December 23, 2009

Top News of the Day

Human Rights Defender - Liu Xiaobo (刘晓波)
China Opens Trial of Leading Dissident Liu Xiaobo
Reuters (via Yahoo! News), December 23, 2009
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20091223/wl_nm/us_china_dissident

Related information:
Diplomats Kept away from China Dissident's Trial
Associated Press (via Google News), December 23, 2009
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jhUm7us8viZgI3LPIS4ekels25DAD9CON8F00

歐美使節被拒旁聽劉曉波案 (US, EU Diplomats Refused to Attend the Hearing)
Ming Pao, December 23, 2009
http://inews.mingpao.com/htm/INews/20091223/ca31005.htm

当局在刘晓波案开审前恐吓维权人士 (Authorities Warn Several Rights Defenders Not to Voice Support for Liu Xiaobo)
Radio Free Asia, December 22, 2009
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/dissident_assault-12222009110420.html

Ding Zilin Urges Charter 08 Signers to “Join” Liu Xiaobo’s Trial
Human Rights in China, December 18, 2009
http://www.hrichina.org/public/contents/172613

News

Gender
China Opens State-backed Gay Bar to Fight Spread of Aids
The Independent, December 23, 2009
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/china-opens-statebacked-homosexual-bar-to-combat-aids-1848122.html

Human Rights Defenders
Tainted-milk Activist Zhao Lianhai Officially Arrested for 'Making Trouble'
South China Morning Post, December 23, 2009
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=5d639b8b7a6b5210VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Internet Censorship
"短命"的人民网微博客 (Twitter-like Microblog by People's Daily Shut down 3 Hours After Its Launch)
Radio France Internationale, December 22, 2009
http://www.rfi.fr/actucn/articles/120/article_18284.asp

Related information:
官方關注迷你博客殺傷巨 (Internet Could Trigger Major Unrest:
Chinese Academy of Social Sciences)
Ming Pao, December 22, 2009
http://news.mingpao.com/20091222/cca1h.htm

Protests and Petitions
两地维权农民遭到打击报复 (Rights Defenders for Evicted Rural Residents Face Retaliation)
Radio Free Asia, December 22, 2009
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/nongmin-12222009122339.html

Law
Arbitrary Justice: Ignoring Its Own Laws, China Is Set to Execute a Briton with an Apparent History of Severe Mental Illness
South China Morning Post, December 23, 2009
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=11e17bf1576b5210VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Public Health
Chinese Vice Premier Calls for Deepened Medical Reform
Xinhua News Agency, December 22, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-12/22/content_12690251.htm

Social Security
China Considers Establishing State Social Security Fund
Xinhua News Agency, December 23, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-12/23/content_12692178.htm

Related News:
Pensions up Again, and They'll Be Portable Too
South China Morning Post, December 23, 2009
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=00bc93f9067b5210VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

December 22, 2009

Top News of the Day

Human Rights Defenders
张博树被社科院“限期调离” (Constitutional Scholar Asked to Leave His Post at Chinese Academy of Social Sciences)
Radio Free Asia, December 21, 2009
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/boshu-12212009161209.html

On December 21, 2009, Zhang Boshu (张博树), political philosopher and constitutional scholar, was asked to leave his post at the Philosophy Institute of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS). Zhang had worked with CASS since 1991. The dismissal notice says Zhang now has three months to “transfer out” of CASS. The official reason for his expulsion is “his absence without leave” in 2009 but Zhang said that it must be related to his numerous articles advocating constitutional reform.

More information:
Vocal Government Critic Dismissed from China’s Top Think Tank
Human Rights in China, December 22, 2009
http://www.hrichina.org/public/contents/172628

News
Death Penalty
Britain to Press China on Looming Execution for Briton
Agence France-Presse, December 22, 2009
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/britain-to-press-china-on-looming-execution-for-briton-20091222-lbdu.html

Human Rights Defenders - Ai Weiwei (艾未未), Feng Zhenghu (冯正虎)
艾未未发布新片《冯正虎回家》 (Ai Weiwei Releases New Film: "Feng Zhenghu Returns Home")
Radio Free Asia, December 21, 2009
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/ai-12212009105432.html

Internet Censorship
网站“移民”逃避监管 国家研究对策 (Authorities Study How to Regulate Chinese Websites that Host outside China)
Southern Metropolis Daily, December 22, 2009
http://epaper.nddaily.com/A/html/2009-12/22/content_973748.htm

China Taking Measures to Regulate Domain Name Registration
China CSR, December 21, 2009
http://www.chinacsr.com/en/2009/12/21/6818-china-taking-measures-to-regulate-domain-name-registration/

Labor
尘肺门工人多无合同 六学者上书人保部 (6 Scholars Call upon Labor Authorities to Protect the Right of Workers with COPD (Lung Disease) to A Written Contract)
Southern Metropolis Daily, December 22, 2009
http://epaper.nddaily.com/A/html/2009-12/22/content_973800.htm

Land Policy
唐福珍事件震动国务院 中央拟专设部门负责拆迁 (Central Government Plans to Set up A New Department Responsible for Demolition)
International Herald Leader, December 22, 2009
http://china.rednet.cn/c/2009/12/22/1876570_1.htm

Law
選舉法修正案草案擬增查處破壞選舉行為規定 (Draft of Electoral Act Enters into Second Reading; Several Features Added)
China News Service, December 22, 2009
http://news.sina.com.hk/cgi-bin/nw/show.cgi/9/1/1/1369267/1.html

Society
Social Unrest 'On the Rise' in China
British Broadcasting Corporation, December 21, 2009
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8425119.stm

Taiwan
Beijing Envoy Tells Taiwan of China's Wish to 'Move Down the Road of Peace'
Irish Times, December 22, 2009
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2009/1222/1224261107538.html

XUAR
Urumqi Remains Divided by Fear and Mistrust
South China Morning Post, December 22, 2009
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=f5e58e93ee1b5210VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD