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.

Thursday, September 11, 2008

September 11, 2008

News
Corruption
Quake Frauds Unveiled
Shanghai Daily, September 11, 2008
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/article/?id=373355

Death Penalty
Brutal Rape Teacher Executed
Shanghai Daily, September 11, 2008
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/article/?id=373371

Disasters
China's Big Earthquake Doubles Chances of More
Reuters, September 10, 2008
http://uk.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUKN1038281820080910

Related information:
12 May 2008 M=7.9 Wenchuan, China, earthquake calculated to increase failure stress and seismicity rate on three major fault systems
Geophysical Research Letters, September 09, 2008
http://quake.wr.usgs.gov/research/deformation/modeling/papers/2008/todaetal.html

Environment
Acid Reportedly Dumped by Yangtze River
Caijing Magazine, September 10, 2008
http://english.caijing.com.cn/2008-09-10/110011467.html

Time Is Running out to Meet Pollution Targets
South China Morning Post, September 11, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=7c25c071dac4c110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Food Security
Baby Milk Powder Being Investigated after 14 Babies Get Sick
Xinhuanet, September 10, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-09/10/content_9891809.htm

Related information:
More Babies Suffer from Kidney Stones
Xinhua (via China Daily), September 11, 2008
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-09/11/content_7018843.htm

Human Rights Defender - Huang Qi (黄琦)
当局再拒家属见黄琦 六四天网内容仍更新 (Authorities Continue to Refuse Family Visits for Huang Qi)
Radio Free Asia, September 10, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/huangqi-09102008122702.html

Labor
Coal Mine Gas Blast Kills Five in SW China
Xinhuanet, September 10, 2008
http://rss.xinhuanet.com/newsc/english/2008-09/11/content_9912358.htm

128 Die as Hope Fades for Mudslide Survivors
Shanghai Daily, September 11, 2008
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sp/article/2008/200809/20080911/article_373362.htm

湖北赤壁市出租车大罢工六名出租车司机被抓 (Six Detained during Mass Strike of Hubei Taxi Drivers)
Radio Free Asia, September 10, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/chibi-09102008083914.html

Law
Chinese Courts Urged to Enhance Public Credibility
Xinhuanet, September 10, 2008
http://rss.xinhuanet.com/newsc/english/2008-09/10/content_9910793.htm

Media
Book Stores Bar Suicide Themes
Reuters, September 10, 2008
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSPEK25999920080910

China Mulls Whether to Go for Gold with Media Openness
The Sydney Morning Herald, September 11, 2008
http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/china-mulls-whether-to-go-for-gold-with-media-openness/2008/09/10/1220857638057.html

Related information:
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Jiang Yu's Regular Press Conference on September 9
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, September 09, 2008
http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/xwfw/s2510/t470795.htm

Olympics
Activists Fear Games Will Do Little to Help Disabled
South China Morning Post, September 11, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=f784c071dac4c110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

USOC to Apologize to Olympic Cyclists on Mask Reprimand
Los Angeles Times, September 10, 2008
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/asia/la-spw-hersh10-2008sep10,0,5505192.story

Police
Rights Group Calls on China to End Torture
Reuters, September 10, 2008
http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSPEK33325820080911

Related information:
HRIC September Take Action: Put an End to Torture in China
Human Rights in China, September 10, 2008
http://www.hrichina.org/public/contents/84810

Protests and Petitions
Riot Signals China’s Property Fears
Financial Times, September 10, 2008
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/87d2fb0c-7f53-11dd-a3da-000077b07658.html

菏泽十多人示威要求当局释放维权人士周孟新 (10+ People Protest for Release of Shandong Rights Defender Zhou Mengxin)
Radio Free Asia, September 10, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/rights_protest-09102008113550.html

武汉市第一商校图书馆馆长因参与维权被捕 (Wuhan School Librarian Detained for Petitioning for over Two Months; Yet to be Released)
Radio Free Asia, September 10, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/rights_detain-09102008113849.html