August 19, 2009

Top News of the Day
Human Rights Defender – Xu Zhiyong (许志永)
Chinese Public-interest Lawyer Charged amid Crackdown
New York Times, August 18, 2009
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/19/world/asia/19china.html

Rights defence lawyer Xu Zhiyong (许志永) was formally arrested by Beijing authorities on August 18. Xu, a founder of public interest group Open Constitution Initiative (also known as “Gongmeng”) and director of its Law Research Center, was detained on July 29 on charges of tax evasion. Similarly, Open Constitution Initiative, also under investigation for tax evasion, was officially closed on August 17.

Related information:
Gongmeng Officially Shut Down, Founder Formally Arrested
Human Rights in China, August 18, 2009
http://www.hrichina.org/public/contents/171865

Related news:
Human Rights Lawyer Arrested on Tax Evasion Charges
China Daily, August 19, 2009
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2009-08/19/content_8586834.htm

News
Bilateral Ties
China Cancels Australia Visit as Relations Sour
Reuters, August 18, 2009
http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE57H15020090818

China ‘Rejects’ Japan Navy Visit
British Broadcasting Corporation, August 19, 2009
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8208726.stm

Related news:
Warships’ Visit Floats Up Agenda
China Daily, August 18, 2009
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2009-08/18/content_8580389.htm

Human Rights Defenders
广西维权村民因“非法聚众游行”被判刑 (Guangxi Villager Activist Liang Yonghong Sentenced to Three Years for “Illegally Gathering a Crowd to Protest”)
Radio Free Asia, August 18, 2009
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/rights_rural-08182009110339.html

Media
HK Journalist Groups Hit Back at Mainland over Permits Regulation
South China Morning Post, August 19, 2009
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=07bedc15f5e23210VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

New Law Protects New Media
China Daily, August 19, 2009
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2009-08/19/content_8585380.htm

《人民日报》记者参加香港七一游行受打压 (People’s Daily Report Who Joined in Hong Kong’s July 1 Demonstration March Harassed)
Radio Free Asia, August 18, 2009
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/china_asylum-08182009104514.html

Multilateral
China Crosses WTO Border
Asia Times Online, August 19, 2009
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China_Business/KH15Cb01.html

Protests and Petitions
Order Restored after Factory Protest
South China Morning Post, August 19, 2009
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=3df4dc15f5e23210VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Related news:
China Factory under Guard after Lead Poisoning
Associated Press (via Google News), August 19, 2009
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g7wv0eo5eoz5m7jhnU24w4NIk6GQD9A5Q4P00

抗議醫死人 家屬堵醫院 (Family Members of a Fujianese Migrant Worker Protest outside Beijing Hospital Where He Died)
Ming Pao, August 19, 2009
http://news.sina.com.hk/cgi-bin/nw/show.cgi/94/1/1/1236584/1.html

Taiwan
Taiwan Town, Fearing Toxins, Refuses China Typhoon Aid
Reuters, August 19, 2009
http://www.reuters.com/article/homepageCrisis/idUSTP84585._CH_.2400

Related news:
Mainland Official: Mobile Homes Are Safe
China Daily, August 19, 2009
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2009-08/19/content_8589027.htm

Tibet
Report: 8 Tibetans Jailed over Protests in China
Associated Press (via Google News), August 18, 2009
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iAMqM2_Dwudz52KLQeY2ZKFQq9-gD9A52N682

XUAR
世界伊斯兰大会代表团访问中国新疆地区 (Delegation from the Organization of the Islamic Conference Visit Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region)
Radio Free Asia, August 18, 2009
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/Xinwen/xinjiang-08182009170133.html