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.

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

December 17, 2008

News

Bilateral Ties

Healthy Development of Bilateral Relations Conducive to China, EU
Xinhua (via China Daily), December 17, 2008
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-12/17/content_7311729.htm

Sarkozy's 'European Value' Not Accepted
China Daily, December 17, 2008
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2008-12/17/content_7311832.htm

Disasters
Weather Rocket Kills Man and Blows up his Body at Cremation
Telegraph.co.uk, December 16, 2008
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/3793982/Weather-rocket-
kills-man-and-blows-up-his-body-at-cremation.html

Environment
China Urges Speed-up in Water Scheme
China Post, December 17, 2008
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/china/national-news/2008/12/17/188020/China-urges.htm

Corruption Blamed for Burst Water Pipes in NW China City
Xinhua (via China Daily), December 17, 2008
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-12/16/content_7311524.htm

水利专家建议黄河改道出黄海 (Irrigation Experts Propose Allowing Yellow River to Flow into Yellow Sea Again)
BBC, December 16, 2008
http://news.bbc.co.uk/chinese/simp/hi/newsid_7780000/newsid_7786800/7786868.stm

Human Rights
Party Looks Unmoved by Call for Freedoms
The Sydney Morning Herald, December 17, 2008
http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/party-looks-unmoved-by-call-for-freedoms/2008/12/16/1229189623226.html

Human Rights Defenders - Liu Xiaobo (刘晓波)
China Rejects US Call to Release Activist
South China Morning Post, December 16, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=a6cf006ca6f3e110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Related News:
欧盟促请中国解释逮捕刘晓波原因 (European Union Demands Explanation for Liu Xiaobo's Arrest)
BBC World Service, December 16, 2008
http://news.bbc.co.uk/chinese/simp/hi/newsid_7780000/newsid_7786600/7786619.stm
Labor
广东劳保厅长建议将老板欠薪逃匿定为刑事犯罪 (Guangdong Official Proposes Criminalising Going into Hiding to Avoid Settling Employee Backpay)
EastDay.com, December 17, 2008
http://news.eastday.com/c/20081217/u1a4049105.html

Land Policy
Villagers Held for Throwing Ink-filled Eggs at National Flag
South China Morning Post, December 17, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=4a8ffd871b04e110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

江苏扬州骇人听闻的野蛮拆迁事件 (BarbaricTreatment of Residents in Jiangsu Housing Demolitions)
Radio Free Asia, December 16, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/qiangchai-12162008120126.html

Law
最高法院通知规范民事诉讼举证时限(全文 解读) (Supreme Court Issues Notice Concerning Regulations on Time Limits for Evidence in Civil Actions)
Xinhuanet, December 17, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/legal/2008-12/16/content_10515885.htm

绵竹利诱学生家长撤诉 上诉者被指反党 (Mianzhu Earthquake Parent Lured into Dropping Charges; Prosecutor Accused of being Anti-CCP)
Radio Free Asia, December 16, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/mianzhu-12162008091012.html

Media
China Is Said to Restore Blocks on Web Sites
New York Times, December 17, 2008
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/17/world/asia/17china.html

Related Information:
Better Services for Foreign Media
China Daily, December 17, 2008
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-12/17/content_7311768.htm

China's Internet 'Spin Doctors'
BBC, December 16, 2008
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7783640.stm

Migrant Workers
Returning Migrant Workers put Strain on Home Provinces
South China Morning Post, December 17, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=0bbefd871b04e110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Police
四川绵阳乡干部在山西运城派出所内蹊跷死亡 (Suspicious Death of Sichuan Man at Shanxi Police Station)
EastDay.com, December 17, 2008
http://news.eastday.com/c/20081217/u1a4049186.html

Population
Population-Control Payout will Rise
Shanghai Daily, December 17, 2008
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/article/?id=384801

中国计生保密培训引质疑 (Questions Raised about Secrecy Training for Family-Planning Officials)
Radio Free Asia, December 16, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/jisheng-12162008114639.html

Public Health
377,000 Chickens Culled in Jiangsu Bird Flu Cases
South China Morning Post, December 17, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=59eefd871b04e110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Religion
广州良人家庭教会受宗教局和公安局人员的冲击 (Guangzhou House Church Attacked by Public Security and Relgious Affairs Bureaux)
Radio Free Asia, December 16, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/xinwen-12162008103351.html

新疆家庭教会牧师受审 各地教徒被捕下落未名 (Xinjiang House Church Pastor on Trial, Church Members Everywhere Arrested or Missing)
Radio Free Asia, December 16, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/jiaohui-12162008091450.html

Society
Chinese Graduates Recruited for Rural Work
International Herald Tribune, December 16, 2008
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/12/16/asia/letter.php

Taiwan
Direct Links with China Unrelated to Unification: President
Taiwan News, December 16, 2008
http://www.taiwannews.com.tw/etn/news_content.php?id=814820&lang=eng_news&cat
e_img=83.jpg&cate_rss=news_Politics_TAIWAN

Tibet
University of Tibet Brought into China's Key Education Project
Xinhuanet, December 16, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-12/16/content_10515237.htm