Monday, February 09, 2009

February 9, 2009

Top News

Human Rights Defenders – Gao Zhisheng (高智晟)
黑夜、黑头套、黑帮绑架(高智晟 (Dark Night, Dark Hood, and Kidnapping by Dark Mafia (Gao Zhisheng)
Radio Free Asia, February 08, 2009
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/gao-02082009211313.html

On September 2007, rights defense lawyer Gao Zhisheng (高智晟) was kidnapped and brutally tortured by Chinese authorities. His firsthand account of these events has surfaced, detailing violent beatings, electric shocks to his genitals, and having his eyes burnt by lit cigarettes. Previously, Gao had been sentenced to prison in 2006 for writing open letters critical of the Chinese government’s suppression of Falun Gong. On February 4, 2009, Gao was taken from his home by security police and has not been heard from since.

English translation
Torture Account by Missing Rights Defense Lawyer Gao Zhisheng
Human Rights in China, February 08, 2009
http://www.hrichina.org/public/contents/126636

News

Environment
Experts Blame Drought on Human Errors
South China Morning Post, February 07, 2009
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/
?vgnextoid=60d391c356c4f110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Food Security
Chinese Milk Executive Says She Was Scapegoat for Crisis
Telegraph.co.uk, February 08, 2009
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/4558457/Chinese-milk-executive-
says-she-was-scapegoat-for-crisis.html

喀什11人服假糖尿藥不適 (16:18) (11 Sick in Kashgar after Taking Fake Medicine)
Ming Pao, February 07, 2009
http://www.mpinews.com/htm/INews/20090207/ca61619a.htm

Government
湖北一副局长被免职刑拘 涉嫌酒后驾公车1死2伤 (Hubei Official Arrested and Removed from Office for Involvement in Fatal Drunk Driving Accident)
Xinhuanet, February 08, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/legal/2009-02/08/content_10781260.htm

Hong Kong
Rules on HK Journalists Slammed as Step Backward
China Post, February 07, 2009
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/china/national-news/2009/02/07/195072/Rules-on.htm

June 4th
纪念八九前卫艺术展遭公安喊停 (Art Exhibition Commemorating Tiananmen Anniversary Barred)
Radio Free Asia, February 06, 2009
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/liusi-02062009154219.html

“09行动”呼吁高校纪念六四抵制国庆 (NGO "Action 09" Calls for Commemorating Tiananmen Anniversary And Boycott PRC Found Anniversary)
Radio Free Asia, February 06, 2009
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/64-02062009100911.html?encoding=simplified

Labor
深圳48家欠薪企業上黑榜 (11:54) (48 Businesses in Shenzhen Blacklisted for Owing Back Wages)
Ming Pao, February 09, 2009
http://www.mpinews.com/htm/INews/20090209/ca11154i.htm

Media
中国强调被关闭网站不得改名重新开张 (Closed Websites Not Allowed to Reopen under Another Name)
Radio Free Asia, February 07, 2009
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/wang-02072009000712.html

Olympics
(China's Iconic Stadium is Losing Its Glamour Fast)
Straits Times, February 08, 2009
http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Asia/Story/STIStory_335704.html

Police
Chinese Inspectors Patrol Jails to Prevent Torture of Detainees
Xinhuanet, February 08, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-02/08/content_10784444.htm
Related News
Update on Xintai Mental Asylum Abuses Global Voices Online,
February 09, 2009
http://globalvoicesonline.org/2009/02/06/china-update-on-xintai-mental-asylum-abuses/

Woman Dies after Cops cuff, Drag Her
Shanghai Daily, February 07, 2009
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sp/article/2009/200902/20090207/article_390198.htm

China Human Rights Record Stirs Struggle at Home
Reuters (available at YahooNews), February 08, 2009
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090209/wl_nm/us_china_rights

Protests and Petitions
China Dragon Dancers Riot: Police
Agence France-Presse (available at YahooNews), February 09, 2009
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090209/wl_asia_afp/chinaunrestculture

China Stops Protesters before UN Rights Review
International Herald Tribune, February 06, 2009
http://www.iht.com/articles/2009/02/06/asia/beijing.1-424132.php

China's Rural Teachers Join Rumble of Unrest
Reuters, February 06, 2009
http://uk.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUKTRE5151CM20090206

Public Health
Deadly Tide of Birds in HK Fuels Fears of H5N1 Cover-up
China Post, February 09, 2009
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/china/local-news/hong-kong/2009/02/09/195302/Deadly-
tide.htm

State-owned Enterprises
SOEs to be Supervised for Corruption in Projects
China Daily, February 08, 2009
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2009-02/08/content_7454820.htm

Tibet
Security Forces Patrol Tibetan Town in NW China
Reuters, February 07, 2009
http://uk.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUKTRE51619320090207