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.

Monday, June 01, 2009

June 01, 2009

Top News of the Day
June 4th

Hong Kong Protest over Tiananmen
British Broadcasting Corporation, May 31, 2009
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/asia-pacific/8075884.stm

On Sunday, May 31, thousands marched in the streets of Hong Kong, commemorating the 20th anniversary of the June Fourth crackdown. Amongst the protesters was Xiong Yan (熊炎), a student leader during the 1989 protests who now lives in exile in the U.S. According to a University of Hong Kong poll, 69% of Hong Kongers believe that the June Fourth crackdown was a mistaken and 61% believe that the Chinese government should stop condemning the protests.

Tiananmen Victims in Public Plea for Justice
The Observer (via Guardian Unlimited), May 31, 2009
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/may/31/tiananmen-anniversary-protestors-chinese-government

On May 30, 2009, five former prisoners of June Fourth from Zhejiang Province, Wu Gaoxing (吴高兴), Chen Longde (陈龙德), Wang Donghai (王东海), Mao Guoliang (毛国良), and Ye Wenxiang (叶文相) sent an open letter to Chinese leaders seeking economic redress. They say their imprisonment has left struggling to survive without pensions or salaries. Their letter was released via Human Rights in China.

Related information:
HRIC Press Release: Open Letter to China’s Leaders from Five Former June Fourth Prisoners from Zhejiang
Human Rights in China, May 30, 2009
http://www.hrichina.org/public/contents/169614

News
Human Rights

Will Beijing Follow Taipei's Lead on Human Rights?
South China Morning Post, May 28, 2009
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=e8d1c84830281210VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Politics
中共推行“新愛國主義”教育 (CPC Promotes "New Patriotism" Education)
China News Agency, June 01, 2009
http://www.hkcna.hk/content/2009/0601/13485.shtml

China Urges Fair Play in Village Elections
Xinhua News Agency, May 30, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-05/30/content_11458226.htm

Media
Artist Censored in Broadening Crackdown as June 4 Approaches
South China Morning Post, May 30, 2009
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=0690281a94d81210VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Related News:
臨時抽起六四專輯 《君子雜誌》缺16頁 (16 Pages of June Fourth Coverage Removed from Esquire)
Ming Pao, May 30, 2009
http://www.mingpaotor.com/htm/News/20090530/HK-ggk1.htm

Jitters on Display as Tiananmen Security Tightened
Agence France-Presse (via South China Morning Post), June 01, 2009
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=c1470a669ca91210VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

记者在巴东被殴打遭驱逐 通往巴东的交通已受限 (Reporter Beaten in Badong for Reporting Deng Yujiao on Incident)
Radio Free Asia, June 01, 2009
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/dengyujiao-05292009134307.html

Related News:
中宣部叫停报道邓玉娇案 (CPC Propaganda Department Bans News Reports on Deng Yujiao Incident)
Radio France Internationale, May 29, 2009
http://www.rfi.fr/actucn/articles/113/article_14007.asp

Disasters
Three Coal Officials Detained over Mine Explosion that Killed 30
South China Morning Post, June 01, 2009
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=ca93035566791210VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Human Rights Defenders
Chinese Rights Lawyers Face Limbo Over Registration
Reuters, May 31, 2009
http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE54U0A320090531

June 4th
One in, One Out: Wanted Tiananmen Dissident Enters HK to Mark June 4, but 'Pillar' Sculptor Turned Away
South China Morning Post, May 31, 2009
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=e5877709c5291210VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Hong Kong Protest over Tiananmen
British Broadcasting Corporation, May 31, 2009
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/asia-pacific/8075884.stm

Children
農村留守童約5800萬 (Survey: 58 Million Left-behind Children in China's Countryside)
Ming Pao, June 01, 2009
http://www.mingpaotor.com/htm/News/20090530/tcbk1.htm

Child Kidnappers Arrested in China: State Media
Agence France-Presse (via Yahoo! News), May 29, 2009
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090529/wl_asia_afp/chinacrimechildkidnap

Protests and Petitions
Silent Protest in White Planned by Activists for June 4
Agence France-Presse (via South China Morning Post), June 01, 2009
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=f7f3035566791210VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Law
中国将采取多种措施加大对困难群体的法律援助 (China Will Take Measures to Increase Legal Aid)
Xinhua News Agency, May 30, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2009-05/30/content_11457860.htm

Tibet
Autonomy Is Solution for Tibet, Dalai Lama Says
New York Times, May 28, 2009
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/29/world/asia/29dalai.html

Food Security
Few Have Faith Food Safety Law Will Prove Effective
South China Morning Post, June 01, 2009
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=e244035566791210VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Related News:
Food Safety Law to Be Enacted
Shanghai Daily, June 01, 2009
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sp/article/2009/200905/20090531/article_402613.htm