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.

Friday, July 04, 2008

July 4, 2008

Top News of the Day
Media

Apple Daily Reporter Denied Entry to Beijing
South China Morning Post, July 04, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=1c540082ad9ea110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD
Norman Choy (蔡元貴), a reporter from Hong Kong's "Apple Daily," flew to Beijing on July 1 for a five-day reporting trip, but was intercepted at the airport and not allowed to enter Mainland China. He was told that the refusal was per the "State Security Law" (国家安全法). Choy was sent back to Hong Kong on the next flight available. His "Home Return Permit" (回乡证), which he needs to cross the Mainland border, was also confiscated.

Related news:
遣返《蘋果》記者 北京背棄奧運承諾 (Beijing Abandons Olympic Promise in Repatriating "Apple Daily" Reporter)
Apple Daily, July 4, 2008
http://www.appleactionews.com/site/art_main.cfm?&iss_id=20080704&sec_id=6996647&art_id=11310109
News
Bilateral Ties

Rights Groups Disappointed With Bush's China Olympics Trip
Voice of America, July 04, 2008
http://www.voanews.com/english/Africa/2008-07-04-voa5.cfm

Disasters
Downpours Kill Five, Affect 600,000 in SW China's Yunnan
Xinhuanet, July 03, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-07/03/content_8484753.htm

More than 600,000 Sichuan Migrant Workers Return Home Jobless after Quake
Xinhuanet, July 03, 2008
http://rss.xinhuanet.com/newsc/english/2008-07/03/content_8484508.htm

Environment
Pollution Emission Permits Delayed
China Daily, July 04, 2008
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2008-07/04/content_6818103.htm

Food Security
China Denies Hoarding Overseas Farmland
China Daily, July 04, 2008
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-07/04/content_6817936.htm

China to Increase Grain Output
BBC, July 03, 2008
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7487157.stm

Human Rights Defender
湖南民主党人士谢长发近日被警方带走 (China Democracy Party Activist Xie Changfa Detained by Police)
Radio Free Asia, July 03, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/xiechangfa-07032008091030.html

Human Rights Defender - Liu Jie (刘杰)
黑龙江农场女职工刘杰遭酷刑双腿成疾 (Imprisoned Petitioner Liu Jie Tortured, Both Legs Left Diseased)
Radio Free Asia, July 03, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/liujie-07032008113317.html

Labor
Activists Push for Improved Working Conditions in Asia as Olympics Approach
Voice of America, July 03, 2008
http://www.voanews.com/english/2008-07-03-voa29.cfm

Law
State Councilor Vows to Intense Crackdown on Violent Crimes
Xinhuanet, July 03, 2008
http://rss.xinhuanet.com/newsc/english/2008-07/03/content_8484259.htm

Media
称西藏为国家 浙出版社停业 (Zhejiang Publisher Closed after Calling Tibet a Country)
Radio Free Asia, July 04, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/zang-07032008144758.html

Multilateral
China Sticks to Its Guns on Emissions ahead of G8 Meet
Agence France-Presse (via Google), July 03, 2008
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iLlTyzyUvXyrRSXzq-G5tSPABtYg

Olympics
省部首腦奧運期間禁外訪 (Provincial Heads Forbidden from Leaving China on Foreign Visits during Olympics)
Ming Pao, July 04, 2008
http://www.mingpaonews.com/20080704/cab1.htm

Xinjiang Terror Top Threat to Olympics: Security Official Meng Hongwei Names Three Dangers to Event
South China Morning Post, July 04, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=564e1600769ea110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Protests and Petitions
大批公安武警继续驻守瓮安59人被被捕 (Police Garrison Weng'an; 59 People Arrested)
Radio Free Asia, July 03, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/china_riot-07032008102020.html

Officials Admit Existence of Grievances before Violent Protest in SW China
Xinhuanet, July 03, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-07/03/content_8482689.htm

Police Chief, Commissar Face Dismissal after Protest in Guizhou
China Daily, July 04, 2008
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-07/04/content_6817953.htm

Religion
法轮功周宁案周五开庭 (Case of Falun Gong Practitioner Zhou Ning Goes to Court July 4)
Radio Free Asia, July 03, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/zhouning-07032008165723.html

Taiwan
A Falun Gong Welcome for Mainland Visitors to Taiwan
International Herald Tribune, July 03, 2008
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/07/03/asia/taiwan.php

Tibet
甘孜炉霍300尼姑被逐出尼姑庵 (300 Garze Nuns Expelled from Nunnery for Refusing to Participate in "Political Studies" Class)
Radio Free Asia, July 03, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/ganzi-07032008105836.html