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.

Friday, March 06, 2009

March 6, 2009

Top News
天安門示威 20上訪者被捕 (20+ Petitioners Detained at Tiananmen Demonstration)
Sin Tao Daily, March 6, 2009
http://news.sina.com.hk/cgi-bin/nw/show.cgi/94/1/1/1058138/1.html

During the opening ceremony for the National People’s Conference, a group of petitioners from across China gathered outside to demonstrate, hoping to meet officials to address their grievances. Police detained more than 20 demonstrators, one of whom was carried away after he mutilated himself with a knife.

Related information:
Chinese Authorities Tighten Grip on Rights Defenders during NPC and CPPCC Sessions
Human Rights in China, March 5, 2009
http://www.hrichina.org/public/contents/138378


News
Corruption
CCTV Fire Probe Turns Up Graft, Weekly Says
South China Morning Post, March 6, 2009
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=f73d52e0c07df110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD
Related news:
央视新址大火余波未了 (Repercussions Remain in CCTV Fire)
Caijing, March 2, 2009
http://magazine.caijing.com.cn/2009-03-02/110075452.html
Human Rights Defenders
推动北京律协直选的律师遭打压 名字不见选票中 (Names of Lawyers Supporting Direct Elections in Beijing Lawyers Association Missing from Ballots)
Radio Free Asia, March 5, 2009
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/minzhu-03052009082744.html

Media
中国新闻出版总署称将坚决打击假冒记者和假新闻 (GAPP Says It Will Strike Back against Fake Reporters and News)
Radio Free Asia, March 5, 2009
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/jizhe-03052009093917.html

Military
China Must Build Aircraft Carrier 'Soon' Military Says
The Telegraph, March 6, 2009
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/4946624/China-must-build-aircraft-carrier-soon-military-says.html

Protests and Petitions
江苏两百访民与警冲突 怒砸警车 (200 Petitioners and Police Clash in Jiangsu; Smash Police Car)
Radio Free Asia, March 5, 2009
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/shangfang-03052009100114.html

闽六老人北京大会堂附近服农药自杀(视频) (Six Elderly Fujianese Attempt to Commit Suicide by Poison outside Beijing Assembly Hall)
Radio Free Asia, March 5, 2009
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/shangfang-03052009082208.html

Public Health
Discrimination against Hepatitis B Carriers Rising - Survey
Xinhua (via China Daily), March 5, 2009
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2009-03/05/content_7542374.htm

Taiwan
Top Negotiator: Mainland Works to Improve "Three Direct Links", Normalize Economic Ties with Taiwan
Xinhuanet, March 6, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-03/06/content_10952586.htm



Related news:
Taiwan Says It Is Not Ready for Peace Talks with China
Washington Post, March 6, 2009
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/05/AR2009030502155.html
Tibet
50 Years after Uprising, a Clampdown on Tibetans
International Herald Tribune, March 5, 2009
http://www.iht.com/articles/2009/03/05/asia/tibet.php


Related news:
HK Tourist Says He Was Blocked from Tibetan Town
Associated Press (via Yahoo! News), March 6, 2009
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090306/ap_on_re_as/as_china_tibet


China Blames Monk for Spreading Rumours over Police Shooting
Agence France-Presse (via Google News), March 6, 2009
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5ibp-UIsbj0jOtn9El61CEKpRlbVA

Related news:
Tibetan Monk Admits Spreading Shooting Rumors
Xinhua (via China Daily), March 5, 2009
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2009-03/05/content_7542644.htm

Police Shoot Tibetan Monk Who Set Self on Fire
Washington Post, February 28, 2009
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/27/AR2009022701425.html

XUAR
Xinjiang Geared Up to Tackle Unrest
South China Morning Post, March 6, 2009
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=8d680aef518df110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

北京三人自焚案來自新疆 (Three People Who Set Selves on Fire in Beijing Were Uzbeks from Xinjiang -- Wang Lequan)
Ming Pao, March 6, 2009
http://www.mpinews.com/htm/INews/20090306/ca51647m.htm