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.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

February 12, 2009

Top News

Multilateral
China Rejects UN Recommendation to End Death Penalty and Labour Camps
The Guardian, February 11, 2009
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/feb/11/china-death-penalty-united-nations

A Chinese delegation chose to reject recommendations made in a report by the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Wednesday. Among the rejected recommendations were proposals to end the death penalty and re-education through labor, grant greater freedom for lawyers and religious groups, and more protections for the rights of minorities.

Related News
China Rejects UN Recommendations for Substantive Reform to Advance Human Rights
Human Rights in China, February 11, 2009
http://www.hrichina.org/public/contents/128130

News

Bilateral Ties
U.S. Prepares to Broach Hard Issues with China
New York Times, February 11, 2009
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/11/washington/11diplo.html

Environment
Meet China's Green Crusader
International Herald Tribune, February 11, 2009
http://www.iht.com/articles/2009/02/11/opinion/edgardner.php

Food Security
China Investigating Milk Additive Used by Dairy
Associated Press (available at YahooNews), February 11, 2009
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090211/ap_on_re_as/as_china_milk_investigation

Gender
China Planning to Stage Its Largest-Ever Military Parade
China Post, February 12, 2009
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/china/national-news/2009/02/12/195700/China-planning.htm

Hukou
湖北荆门:农民工就业达2年 全家可转为城镇户口 (Hubei, Jingmen: Migrant Workers Can Obtain Hukou after Two Years)
Xinhuanet, February 11, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2009-02/11/content_10801179.htm

Human Rights Defenders
维权中国网发表《中国政治特区试点倡议书》遭关闭 (China Human Rights Defenders' Site Shut Down)
Radio Free Asia, February 11, 2009
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/wang-02112009162447.html

Human Rights Defender – Liu Xiaobo (刘晓波)
Dissident's Wife Pleads for Detained Husband
South China Morning Post, February 11, 2009
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/
?vgnextoid=67f6311ca546f110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Labor
China Makes It Harder to Fire Workers: State Media
China Post, February 12, 2009
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/china/business/2009/02/12/195748/China-makes.htm

Media
Chinese TV Official among 12 Held over Fire: Police
Agence France-Presse (available at YahooNews), February 12, 2009
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090212/wl_asia_afp/chinaaccidentfiremedia

Censoring of Fire at Chinese State TV Station Sparks Furore
Times Online, February 11, 2009
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article5709439.ece

Related News
China's Netizens Ridicule CCTV over Fireworks Debacle
Agence France-Presse (available at YahooNews), February 12, 2009
http://www.taiwannews.com.tw/etn/news_content.php?id=863180&lang=eng_news&cate_img=logo_china&cate_rss=CHINA_eng
Military
UN Human Rights Review Recommends China to Share Experience
Xinhuanet, February 12, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-02/12/content_10807051.htm

Police
Four Policemen Jailed for Injury Leading to Suspect Death
China Daily, February 11, 2009
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2009-02/11/content_7467249.htm

Protests and Petitions
山东千名军转干部再次集体上访 (Over a Thousand Former Cadres Petition in Shandong)
Radio Free Asia, February 11, 2009
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/junren-02112009101309.html

Public Health
大連瘋狗疫苗涉嫌故意造假 (Dalian Pharmaceutical Company Suspected of Faking Rabies Vaccine)
Ming Pao, February 11, 2009
http://www.mpinews.com/htm/INews/20090211/ca32014k.htm

Taiwan
Island Put under WHO Health Rules
China Daily, February 12, 2009
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2009-02/12/content_7467814.htm

Tibet
China Sentences 76 over Tibet Riots: State Media
Agence France-Presse (available at YahooNews), February 11, 2009
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090211/ts_afp/chinaunresttibetriotssentences

Related News
A Year after Riots, Officials Warn Tibet at Risk of Renewed Unrest
South China Morning Post, February 12, 2009
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/
?vgnextoid=fcfc5696e366f110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Situation Is 'Very Tense' in Tibet: Dalai Lama
China Post, February 12, 2009
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/china/local-news/tibet/2009/02/12/195679/Situation-is.htm