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 18, 2008

June 18, 2008

Top News of the Day
Human Rights Defender - Hua Huiqi (华惠棋)

北京维权人士拟申请游行遭恐吓 (Beijing Religious and Housing Rights Activist Hua Huiqi Threatened before Applying to Protest)
Radio Free Asia, June 17, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/huahuiqi-06172008174127.html
On June 17, several plain-clothed men forced their way into the home of Pastor Hua Huiqi (华惠棋), threatening him to not to cause any trouble during the Olympics and to keep his nose out of others' business. Hua notified the police, and an hour later the plain-clothed men returned, asking only for confirmation of his identity. Hua suspects that this was due to his plan to apply for a protest permit. Other rights defenders report having been similarly intimidated.

News
Bilateral Ties
Economic Talks with US Focus on Stable Oil Supply
South China Morning Post, June 18, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=0f1b0ed03779a110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Disasters
Irate Parents of Children Killed in Collapse Kept from Party Official
South China Morning Post, June 18, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=1f7b0ed03779a110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

水災63死損失144億 (Floods: 63 Dead, 14.4 Billion Lost)
Ming Pao, June 18, 2008
http://www.mingpaonews.com/20080618/cac1.htm

Food Security
H5N1 Confirmed in Guangdong Duck Deaths
South China Morning Post, June 18, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=8486b4550079a110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Gender
广东:未婚女性不得通过人工授精生育 (Guangdong: Artificial Insemination for Unwed Women Prohibited)
China Youth Daily, June 18, 2008
http://news.cyol.com/content/2008-06/18/content_2228142.htm

Hong Kong
Universal Suffrage Remains Top of Agenda
South China Morning Post, June 18, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=da7f82cf3b787110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Human Rights Defender - Huang Qi (黄琦)
Arrest Risk to Bloggers 'Is Growing'
Metro News, June 17, 2008
http://www.metro.co.uk/news/world/article.html?in_article_id=179510&in_page_id=64

Related information:
Rights Activist Huang Qi Detained on Suspicion of Holding State Secrets
Human Rights in China, June 16, 2008
http://www.hrichina.org/public/contents/56586
Labor
玖龙纸业炒掉外包劳工 香港SACOM组织:玖龙此举是“出尔反尔的行为 (Nine Dragons Paper Company Drops Foreign Laborers)
Nanfang Daily, June 18, 2008
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/southnews/jwxy/200806180058.asp

Media
杭州检察院被批评操纵媒体 (Hangzhou Procuratorate Is Criticized for Media Manipulation)
Radio Free Asia, June 17, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/jianchayuan-06172008170135.html

Olympics
Beijing Trains Press Officials Skills to Deal with Western Media
Xinhuanet, June 17, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-06/17/content_8388061.htm

Security and Choreography Mark Silk Road Torch Relay
Reuters, June 18, 2008
http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSPEK2773320080618

Tibet Torch Relay Confirmed for Saturday
Agence France-Presse (available at South China Morning Post), June 18, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=03f01c6d8699a110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Police
河南渑池县去世的艾滋病患者妈妈被警方拘留 (Henan Police Detain AIDS Baby's Mother)
Radio Free Asia, June 17, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/AZT-06172008170600.html

Politics
政协副主席罗豪才称中国公民不靠同国家对抗实现人权 (CPPCC Vice-Chairman: Chinese Citizens Should not Oppose the Government to Bring about Human Rights)
Radio Free Asia, June 17, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/luohao-06172008112445.html

Protests and Petitions
成都500警察强拆太平村 村民被捕 (500 Chengdu Police Raid Village and Arrest Villagers)
Radio Free Asia, June 17, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/taipingchun-06172008160029.html

官方首批准申請 北京今保釣示威 (Beijing Government Permits Protest over Senkaku (Diaoyu) Islands for First Time)
Ming Pao, June 18, 2008
http://www.mingpaonews.com/20080618/caa1.htm