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.

Tuesday, February 03, 2009

February 3, 2009

Top News
Human Rights Defender - Gao Zhisheng (高智晟)

Rights Groups: China Rights Lawyer Released
Associated Press (available at Yahoo! News), February 03, 2009
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090203/ap_on_re_as/as_china_human_rights

Leading human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng (高智晟), who disappeared on January 19, has been released from custody in an unknown location. Gao, a self-trained lawyer known for his work in defending dissidents, underground Christians, and other lawyers, received a suspended sentence of five years for “inciting subversion” in 2006. In 2007, he was detained for several weeks after issuing an open letter to the U.S. Congress denouncing the human rights situation in China.

Related information:
Human Rights Lawyer in Arbitrary Detention
Amnesty International, Human Rights in China, and Human Rights Watch, February 2, 2009
http://www.hrichina.org/public/contents/122844
News
Bilateral Ties

Obama to Lift China Talks to New Level
Yomiuri Shimbun, February 03, 2009
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/world/20090202TDY01304.htm

Education
北京市发改委宣布取消暂住证费、义务教育借读费 (Beijing Cancels Fees for Temporary Residence Permits and Compulsory Education)
Xinhuanet, February 03, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2009-02/03/content_10753372.htm

Environment
我國北方遭遇嚴重幹旱多地發布紅色警報 (Several Areas in Northern China under Red Alert for Drought)
China News Agency, February 03, 2009
http://news.sina.com.hk/cgi-bin/nw/show.cgi/107/1/1/1024410/1.html

Human Rights Defender - Huang Qi (黄琦)
China Delays Trial of Rights Activist
Washington Post, February 03, 2009
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/02/AR2009020201094.html

Internet Censorship
Porn Police Laud 2 Websites for Cleanup
Xinhuanet (available at Shanghai Daily), February 03, 2009
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sp/article/2009/200902/20090203/article_389703.htm

Politics
Cadres Told to Stand Up to Unrest
South China Morning Post, February 03, 2009
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=1f411314b473f110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Protests and Petitions
Protester Hurls Shoe at Chinese PM during UK Visit
Associated Press (available at Yahoo! News), February 02, 2009
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090202/ap_on_re_eu/eu_britain_china

湖南长沙访民侯映春节到京上访遭判刑 (Hunanese Petitioner Hou Ying's Suspended Sentence Reverted to Two-year Fixed Term after Petitioning Trip to Beijing)
Radio Free Asia, February 02, 2009
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/fangmin-02022009104720.html

山东临沭大兴抓信访保稳定促发展 (Daxing Township, Shandong Develops Petitioning Safety and Stability Plan)
Xinhuanet, February 03, 2009
http://www.sd.xinhuanet.com/wq/2009-02/03/content_15594715.htm

Tibet
西藏两僧侣示威逮捕 甘孜官员否认国旗被降 (Two Qamdo Monks Arrested following Demonstration outside County Government Office)
Radio Free Asia, February 02, 2009
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/Tibet-02022009101653.html

XUAR
新疆访民胡军为得到身份证不断抗争 (XUAR Petitioner Hu Jun Protests Lack of Return of ID Card following Imprisonment)
Radio Free Asia, February 03, 2009
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/petitioner_abuse-02022009102208.html