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, September 05, 2008

September 5, 2008

Human Rights Defender – Yuan Xianchen (袁贤臣)
东北维权律师系狱 妻子哭诉生计已断 (Rights Defender Yuan Xianchen Stripped of Right to Practice Law)
Radio Free Asia, September 04, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/lawyer-09042008140733.html

Rights defense lawyer Yuan Xianchen (袁贤臣) has been forbidden from receiving legal cases. Yuan was arrested on July 8 the grounds of “inciting subversion to state power” for allegedly helping jailed Yang Chunlin (杨春林) collect signatures for an open letter appealing for human rights in the lead up to the Olympics.

News
Corruption
China Orders Immediate Rectification of Gov't Fund Abuses
Xinhuanet, September 04, 2008
http://rss.xinhuanet.com/newsc/english/2008-09/04/content_9772301.htm

Top Chinese Official Vows Punishment for Quake Relief Corruption
Xinhuanet, September 04, 2008
http://rss.xinhuanet.com/newsc/english/2008-09/04/content_9772018.htm

Death Penalty
Bird's Nest Designer Takes Up Cause of Man on China's Death Row
The Guardian, September 04, 2008
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/sep/04/china.humanrights

Labor
27 Die in China Coal Mine Blast: Local Official, State Media
AFP (via Google News), September 04, 2008
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hjxQHqX_MO8TEvf9SRsQstNBOxpQ

Mine Gas Blast Toll Rises to 10 in Southwest China
Xinhuanet, September 05, 2008
http://rss.xinhuanet.com/newsc/english/2008-09/05/content_9799816.htm

Law
Nearly 2.37 Mln Chinese Receive Legal Aid in Past Five Years
Xinhuanet, September 04, 2008
http://rss.xinhuanet.com/newsc/english/2008-09/04/content_9772023.htm

Related Information:
司法部:扩充法律援助范围 让更多困难群众受益 (Ministry of Justice Calls for Expansion of Legal Aid)
Xinhuanet, September 05, 2008
http://rss.xinhuanet.com/newsc/legal/2008-09/05/content_9774341.htm
Media
南充市政府出通告警告市民和访民不得接受境外媒体采访 (Villagers in Nanchong, Sichuan Forbidden from Accepting Interviews from non-Mainland Media)
Radio Free Asia, September 04, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/nanchong-09042008091027.html

Military
PLA to Face Closer Scrutiny of Its Spending
South China Morning Post, September 05, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2c913216495213d5df646910cba0a0a0/?vgnextoid=6084fd7d95e2c110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Protests and Petitions
City Leaders Disciplined over Fatal Yunnan Riots
South China Morning Post, September 05, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2c913216495213d5df646910cba0a0a0/?vgnextoid=c1aafd7d95e2c110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Illegal Fund-Raising Causes Chaotic Petition in C China
Xinhuanet, September 05, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-09/05/content_9772968.htm

湖南公办教师上访遭劳教 (Petitioner in Hunan Sentenced to RTL)
Radio Free Asia, September 04, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/jiao-09042008091238.html

Public Health
For 83m Disabled, It's Still a Long Road to Go
Reuters (available at South China Morning Post), September 05, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2c913216495213d5df646910cba0a0a0/?vgnextoid=310afd7d95e2c110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Religion

河北天主教徒邢景生创办的“保定百姓冤案网”遭当局关闭 (Website of Religious Rights Defender Shut Down)
Radio Free Asia, September 04, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/xing-09042008090756.html

Rural Issues
Rural Doctors Face Tests
Shanghai Daily, September 04, 2008
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/article/?id=372679