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 14, 2008

November 14, 2008

Top News of the Day
Human Rights Defender - Guo Quan (郭泉)
China Democracy Activist Detained for Subversion
Associated Press (via Google), November 13, 2008
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5j_RH3fg_q48aTljsVv1r4kLz1oDwD94E39S80

Guo Quan (郭泉), founder of the China New Democracy Party, was detained on suspicion of “subversion of state power” on November 13. Guo, a former literature professor at Nanjing Normal University, has been detained several times since founding the CNDP in 2007, but police told Guo’s wife that this detention would be “different.” He was detained in May 2008 for ten days after writing articles criticizing the government’s response to the Sichuan earthquake.


News
Disasters

Quake Parents Clash over Memorial
Radio Free Asia, November 13, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/parents-11132008093210.html

Environment
Asian Skies Poisoned by Clouds of Pollution
International Herald Tribune, November 13, 2008
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/11/13/asia/cloud.php

Food Security
Hong Kong Children Fall Sick, Melamine Found in Fish Feed
Agence France-Presse (via Google), November 13, 2008
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iV8CqhtvDKy8PNAzbaL5C5zEhd9Q

Lawyers Plan Collective Lawsuit over Tainted Milk
Associated Press (via Google), November 13, 2008
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hEkwG0nXjJ-CSlKegVX9Nls4OHlwD94E69004

Nation Renews Vow on Grain Security
China Daily, November 14, 2008
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-11/14/content_7204076.htm

U.S. Blocks Chinese Milk Products
Washington Post, November 14, 2008
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/13/AR2008111303798.html

Human Rights Defenders
举办世界人权宣言六十周年纪念活动遭打压 (Activists Pressured for Planning to Commemorate 60th Anniversary of Universal Declaration of Human Rights)
Radio Free Asia, November 13, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquan-11132008090343.html
Related information:
Guizhou Police Threaten Rights Group over Commemoration of 60th Anniversary of Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Human Rights in China, November 13, 2008
http://www.hrichina.org/public/contents/75475
Labor
Factories Shut, China Workers Are Suffering
New York Times, November 14, 2008
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/14/world/asia/14china.html

深圳数百工人堵路追讨欠薪遭镇压近20人伤 (20 Injured after Hundreds of Shenzhen Workers Demonstrate for Back Pay)
Radio Free Asia, November 13, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/china_labor-11132008102143.html

Chinese Authorities Crack down on Illegal cabs to End Strikes
Xinhuanet, November 13, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-11/13/content_10354066.htm

Related news:
Cab Strike in China's Hainan in Fifth Day; Drivers Rally at Gov't Office
Xinhuanet, November 14, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-11/14/content_10357516.htm
Media
China Opens to Financial News Media
Financial Times, November 13, 2008
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/7a59ae42-b1a5-11dd-b97a-0000779fd18c.html

Multilateral
China Urges Promoting Equality among Different Religions, Cultures
Xinhuanet, November 14, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-11/14/content_10355316.htm

Politics
AWOL Official Booted from Party
Shanghai Daily, November 14, 2008
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/article/?id=380584

Related news:
Sacking of Defector Too Late, Say Critics
South China Morning Post, November 14, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=5fd8497ce569d110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Population
Uyghur Woman Faces Forced Abortion
Radio Free Asia, November 13, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/forced%20abortion-11132008173803.html

Public Health
Chinese Gov't Pledges to Provide Policy Umbrella for Disabled
Xinhuanet, November 13, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-11/13/content_10353904.htm

Related news:
Deng's Son Leaves Disability Post
South China Morning Post, November 14, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=43c6497ce569d110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD
Rural Issues
湖北村委换届舞弊 村民投诉遭恐吓 (Hubei Villagers Threatened after Reporting Corruption in Village Committee Elections)
Radio Free Asia, November 13, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/hubei-11132008105523.html

Tibet
11名藏族僧人及藏民一周内先后被判刑 (11 Tibetans Sentenced Successively within One Week)
Radio Free Asia, November 13, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/tibet_sentence-11132008110439.html