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 20, 2009

March 20, 2009

News
Corruption
China's Corruption Goes from Covert to Overt
Asia Times Online, March 20, 2009
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/KC20Ad01.html

Disasters
Chinese Artist Pushes for Full Account of Earthquake's Casualties
International Herald Tribune, March 20, 2009
http://www.iht.com/articles/2009/03/19/asia/quake.php

Related news:
豆腐渣樓砸死1790學生 (1790 Students Died in Poorly-constructed Schools Toppled in Earthquake)
Singtao Daily, March 20, 2009
http://news.sina.com.hk/cgi-bin/nw/show.cgi/94/1/1/1074386/1.html
Parents Say Sichuan Quake School Not Built to Code
Associated Press (available at YahooNews), March 19, 2009
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090319/ap_on_re_as/as_china_earthquake

Internet Censorship
河北整治互联网低俗之风 关闭整顿近600违规网站 (Hebei Shuts Down 600 Websites during Crackdown)
China News Agency, March 19, 2009
http://politics.people.com.cn/GB/14562/8992473.html

Media
Rights Groups Worried by Chinese Media Crackdown
Associated Press (available at YahooNews), March 20, 2009
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090319/ap_on_re_as/as_china_media_controls

记者称在湖南遭城管殴打 向省委书记写求助信 (Xiaokang Reporter Chen Yong Beaten by Urban Management Officials while Reporting in Hunan)
Chongqing Morning Post, March 19, 2009
http://fl.cqnews.net/daya/200903/t20090319_3111821.htm

Police
Suspect Dies with Police: Case Reopened
Shanghai Daily, March 20, 2009
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sp/article/2009/200903/20090320/article_394850.htm

Protests and Petitions
Beijing Protesters Attempt Bold March on City Heart
Reuters (available at YahooNews), March 19, 2009
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090319/wl_nm/us_china_protest
Related news:
70北京市民中南海示威 (70 Beijingers Demonstrate outside Zhongnanhai)
Singtao Daily, March 20, 2009
http://news.sina.com.hk/cgi-bin/nw/show.cgi/94/1/1/1074382/1.html
Public Health
Bad Rabies Vaccines Still Said to Be a Health Threat
Shanghai Daily, March 20, 2009
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sp/article/2009/200903/20090320/article_394874.htm

Officials Punished over Outbreak
South China Morning Post, March 20, 2009
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=c58730c42af10210VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Related news:
河南民权手足口病疫情得到控制 (Outbreak of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease
under Control in Henan)
China Business News, March 20, 2009
http://finance.ifeng.com/roll/20090320/462093.shtml

河南民权县瞒报手足口疫情 病历只字不提(No Word on the Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease Epidemic in Medical Records)
China National Radio, March 18, 2009
http://news.sohu.com/20090318/n262862676.shtml
State Security
250,000 Cameras Watching You in Guangzhou
South China Morning Post, March 20, 2009
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=45da30c42af10210VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Tibet
四川甘孜县两周内拘50藏人 (50 Tibetans Arrested over Past Two Weeks in Garze, Sichuan)
Radio Free Asia, March 19, 2009
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/xizang-03192009102916.html