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, June 04, 2008

June 4, 2008

Top News of the Day
June 4th
China Urged to Carry over Quake Openness to Tiananmen
Reuters, June 04, 2008
http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSPEK203326
Bao Tong (鮑彤), former Policy Secretary to Zhao Ziyang (赵紫阳), urged China to reject Deng Xiaoping (邓小平)'s '"greatest mistake" and increase transparency regarding the Tiananmen Square crackdown. Bao's former boss, Zhao Ziyang was removed as the Party General Secretary due to his opposition to Deng's decision to send the People's Liberation Army into Tiananmen Square. He remained in house arrest until his death in 2005.

News
Civil Society

北京益仁平中心郑州办公室遭骚扰 (Henan Office of Hepatitis B Group Beijing Yirenping Center Harassed)
Radio Free Asia, June 03, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/yirenping-06032008170503.html

Corruption
百色市人大阻止调查人大代表挪用公款案 (Baise, Guangdong People's Congress Halts Investigation into Misappropriation Case of Congress Representative)
Radio Free Asia, June 03, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/corruption_investigation-06032008113948.html

Disasters
1.5 mln Temporary Homes Being Built
CCTV, June 03, 2008
http://www.cctv.com/english/20080603/101913.shtml

13 Miners Missing in Flooded Coal Mine in Northeast China
Xinhuanet, June 03, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-06/03/content_8306123.htm

Chinese Police Drag Grieving Parents from Protest
Associated Press (via Google), June 03, 2008
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gBr_dOzJ9Pnc_U9gSgtTgE-cR-KwD912N9600

Reconstruction of Infrastructure Priority in Quake-Hit Areas
Xinhuanet, June 04, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-06/04/content_8308063.htm

Environment
China Builds Plant to Turn Coal into Barrels of Oil
Reuters, June 03, 2008
http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssIndustryMaterialsUtilitiesNews/idUSSP13361320080604

Shanghai Takes Hard Line to Clear Air and Water
Xinhuanet, June 04, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-06/04/content_8310651.htm

Human Rights
Spokesman: China's Human Rights Improvement Self-Directed
Xinhuanet, June 03, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-06/03/content_8307644.htm

Human Rights Defenders
China Shuts Out 2 Lawyers Over Tibetans' Cases
Washington Post, June 04, 2008
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/03/AR2008060300634.html

Related information:
HRIC Statement: Chinese Authorities Abuse Licensing System to Harass Rights Defenders
Human Rights in China, June 02, 2008
http://www.hrichina.org/public/contents/55445
June 4th
China Urged to Free Tiananmen-era Prisoners
Reuters, June 03, 2008
http://cn.reuters.com/article/olympicsNews/idCNPEK24702120080603

丁子霖:愿五星红旗也为“六四”死难者降下 (Ding Zilin: I Hope the Chinese Flag May Also Be Lowered for Victims of June 4th)
Radio Free Asia, June 03, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/64c-06032008111432.html

Mourning Banned for Tiananmen Dead
Radio Free Asia, June 03, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china_square-06032008141511.html

Land Policy
成都温江政府指使黑帮强拆多名村民受伤 (Wenjiang, Chengdu Government Orders Gangs to Destroy Homes, Injuring Several Villagers)
Radio Free Asia, June 03, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/land_clash-06032008113048.html

Olympics
Activists urge IOC to cancel Tibet torch run
Reuters, June 03, 2008
http://www.reuters.com/article/GCA-Olympics/idUSL0371680120080603

Politics
Report: Li Peng's Son Gets Job as Deputy Governor in Shanxi
Associated Press (available at the International Herald Tribune), June 03, 2008
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/06/03/asia/AS-GEN-China-Lis-Son.php

Population
中国学者建议实行“适度生育”政策 (Chinese Scholar Proposes a "Moderate Family Planning" Policy)
Radio Free Asia, June 03, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/shengyu-06032008105853.html

Protests and Petitions
访民被送进法教班,被判劳教 (Petitioners "Retrieved" from Beijing: Some Sent to "Law Class," Two Sentenced to Reeducation-Through-Labor)
Radio Free Asia, June 03, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/laojiao-06032008153619.html

Public Health
HK Investigating a Case of EV71
Xinhuanet, June 03, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-06/03/content_8307993.htm

Tibet
China Keeping Tight Grip on Tibet
BBC, June 03, 2008
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7433659.stm

甘孜藏族女子遭毒打 当局称达赖本月再起事端 (Garze Tibetan Woman Severely Beaten; TAR Vice-chairman Pelma Chiley Claims "Dalai Clique" to Incite "Trouble" in June)
Radio Free Asia, June 03, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/ganzi-06032008103536.html

Related news:
白玛赤林:“藏独”分子可能制造新事端 (Pelma Chiley: "Tibetan Independence" Group Could Again Cause Incite Trouble)
China News (via Xinhua), June 4, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/local/2008-06/04/content_8308906.htm