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.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

August 13, 2009

Top News of the Day

Human Rights Defender - Tan Zuoren (谭作人)
Chinese Police Detain 11 Who Planned to Attend Activist's Trial
Guardian (UK), August 12, 2009
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/aug/12/china-detentions-activist-trial-earthquake

The trial of Tan Zuoren (谭作人), writer and environmental activist, in the Intermediate People’s Court in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, ended without a court decision on August 12, 2009. Before the trial, the well known artist Ai Weiwei (艾未未) and his volunteers were barred from attending the trial as a witness for Tan. Ai was beaten by Chengdu police and detained in his hotel room for 11 hours.

Related information:
Police Beat and Detain Supporters of Sichuan Earthquake Critic Morning before Trial
Human Rights in China, August 12, 2009
http://www.hrichina.org/public/contents/171835

Related news:
HK Reporters 'Detained' in China
AFP (via Sydney Morning Herald), August 13, 2009 http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/hk-reporters-detained-in-china-20090813-eimh.html

Activist on Trial for Subversion
China Daily, August 13, 2009
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2009-08/13/content_8563471.htm


News
Green Dam
李毅中:不強制電腦裝綠壩 (Installation of "Green Dam" Not Compulsory But Schools And Internet Cafes Still Go ahead: Minister)
Ming Pao, August 13, 2009
http://inews.mingpao.com/htm/INews/20090813/ca41124a.htm

Environment
Factory Closes After 300 Kids Sickened in China
AP (via YahooNews), August 12, 2009 http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090812/ap_on_re_as/as_china_lead_poisoning

Greens Hail Rule Giving Watchdog More Clout
South China Morning Post, August 13, 2009
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=0f772b2f84f03210VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Containers of Hazardous Chemicals Fall from Ship into Yangtze River
South China Morning Post, August 13, 2009 http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=4a887e0639f03210VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Human Rights Defender - Xu Zhiyong (许志永)
“公盟”、“许志永”遭大陆网站封杀 (Authorities Censor Words "Gongmeng", "Xu Zhiyong" in Cyberspace)
Radio Free Asia, August 12, 2009
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/china_xu-08122009121600.html?encoding=simplified

Internet Censorship
李蕊蕊家人疑遭控制 当局发布消息又删网帖 (Authorities Monitor Family of "Black Jail" Rape Victim, Shut down Websites Reporting Related News)
Radio Free Asia, August 12, 2009
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/liruirui-08122009085631.html

Chinese Parents "Shed Tears," Begged for Web Curbs
Reuters via YahooNew.com, August 13, 2009
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090813/wl_nm/us_china_internet

Children
Shanxi Police Crack Baby Trafficking Network
Shanghai Daily, August 13, 2009
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/article/?id=410556

State Security
Rio Tinto Says China Has No Case against Exec
AFP( via YahooNews), August 12, 2009 http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090812/wl_asia_afp/chinaaustraliabritainminingdiplomacyriotintohu

Australia Says 'Internal Pressure' Helped Rio Case
AFP( via YahooNews), August 13, 2009 http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090813/ts_afp/chinaaustraliabritainminingdiplomacyriotinto