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 13, 2009

March 13, 2009

Top News

Human Rights Defenders – Yang Zili (杨子立) and Zhang Honghai (张宏海)
因言获罪四君子两人获释 杨子立张宏海八年刑满 (Yang Zili and Zhang Honghai Released after 8 Year Imprisonment)
Radio Free Asia, March 12, 2009
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/yangzili-03122009141204.html

Yang Zili (杨子立) and Zhang Honghai (张宏海) were released after serving out their eight year sentences. Two of four members of the political discussion society New Youth Study Group who were imprisoned for their political activities in 2001, both were convicted of “subversion of state power” and endured harsh abuses in prison. The other two imprisoned group members, Xu Wei (徐伟) and Jin Haike (靳海科) remain in prison serving out their ten year sentences.


Related News
Beijing Intellectuals Yang Zili and Zhang Honghai Released after
Eight Years in Prison
Human Rights in China, March 12, 2009
http://www.hrichina.org/public/contents/141758


News

Education
Frustration Voiced over Poor State of Higher Education
South China Morning Post, March 13, 2009
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0
a0/?vgnextoid=ff6d0d1099bff110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Human Rights Defender – Gao Zhisheng (高智晟)
China Dissident's Family Flee to U.S.
Reuters (available at YahooNews), March 13, 2009
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090313/ts_nm/us_china_rights


Related News
Family of Missing Rights Defense Lawyer Gao Zhisheng Arrives in U.S.
Human Rights in China, March 11, 2009
http://www.hrichina.org/public/contents/141421
Human Rights Defender – Liu Xiaobo (刘晓波)
Dissidents Honoured with Rights Award
South China Morning Post, March 13, 2009
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0
a0/?vgnextoid=91ad0d1099bff110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

June 4th
六四期间北大实行严格的门卫制度 (Beijing University Gates Will Be Heavily Guarded for June 4 Duration)
Radio Free Asia, March 12, 2009
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/64-03122009104036.html

Police
Officials Decry Prison Torture
South China Morning Post, March 13, 2009
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0
a0/?vgnextoid=f720ab6441eff110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD


Related News
Inspection of Prisons to be Intensified
China Daily, March 13, 2009
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2009-03/13/content_7575427.htm
中国大幅增加公共安全支出 (Huge Increases Go to Public Security Budget)
Radio Free Asia, March 12, 2009
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/gongan-03122009105717.html

Protests and Petitions
Villagers Battle Police over Land
South China Morning Post, March 13, 2009
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0
a0/?vgnextoid=814c0d1099bff110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Religion
广州家庭教会遭打压被迫转入地下 (Official Repression Forces Guangzhou House Church Underground)
Radio Free Asia, March 12, 2009
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/guangzhou-03122009105844.html

Rural Issues
China Plans Subsidies for Unemployed Migrants
Associated Press (available at YahooNews), March 12, 2009
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090312/ap_on_re_as/as_china_migrants

Tibet
China Says Willing to Meet Dalai Lama's Envoys
Reuters, March 13, 2009
http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE52C0R520090313

Related News
Tibet to Step Up Legislation, Law Enforcement to Fight Splittism
Xinhuanet, March 12, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-03/12/content_11000221.htm
Tibetan Areas No-Go Zones for Foreign Media
South China Morning Post, February 12, 2009
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0
a0/?vgnextoid=d01d51a76d8ff110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Related News
九寨沟封山拒游客 业者揣测和西藏情势有关 (Sichuan's Jiuzhaogou Blocked to
Tourists)
Radio Free Asia, March 12, 2009
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/tibet-03122009160645.html

青海甘肃藏区封城
旅游路线成武警专线 (Tibetan Regions of Qinghai and Gansu under Lockdown)
Radio Free Asia, March 12, 2009
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/tibet-03122009105426.html
XUAR
新疆男子掛疆獨旗判囚8年 (Man in Xinjiang Sentenced to 8 Years for Flying East Turkestan Flag)
Ming Pao, March 12, 2009
http://www.mpinews.com/htm/INews/20090312/ca41345i.htm