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, May 19, 2008

May 17-19, 2008

Top News of the Day
Human Rights Defender - Zhou Yuanzhi (周远志)

湖北自由作家周远志获释回家 (Freelance Writer Zhou Yuanzhi Released)
Radio Free Asia, May 17, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/zhou-05172008003736.html
Freelance writer and Independent Chinese PEN Center member Zhou Yuanzhi (周远志) was released on May 15 and allowed to return home. Zhou was taken away by police on May 3 under suspicion of "inciting subversion" and was detained inside a guest house. He remains under police surveillance and has been ordered to not accept interviews or publish articles.

News
Disasters

China's Next Hurdle: Shelter Earthquake Survivors
Christian Science Monitor, May 19, 2008
http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0519/p01s03-woap.html

Disease Warning for China Quake Areas
Financial Times, May 18, 2008
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/bda98dc2-2512-11dd-a14a-000077b07658.html

Entire village buried in Chinese quake, entombing residents
Associated Press (available at the International Herald Tribune), May 18, 2008
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/05/18/asia/AS-GEN-China-Earthquake-Buried-Village.php

Fatal Explosion in Wenzhou Blamed on Angry Gambler
South China Morning Post, May 19, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=a08c354f6fcf9110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

黑客非法入侵部分红十字会官网 篡改募捐帐号 (Hacker Infiltrates Official Red Cross Website to Steal Earthquake Relief Donations)
DoNews.com, May 17, 2008
http://www.donews.com/Content/200805/1de1f43fa0174f65b254117cbe7a471f.shtm

Three Killed, over 1,000 Hurt in China Aftershock
Reuters, May 19, 2008
http://www.reuters.com/article/GCA-China/idUSL1833088520080519

Media
China Allows Bloggers, Others to Spread Quake News
Associated Press (via Google), May 18, 2008
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5g96Dwm9sQnJkXfZN9xxDlNLBveawD90O62RG1

Migrant Workers
当局劝谕在外地的四川人不要急于返乡 (Authorities Ask that Migrant Workers from Sichuan Not Return Home)
Radio Free Asia, May 16, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/earthquake_communication-05162008131258.html

Military
Military Facilities in Quake-Hit Areas 'Secure'
China Daily, May 19, 2008
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-05/19/content_6694054.htm

Olympics
China Warns Olympic Clean-Air Pledges on the Line
Reuters, May 16, 2008
http://www.reuters.com/article/reutersComService_2_MOLT/idUSPEK34679720080516

Protests and Petitions
湖北访民反映被羁押在法教班40多天 (Hubei Petitioner Reports Being Detained in "Law Class" for over 40 Days)
Radio Free Asia, May 17, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/40-05172008004223.html

Religion
奥运前夕当局加大力度打击家庭教会 (On Eve of Olympics, Authorities Vigorously Attack House Churches)
Radio Free Asia, May 16, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/jiaohui-05162008095504.html

中国基督教发展迅速,信教人数逾亿 (Chinese Christians Rapidly Expanding; Already over 100 million)
Radio Free Asia, May 16, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/jidu-05162008110439.html

State Security
China's All-Seeing Eye
Rolling Stone, May 29, 2008
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/20797485/chinas_allseeing_eye

Tibet
Tibet's Holiest Temple Reopens after China Unrest
Associated Press (via Google), May 18, 2008
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5h5Z6bJwtN_roGSIUQiQnfbf2NkhgD90N8OQ00

Tibetan Leader in Exile: New Talks Soon with China
Associated Press (via Google), May 18, 2008
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hWp2McDK8AvYfoVNNxTIUqzIx19wD90NJ74G0