Wednesday, January 14, 2009

January 14, 2009

Top News of the Day
Human Rights Defender - Mao Hengfeng (毛恒凤)
Activist Held after Protest outside Shanghai Meeting: Rights Groups
Agence France-Presse (via Google), January 14, 2009
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jDczvS1kRB4Uh53Oa76WOBVMS4Tw

Shanghai family planning petitioner Mao Hengfeng (毛恒凤) was detained on January 12 while protesting outside the annual Shanghai Municipal People’s Congress meeting. Mao was protesting against forced evictions, along with several others who were also detained. While the other protesters were released, she will be held in detention for seven days for “disturbing public order.” Mao Hengfeng was recently released from prison on November 26, 2008, after serving a two-and-a-half year sentence for “intentional damage of property” for breaking two table lamps and other objects while in detention.

Related information:
Petitioner Mao Hengfeng Has Been Detained after November Release from Prison
Human Rights in China, January 13, 2009
http://www.hrichina.org/public/contents/109849
News
Civil Society

A Flowering of Activism Poses Problems and Solutions for China
International Herald Tribune, January 13, 2009
http://www.iht.com/articles/2009/01/13/asia/letter.php

Environment
China Plans Water Conservation, Control Projects along Yangtze River
Xinhuanet, January 14, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-01/14/content_10653237.htm

Related news:
World Bank Urges China to Raise Water Prices to Counter Crisis
Agence France-Presse (via Google), January 13, 2009
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5grXX4gjfitw35dY4NmDeriteF2Vg
Food Security
Parents Group in China Presses Government for More Action on Poisonings
International Herald Tribune, January 13, 2009
http://www.iht.com/articles/2009/01/13/asia/china.php

Human Rights Defender - Hua Huiqi (华惠棋)
维权人士华惠棋呼吁释放母亲被拒 (Beijing House Church Activist Hua Huiqi Appeals for Release of Elderly Mother, Shuang Shuying)
Radio Free Asia, January 13, 2009
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/huahuiqi-01132009085408.html

Human Rights Defenders
袁显臣案开庭审理 (Heilongjiang Rights Defender Yuan Xianchen's Case Goes to Trial)
Radio Free Asia, January 13, 2009
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/minzhu-01132009103342.html

Police
7 Policemen Arrested over Suspicious Death
Shanghai Daily, January 14, 2009
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/article/?id=388046

全国劳教系统制定安全规章1700余个 连续9年未发重大安全事故 (National Reeducation-Through-Labor System Has over 1700 Safety Regulations, No Major Mishaps in Past 9 Years)
Legal Daily, January 14, 2009
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/bm/2009-01/14/content_1019293.htm

Population
Capital to Continue Family Planning Policy
China Daily, January 14, 2009
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2009-01/14/content_7394258.htm

Poverty
China Plans 9 Billion-yuan Aid for the Impoverished
Xinhuanet, January 13, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-01/13/content_10651893.htm

Protests and Petitions
河北省公检法处置上访的秘密文件被媒体曝光 (Secret Hebei Government Document on Dealing with Petitioners Leaked to Foreign News Website)
Radio Free Asia, January 13, 2009
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/shangfang-01132009101659.html

Public Health
打工女黑诊所流产后身亡 (Beijing Girl Dies after Abortion in Unlicensed Clinic)
The Beijing News, January 14, 2009
http://www.thebeijingnews.com/news/beijing/2009/01-14/008@033936.htm

Rural Issues
Protection of Farmland Use Rights Overestimated
Caijing Magazine, January 13, 2009
http://english.caijing.com.cn/2009-01-13/110047500.html