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, February 18, 2009

February 18, 2009

News
Disasters
China Saw 99 High-Magnitude Earthquakes in 2008
Xinhuanet, February 17, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-02/17/content_10836449.htm

Environment
Ecological Damage Blamed on Synthetic Nitrogen Fertilizers
Shanghai Daily, February 18, 2009
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sp/article/2009/200902/20090218/article_391416.htm

Special Report: China Fights Worst Drought in 50 Years
Xinhuanet, February 18, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-02/17/content_10836005.htm

Hukou
Time is Ripe for "Hukou" Reform
Xinhuanet, February 17, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-02/17/content_10835973.htm

Human Rights Defender - Wang Xiuying (王秀英)
八旬老人天安门撒传单伸张人权 (Wang Xiuying Distributes Leaflets in Tiananmen Square)
Radio Free Asia, February 17, 2009
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/tiananmen-02172009112730.html

Internet Censorship
How China Censors Blogs
Radio Free Asia, February 16, 2009
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/chinablogs-02162009141830.html

June 4th
June 4 Leader Allowed Into HK - Briefly
South China Morning Post, February 15, 2009
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=7f369bee0057f110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD&ss=hong+kong&s=news

Labor
"Hostile" Forces Stirring Up China Jobless: Official
Reuters, February 18, 2009
http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE51H0XY20090218?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews

Law
北京市忆通律师事务所面临整肃 (Beijing Yitong Law Firm Faces Discipline)
Radio France Internationale, February 17, 2009
http://www.rfi.fr/actucn/articles/110/article_12137.asp

Media
China Pushes 'Soft Power'
Bloomberg News (via IHT), February 18, 2009
http://www.iht.com/articles/2009/02/17/asia/letter.php

Protests and Petitions
北京警方指艾滋病人分享聚会为非法集会 (Beijing Police Stop HIV/AIDS Patients' Gathering with Unlawful Assembly)
Radio Free Asia, February 17, 2009
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/china_aids-02172009105932.html?encoding=simplified

烟台老兵组织纪念中越战争受阻 (Police Bar Retired Soldiers from Commemorating Anniversary of China-Vietnam War )
Radio Free Asia, February 17, 2009
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/veteran-02172009101602.html?encoding=simplified

Related Information
China Silent On Anniversary Of War With Vietnam
Agence France-Presse (via Dow Jones Newswires), February 17, 2009
http://www.nasdaq.com/aspxcontent/NewsStory.aspx?cpath=20090217\ACQDJON200902170644DOWJONESDJONLINE000282.htm&SourceCode=&mypage=newsheadlines&title=
Religion
Evangelical Church Leaders Detained in China
AP available at Yahoo News, February 18, 2009
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090218/ap_on_re_as/as_china_christians

Society
Police Maintain Order in Hebei After Clash
Associated Press (available at South China Morning Post), February 18, 2009
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=899f60806f28f110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD&ss=china&s=news

Tibet
Rights Group Reports Protests Among Tibetans
Associated Press (available at YahooNews), February 18, 2009
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090218/ap_on_re_as/as_china_tibet