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, April 16, 2009

April 16, 2009

Top News of the Day
Human Rights Defender - Zheng Enchong (郑恩宠)

郑恩宠再被抄家传讯 访民们闻讯前往声援 (Zheng Enchong Again Subpoenaed, His Home Ransacked)
Radio Free Asia, April 15, 2009
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/zheng_enchong-04152009135700.html

Shanghai-based rights defense lawyer Zheng Enchong (郑恩宠) was detained by police for ten hours on April 15; it was the fifth time that he had been summoned over the past week. Before detaining Zheng, police searched his home, making it the third time this year that his home has been ransacked. They confiscated two computers and six cell phones from his home.

Related information:
Shanghai Rights Defender Harassed on Heels of National Human Rights Action Plan Release
Human Rights in China, April 15, 2009
http://www.hrichina.org/public/contents/157333

News
Bilateral Ties

China Juggles Its Future in Africa
Asia Times Online, April 16, 2009
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/KD16Ad01.html

Deals Help China Expand Its Sway in Latin America
New York Times, April 16, 2009
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/16/world/16chinaloan.html

Vietnam Paper Banned over China
British Broadcasting Corporation, April 15, 2009
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8000399.stm

Corruption
Former Top Law Officials in Graft Probe
South China Morning Post, April 16, 2009
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=d1f75264b4aa0210VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Related news:
Guangdong Cases Uncover Years of Abuse, Sources Say
South China Morning Post, April 16, 2009
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=1fdc03a8faaa0210VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Law and Order Official Arrested
South China Morning Post, April 16, 2009
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=f39c03a8faaa0210VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Disasters
北川信访局否认 学校建筑存在质量问题 (Beichuan, Sichuan Petitioning Bureau Denies Issues in Quality of School Construction)
Radio France Internationale, April 15, 2009
http://www.rfi.fr/actucn/articles/112/article_13191.asp

媒体促公开四川地震遇难者名单 (Media Urges that List of Victims of Sichuan Earthquake Be Released)
British Broadcasting Corporation, April 15, 2009
http://news.bbc.co.uk/chinese/simp/hi/newsid_7990000/newsid_7999700/7999741.stm

Economic Development
《电子信息产业调整和振兴规划》正式出台 (Plan to Restructure and Develop the Electronics and Information Industry Formally Released)
Xinhuanet, April 15, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2009-04/15/content_11191625.htm

Related information:
China Approves Support Plan for Electronics and Information Industry
Xinhuanet, February 18, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-02/18/content_10842253.htm

Human Rights Defenders
贵州异见人士聚会遭打压 陈西被传唤八小时 (Guizhou Dissidents Harassed during Meeting; Rights Defender Chen Xi Subpoenaed by Police for 8 Hours)
Radio Free Asia, April 15, 2009
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/minzhu-04152009084148.html

港人抗议中国维权律师不断遭殴打 (Hong Kongers Protest the Continued Harassment and Beatings of Chinese Human Rights Lawyers)
Voice of America, April 15, 2009
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/w2009-04-15-voa40.cfm

Labor
100 Injured in Acid Leak
Shanghai Daily, April 16, 2009
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sp/article/2009/200904/20090416/article_397853.htm

Military
Chinese Navy Spells Out Long-range Ambitions
Reuters, April 15, 2009
http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE53F0G920090416

Related news:
专访海军司令员吴胜利:人民海军与共和国共成长 (Special Interview with Navy Commander Wu Shengli: The People's Navy and People's Republic Have Matured)
Xinhuanet, April 15, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2009-04/15/content_11185909.htm

Public Health
US$3B in Subsidies for Rural Healthcare
Xinhua (via China Daily), April 15, 2009
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2009-04/15/content_7681249.htm

河南省手足口病发病数上升 已死25例 (Number of Victims of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease in Henan Up to 25)
Xinhua (via China Youth Daily), April 16, 2009
http://news.cyol.com/content/2009-04/16/content_2626361.htm

Related news:
China Reports 7 New Deaths from Child Virus
Associated Press (via YahooNews), April 16, 2009
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090416/ap_on_re_as/as_china_child_virus

一中国女子感染萨斯病在俄罗斯火车上死亡 (Chinese Girl Infected with SARS Dies on Russian Train from Blagoveshchensk (Hailanpao))
Radio Free Asia, April 15, 2009
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/Russia-04152009155341.html

Religion
Hong Kong's Cardinal Zen Retires
British Broadcasting Corporation, April 15, 2009
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8000904.stm

Related news:
New Catholic Leader Vows to Defend Rights
South China Morning Post, April 16, 2009
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=c5b203a8faaa0210VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Society
Gay Couples Say 'I Do' in Symbolic Marriages
China Daily, April 16, 2009
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2009-04/16/content_7682132.htm