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, November 07, 2008

November 07, 2008

Top News
Human Rights Defender - Yao Lifa (姚立法)

Chinese Rights Activist Reported Missing
The Guardian, November 06, 2008
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/nov/06/china-humanrights

Yao Lifa (姚立法), a primary school teacher in Qianjiang, Hubei, disappeared shortly before the election of the Qianjiang Municipal People's Congress on November 12, 2008. Yao, a vocal supporter of direct elections, has competed in Qianjiang’s municipal elections since 1987 and was one of China’s first independent candidates in local elections. In 1998, he won a seat on the 4th Qianjiang Municipal People’s Congress.

Related information:
Prominent Advocate of Direct Local Elections is Disappeared by Authorities
Human Rights in China, November 4, 2008
http://www.hrichina.org/public/contents/73326
News
Environment

Rich Nations Should Ditch 'Unsustainable' Lifestyles: China's Wen
Agence France-Presse (via Google), November 07, 2008
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5ij4KjwW11cs6axz8P1D4boTcmHOQ

昆明将组建环保警察 (Kunming, Yunnan to Form "Environmental Police Squad")
The Beijing News, November 07, 2008
http://www.thebeijingnews.com/news/guonei/2008/11-07/008@030224.htm

Food Security
Now China Points Finger at Foreign Milk Products
Reuters, November 06, 2008
http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSSP38712420081106

Soft-drink Brand Linked to Burns
Shanghai Daily, November 07, 2008
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/article/shdaily_sing.asp?id=379760

Hong Kong
Proposal to Censor Web May Be Dropped
South China Morning Post, November 07, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=5238f368d127d110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Human Rights
China's 'Action Plan' on Human Rights Meets with Skepticism
Los Angeles Times, November 07, 2008
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/asia/la-fg-rights7-2008nov07,0,604983.story

Human Rights Defender - Guo Feixiong (郭飞雄)
两位律师隔玻璃会见郭飞雄 申诉启动受阻 (Guo Feixiong Speaks with Lawyers but Appeal Process Stalled due to Monitoring)
Radio Free Asia, November 06, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/zhuanlan/xinlingzhilyu/guofeixiong-11062008112723.html

Human Rights Defender
四川民运刘贤斌出狱 九年牢狱不改信念 (Sichuan Democracy Activist Liu Xianbin Released Early from Prison)
Radio Free Asia, November 06, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/minzhu-11062008101819.html

Media
China Cracks down on Guns, Pornography and Fraud
China Daily, November 06, 2008
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-11/06/content_7181869.htm

Multilateral
U.N. Torture Panel to Question China on Abuses
Reuters, November 06, 2008
http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE4A56XI20081106

Politics
Hunan Prefecture Chief Sacked for Fundraising Scandal
China Daily, November 07, 2008
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-11/07/content_7182740.htm

Related information:
湖南吉首非法集资受害群众示威仍持续 (Protests Continue in Hunan over Fake Investment Scheme)
Radio Free Asia, September 26, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/jishou-09252008094736.html
Protests and Petitions
瓮安暴力案开审 (Trial Begins for Weng'an Protest Participants)
The Beijing News, November 07, 2008
http://www.thebeijingnews.com/news/guonei/2008/11-07/008@030228.htm

上海近百访民到杨浦区房管局上访(视频) (Around 100 Shanghainese Petition District Housing Administration)
Radio Free Asia, November 06, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/shanghai-11062008094401.html

山东南沙河镇数百名拒迁户遭暴力袭 (Shandong Villagers Injured in Clash between Hundreds Protecting Their Homes from Destruction and Approx 200 Hired Thugs)
Radio Free Asia, November 06, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/demolishing_clash-11062008115313.html

Public Health
Chinese Drug Authority Halts Production at Drug Company Citing Contamination
Xinhuanet, November 06, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-11/06/content_10317918.htm

Taiwan
In Milestone, Taiwan's President Meets Key Chinese Envoy
Washington Post, November 07, 2008
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/06/AR2008110601589.html

Tibet
China Rejects 'Semi-independence' for Tibet: State Media
Agence France-Presse (via YahooNews), November 06, 2008
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081106/wl_afp/chinatibetdalaidiplomacytalks