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 02, 2009

April 2, 2009

Top News

Human Rights Defender – Zhang Jinfeng (张金凤)
Protester Sentenced to 'Re-Education Through Labour', US Human Rights Group Says
South China Morning Post, April 02, 2009
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0
a0/?vgnextoid=6872000fc7260210VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Zhang Jinfeng (张金凤), a Shandong petitioner was sentenced to one year and nine months of Reeducation-Through-Labor. Zhang was taking photos at a peaceful rally in Jinan, Shandong Province, on March 5, when she was detained with several others. The rally, attended by several hundred petitioners, was convened on the opening day of the 2009 session of the National People’s Congress to show support for the Chinese League of Victims (中国冤民大同盟).


Related News
Shandong Petitioner Sentenced to Reeducation-Through-Labor
Human Rights in China, March 31, 2009
http://www.hrichina.org/public/contents/152233

News

Children
国务院启动中小学校舍安全工程 (State Council Starts Effort to Improve School Construction Safety)
Radio France Internationale, April 02, 2009
http://www.rfi.fr/actucn/articles/112/article_12945.asp

Corruption
北亚集团原董事长刘贵亭挪近亿元贪千万元判无期 (Corporate Head Given Life for Bribe-Taking)
Xinhuanet, April 01, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/legal/2009-04/01/content_11113804.htm

Education
兰州将对贫困生每年发放1.5万就业资金 (Lanzhou Will Issue Employment Subsidies to Poor Students)
Net Ease, April 02, 2009
http://news.163.com/09/0402/02/55S4IMG70001124J.html

中国读书贵就业难 引发“读书无用” 论 (With Tuition High and Employment Low, Debate over Worth of Education)
Radio Free Asia, April 01, 2009
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/jiaoyu-04012009105946.html

Environment
Blizzards, Thunderstorms Threaten Rice Crops in S China
Xinhuanet, April 02, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-04/02/content_11117889.htm

Expert: Male Infertility Rate on the Rise in Shanghai
Xinhuanet, April 02, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-04/02/content_11118303.htm

Labor
郑州的士互助会昨日挂牌成立 身份合法性遭质疑 (Taxi Drivers' Mutual Aid Association Established in Zhengzhou; Doubts Raised about Org’s Legality)
Xinhuanet, April 02, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/legal/2009-04/02/content_11118466.htm

Law
北京律师以另选他人方式参选律协被剥夺资格 (Beijing Lawyers Stripped of Qualifications for Participating as Alternative Candidates in Association Election)
China Youth Daily, April 01, 2009
http://news.sina.com.cn/c/2009-04-01/041217522631.shtml

Media
China Blocks YouTube, Again
Christian Science Monitor, April 02, 2009
http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0401/p06s01-woap.html

Related News
Online to be Hit with Watchdog Video Ban
Shanghai Daily, April 02, 2009
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/article/?id=396337
Military
China General Tells Troops Party Trumps State
Reuters, April 01, 2009
http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE53029820090401

Police
Chinese Teenagers Die in Jail from 'Routine' Police Torture
Times Online, April 02, 2009
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article6018439.ece

Prisoner Dies from 'Nightmare'
South China Morning Post, April 02, 2009
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0
a0/?vgnextoid=3503000fc7260210VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

乌鲁木齐发生暴力袭警事件上百人围观 (Official: Police Attacked in Urumqi, Over a Hundred Bystanders)
Net Ease, April 01, 2009
http://news.163.com/09/0401/08/55Q63U6L0001124J.html

Protests and Petitions
Petitioners Decry '99pc Mentally Ill' Remark
South China Morning Post, April 02, 2009
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0
a0/?vgnextoid=d343000fc7260210VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Public Health
China Reports Hepatitis Infections from Hospital
International Herald Tribune, April 02, 2009
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/02/world/asia/02beijing.html