Out of Patriotic Education)
Radio Free Asia, April 15, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/04
/15/zang/


XUAR
新疆维族基督徒依明上诉案将在本周秘密开庭 (Uyghur House Church Christian Wusiman Yiming’s Appeal to Be Heard Behind Closed Doors on April 16)
Radio Free Asia, April 15, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/xinwen/2008/04/15/
China_Uyghur/