Human Rights Defender – Tan Zuoren (谭作人)
Chinese Police Detain Supporters of Quake Critic
Associated Press (via Google News), August 12, 2009
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gFyEqcNB-Gm7aOov5sHvjKouNkPQD9A14DCG0
The trial of Sichuan-based writer and environmentalist Tan Zuoren (谭作人) was scheduled to begin Friday morning in the Chengdu Intermediate Court, but eleven supporters of Tan were detained – and two beaten – by police to prevent them from attending the trial. Tan, who has been accused of “subversion of state power,” was detained in March 2009; he was investigating the students who were victims of the May 2008 Sichuan earthquake and the sub-standard construction of the collapsed schools. In February 2009, he wrote a proposal, “5.12 Student Archive,” which called on volunteers to travel to Sichuan to document the cases.
Related news:News
谭作人成都受审 王丹要求为其作证 (Tan Zuoren on Trial in Chengdu, Wang Dan Asks to Testify)
British Broadcasting Corporation, August 12, 2009
http://news.bbc.co.uk/chinese/simp/hi/newsid_8190000/newsid_8196500/8196558.stm
Bilateral Ties
Australia, China at Odds over Uighur Activist
Associated Press (via Yahoo! News), August 12, 2009
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090811/ap_on_re_as/as_australia_china_uighur_activist
Civil Society
北京德先生研究所网站被关 (Website of Beijing De Xiansheng Research Institute Shut Down)
Radio Free Asia, August 11, 2009
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/de-08112009155555.html
北京公益机构公盟缴纳罚款遭拒 (Gongmeng Tries to Pay Fine but Is Denied by Authorities)
Radio Free Asia, August 11, 2009
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/gongmeng-08112009155911.html
Disasters
谁来执掌760亿元地震捐赠 (Tsinghua Investigation Reveals that Possibly 80% of Quake Relief Donations Entered Government Coffers)
China Youth Daily, August 12, 2009
http://zqb.cyol.com/content/2009-08/12/content_2800866.htm
Human Rights Defender – Xu Zhiyong (许志永)
一批中国公民发请愿书要求释放维权律师 (Chinese Citizens Petition the Release of Rights Defense Lawyer Xu Zhiyong)
Voice of America, August 11, 2009
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/2009-08-11-voa45.cfm
Land Policy
Residents Protest Forced Relocation
China Daily, August 12, 2009
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2009-08/12/content_8557979.htm
山东黑社会人员夜袭商户 民众指受官员指使 (Shandong Shop Owners Attacked by Thugs and Gangsters at Night, People Claim Attacks Were Directed by Officials)
Radio Free Asia, August 11, 2009
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/heishehui-08112009105633.html
Law
China's Supreme Court to Standardize Sentences for Criminal Convictions
Xinhua News Agency, August 11, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-08/11/content_11865090.htm
Population
中国城镇人口明年首超农村 城乡差距拉大 (China's Urban Population Shall Exceed Rural Population Next Year)
Radio Free Asia, August 12, 2009
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/chengxiang-08112009092501.html
State Security
China Formally Arrests Rio Tinto Employees
Reuters (via Yahoo! News), August 12, 2009
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090812/bs_nm/us_china_rio
Related news:Tibet
Rio Employees Face Trade Secrets, Bribery Charges
Associated Press (via Yahoo! News), August 12, 2009
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090812/ap_on_re_as/as_china_rio_tinto_employees_detained
达赖喇嘛：西藏问题是中国内政 (Dalai Lama: Tibet Issue Is China's Internal Matter)
British Broadcasting Corporation, August 10, 2009
http://news.bbc.co.uk/chinese/simp/hi/newsid_8190000/newsid_8194000/8194006.stm