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, January 02, 2009

January 2, 2009

News

Corruption
Scam Artists Sell 'Forest' Lands in Barren Northern China
Agence France-Presse (available at YahooNews), December 31, 2008
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090101/wl_asia_afp/chinacrimeforestryoffbeat

Economic Development
Hu Criticises Destructive Growth Plans
South China Morning Post, January 02, 2009
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/
?vgnextoid=70f3262e5f29e110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Environment
Beijing Overshoots 'Blue Sky' Target in '08
China Daily, December 31, 2008
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-12/31/content_7358381.htm

China Slows Water Project
Wall Street Journal, December 31, 2008
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123064275944842277.htm

Food Security
Crackdown on Tainted Tableware
China Daily, January 01, 2009
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2009-01/01/content_7358467.htm

Former Head of Chinese Dairy Pleads Guilty
New York Times, January 01, 2009
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/01/world/asia/01milk.html

Related News
China Dairy Firms Plead for Forgiveness in New Year
Reuters, January 02, 2009
http://uk.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUKTRE5010AF20090102

Compensation to Cover Medical Costs 'Until 18'
China Daily, December 31, 2008
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-12/31/content_7355604.htm

Official: China to Set Up "Preemptive" Food Safety Network
Xinhuanet, December 31, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-12/31/content_10586639.htm

Government
Safety Post Filled after Four Months
South China Morning Post, January 01, 2009
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/
?vgnextoid=2ebd13766fd8e110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Related News
骆琳被任命为国家安全监管总局党组书记、局长 (Luo Lin Named New Head of State
Administration of Work Safety)
Xinhuanet, December 31, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2008-12/31/content_10586334.htm

China Town Given Survey Answers
BBC, December 31, 2008
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7806204.stm

Human Rights Defender – Liu Xiaobo (刘晓波)
刘晓波与妻子刘霞会面 当局继续传唤《零八宪章》联署人士 (Liu Xiaobo Meets with Wife, Authorities Continue to Summon Signatories to Court)
Radio Free Asia, January 01, 2009
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/liuxiaobo-01012009160128.html

Labor
Workers Trapped in Guizhou Mine
Shanghai Daily, January 01, 2009
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sp/article/2009/200901/20090101/article_386669.htm

Law
社会保险法草案三天收到意见近三万条 (Draft Social Security Law Receives 30,000 Comments in 3 Days)
Xinhuanet, January 01, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2009-01/01/content_10587539.htm

Macao
Record Number Sign Up to Cast Votes in Macau Election
South China Morning Post, January 02, 2009
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/
?vgnextoid=a51c82196629e110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Protests and Petitions
中国即将开通网上信访服务 (China to Open Online Petitioning Service)
Radio Free Asia, January 02, 2009
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/petition-01012009110206.html

Home Owners Confront Police in Guangdong over Power Substation
Shanghai Daily, January 02, 2009
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sp/article/2009/200901/20090102/article_386710.htm

Society
深圳当局禁止民众庆元旦 舆论认为反应过度 (Shenzhen Officials Forbid New Year's Celebrations in Some Communities)
Radio Free Asia, January 01, 2009
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/shenzhen-01012009101327.html

Tibet
Tibetans in Taiwan Appeal for Residency
South China Morning Post, January 01, 2009
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/
?vgnextoid=f39e13766fd8e110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

XUAR
新疆库车挂牌成立爱国主义教育基地 (Kuqa, Xinjiang Named "Patriotic Education Site")
Radio Free Asia, December 31, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/xinjiang-12312008104319.html