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.

Monday, December 22, 2008

December 20-22, 2008

News
Bilateral Ties

Nobel Jurors Face Bribery Probe for China Trips
Associated Press (via Google), December 19, 2008
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g8eRNl5cTaXwydDo_sF9fONr_icQD95595900

Civil Society
Tibetan NGO Worker Given Life in Jail: Report
Reuters, December 22, 2008
http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE4BL13Z20081222

Food Security
Debate Delayed on China's Revised Food Safety Law
Associated Press (via Google), December 22, 2008
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5i7MiJ6RPCScq-j1ti0boCmc-CFjwD957MI9G0

Human Rights Defender - Guo Quan (郭泉)
郭泉被检察院正式批捕 (Guo Quan's Arrest Formally Authorized by Procuratorate)
Radio Free Asia, December 21, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/ge-12212008201329.html

Labor
社会保险法:领取失业保险金期限最长为二十四个月 (Draft Social Insurance Law Stipulates Unemployment Insurance Can Be Received up to 24 Months)
Xinhuanet, December 22, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/fortune/2008-12/22/content_10542788.htm

Land Policy
Land Disputes Headed for Arbitration under China Draft Law
Xinhuanet, December 22, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-12/22/content_10543537.htm

Law
Maintaining Stability Key - Top Judge
China Daily, December 20, 2008
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-12/20/content_7324861.htm

中国拟在刑法中新增条款严惩网络“黑客”犯罪 (Revised Criminal Law Draft Includes New Clauses on Hacker Crimes)
Xinhua (available at China.org.cn), December 22, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2008-12/22/content_10543198.htm

Macao
澳門千人遊行 反23條 促改善生活 (1000 March in Macao against Article 23 and Promoting a Better Life)
Apple Daily, December 22, 2008
http://appledaily.atnext.com/template/apple/art_main.cfm?iss_id=20081221&sec_id=4104&subsec_id=12731&art_id=11995700

Related news:
Hong Kong Democrats Barred from Macau ahead of Rally
Agence France-Presse (via Google), December 22, 2008
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hFLp2vVL1x0OvtJBcmFLFXk9dwXQ
Media
China Blocks Access to Foreign News Web Sites
Voice of America, December 20, 2008
http://www.voanews.com/english/2008-12-20-voa6.cfm

University Official Tries to Detain Reporter
Shanghai Daily, December 19, 2008
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sp/article/2008/200812/20081219/article_385136.htm

北京法院建议加强对网民言论的适时监管 (Beijing Court Proposes Strengthening Supervision of Speech Online)
Xinhuanet, December 19, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/legal/2008-12/18/content_10523848.htm

Migrant Workers
Cabinet Warns Authorities to Protect Migrants
South China Morning Post, December 22, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=fab2d50e7e95e110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD
Related information:
国务院办公厅关于切实做好当前农民工工作的通知 (Notice from the General Office of the State Council on Realistically Carrying Out Current Policies on Migrant Workers)
State Council, December 20, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2008-12/20/content_10531293_1.htm
Protests and Petitions
太原将严肃处置违法信访行为 包括进京上访等 (Shanxi Capital to Strictly Handle Illegal Petitioning Activities, Including Travelling to Beijing to Petition)
Taiyuan Daily (via People's Daily), December 22, 2008
http://politics.people.com.cn/GB/14562/8557189.html

上海千名农民第五天抗议 公安追查零八宪章签名者 (Protest of 1000 Shanghai Farmers in Land Dispute Reaches Fifth Day; 3 Detained by Police)
Radio Free Asia, December 19, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/nongmi-12192008090440.html

Public Health
Belatedly, China Spreads Word about HIV Prevention
Los Angeles Times, December 20, 2008
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/asia/la-fg-aids-china20-2008dec20,0,6240946.story

China to Include Mental Distress in Civil Rights Law
Xinhua (via China Daily), December 22, 2008
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-12/22/content_7328650.htm

Religion
Raids on Chinese House Churches
Radio Free Asia, December 19, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/church-12172008155054.html