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.

Friday, March 25, 2011

March 25, 2011

Top news
Human Rights Defender – Liu Xianbin (刘贤斌)
China Activist Liu Xianbin Jailed for 10 years
British Broadcasting Corporation, March 25, 2011
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12859050

Veteran Sichuan democracy activist Liu Xianbin (刘贤斌) was tried and sentenced today on charges of “inciting subversion of state power” by the Suining Municipal Intermediate People’s Court. Liu has been sentenced to serve ten years’ imprisonment and two years and four months’ deprivation of political rights. Liu, who was also amongst the first signers of Charter 08, was detained in June 2010 in Suining, Sichuan Province. Liu Xianbing was imprisoned for two-and-a-half years in 1992 on charges of “counterrevolutionary propaganda and incitement” and again for thirteen years (released three years, eight months early) in 1999 on charges of “subversion of state power”.


News
Corruption
工信部证实苏金生被调查 (Information Ministry Confirms Investigation of Chief Engineer)
The Beijing Times, March 25, 2011
http://epaper.jinghua.cn/html/2011-03/25/content_643847.htm

Environment
Farmland Flooded by Toxic Sludge from Smelter
South China Morning Post, March 25, 2011
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=c3b31965a78ee210VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

广西龙江河变脏自来水发臭 环保局未找到污染源 (Environment Bureau Fails to Pinpoint Source of Guangxi's Filthy Water)
China Youth Daily, March 25, 2011
http://news.eastday.com/c/20110325/u1a5805375.html

Food Security
全国违法占用耕地面积公路铁路超一半 (Roads, Railways Cover Half of Illegally Used Arable Land)
People's Daily, March 25, 2011
http://news.eastday.com/c/20110325/u1a5805359.html

Human Rights Defender – Liu Xiaobo (刘晓波)
Nobel Jury Concerned about Chinese Winner
Associated Press, March 24, 2011
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110324/ap_on_re_eu/eu_norway_china_nobel

Human Rights Defenders
RFA独家:赵连海狱中一度命危 郭利获家人探望健康日差 (Zhao Lianhai's and Guo Li's Health Worsening)
Radio Free Asia, March 25, 2011
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/zhao-03242011120018.html

Labor
吉林白山事故煤矿矿长已被控制 (Coal Mine Gas Leak Kills 11, Mine Boss under Watch)
China National Radio, March 25, 2011
http://news.eastday.com/c/20110325/u1a5806198.html

Land Policy
湖南隆回数十黑帮强征地 年迈村民被掩埋及打伤 (Eviction Thugs Beat, Bury Hunan County Residents)
Radio Free Asia, March 24, 2011
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/hn-03242011103720.html

三部门:杜绝行政命令压低征地补偿标准 (Gov't Departments: Reject the Executive Order to Lower Land Compensation)
Xinhua News Agency, March 24, 2011
http://news.eastday.com/c/20110324/u1a5805233.html

Media
新聞網站公開「抵制強權部門」 (Told to Remove Sensitive Comments, Sichuan News Site Vows to "Fight the Power")
Ming Pao, March 25, 2011
http://news.mingpao.com/20110325/ccc1.htm

新闻出版总署:全国记者站一律重新登记 (Press Administration Requires Re-registration of Reporter Posts, Staff Lists)
China Youth Daily, March 25, 2011
http://news.eastday.com/c/20110325/u1a5806136.html

Migrant Workers
家长联名递交异地高考建议 (Migrant Worker Parents Send Proposal on Uni Entrance Exam to Education Ministry)
The Beijing Times, March 25, 2011
http://epaper.jinghua.cn/html/2011-03/25/content_644059.htm

Protests and Petitions
深圳華強北罷市爆衝突數千人不滿業主逼遷 防暴警驅散 (Thousands Join Impromptu Protest against Shenzhen Electronics Market Landlord)
Ming Pao, March 25, 2011
http://news.mingpao.com/20110325/cca1.htm

两会噩梦留痕 上海访民重返维权路 (With NPC/CPPCC Brutality in Mind, Shanghai Petitioners Continue to Fight)
Radio Free Asia, March 24, 2011
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/fm-03242011153339.html

大批访民仍被关黑狱 伤残人士孕妇也难幸免 (Disabled, Pregnant among Many Petitioners Held in Black Jails)
Radio Free Asia, March 24, 2011
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/sj-03242011144335.html

身綑炸藥炸火車 訪民事敗被捕 (Disillusioned Petitioner Jailed after Attempts Train Bombing)
Procuratorial Daily, March 25, 2011
http://news.mingpao.com/20110325/cab1.htm

Public Health
Zhejiang Villagers Become the Latest Victims of Lead Poisoning
South China Morning Post, March 25, 2011
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=aa261965a78ee210VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Society
部分啃老族讲述靠父母原因:就业难等问题所致 (Unemployment Main Reason Young Adults Depend on Parents)
People's Daily, March 24, 2011
http://news.eastday.com/c/20110324/u1a5804766.html

Tibet
Tibetan Parliament Accepts Dalai Lama Decision
Indian Express, March 25, 2011
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Tibetan-Parliament--accepts-Dalai-Lama-decision/766440/