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.

Monday, April 04, 2011

April 04, 2011

Top news
Human Rights Defender – Ai Weiwei (艾未未)
China Police Silent on Ai Weiwei Detention
Agence France-Presse, April 04, 2011
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5h7CL2EG8k5QH5X7DAbPkm6m46RKg

On the morning of Sunday, April 3, 2011, noted artist and activist Ai Weiwei (艾未未) was detained at the Beijing Capital International Airport en route to Hong Kong. Ai’s Beijing studio was also searched by police, who detained eight of the studio’s employees for questioning; the employees were later released. Police also searched Ai’s home and questioned his wife, Lu Qing, on his work and some articles that he wrote and posted online. According to Lu and one of Ai’s assistants, there has been no word from Ai since he was detained, nor have the police given a reason for his detention.
Related news:
China Blocks Well-known Artist from Boarding Plane
Associated Press, April 03, 2011
http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5hTaJO2rO2p5mfPqMvh2ZOxuxxGYg

艾未未工作室遭突袭 收紧气氛三次要求身份登记 (Ai Weiwei's Studio Raided)
Radio Free Asia, April 01, 2011
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/aiweiwei-04012011115439.html

News
Bilateral Ties
Refugee Fights Lonely Battle for Justice in His Homeland
South China Morning Post, April 04, 2011
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=843bfb34ed11f210VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

US Worried about China Rights Trend
Agence France-Presse, April 01, 2011
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hAe77d2xb40I502x0rLql31ljCFg

Death Penalty
安徽亳州兴邦特大非法集资案主犯一审被判死刑 (Death Penalty Handed Down in Wide-ranging Illegal Fundraising Case)
Xinhua News Agency, April 02, 2011
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/index_article/content/2011-04/02/content_2570677.htm

Hong Kong
Doctors Want Births in City Capped at 88,000 a Year
South China Morning Post, April 02, 2011
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=843bfb34ed11f210VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Human Rights Defenders
Crackdown on Memorials
Radio Free Asia, April 01, 2011
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/tiananmen-04012011142415.html

母亲维权女儿被禁出国 官指可能危害国家安全 ("National Security" Concerns Bar Activist's Daughter from Leaving China)
Radio Free Asia, April 01, 2011
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/weiquan-04012011102455.html

Jasmine Rallies
第七波茉莉花警方盘查外籍人 艾未未及助手被禁出境及传唤 (During Seventh Jasmine Rally, Police Interrogate Foreigners)
Radio Free Asia, April 03, 2011
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/ai-04032011145534.html

Labor
Shanghai's Low-paid Workers Struggling as City Races Ahead
South China Morning Post, April 02, 2011
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=6fc132fdb211f210VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Land Policy
国务院发文要求纠正违背农民意愿强拆强建行为 (State Council Notice: Harmful Land Grabs Must Be Rectified)
Xinhua News Agency, April 03, 2011
http://news.eastday.com/c/20110403/u1a5821721.html
Related information:
国务院关于严格规范城乡建设用地增减挂钩试点切实做好农村土地整治工作的通知 (State Council Notice on Strict Regulation of the Urban-rural Construction Land-use Pilot to Conscientiously Implement Rural Land Reform Work)
State Council, December 27, 2010
http://www.gov.cn/zwgk/2011-04/02/content_1837370.htm
Law
China Acts against Road Safety Hazards
Xinhua News Agency, April 03, 2011
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/article/?id=467997
Related news:
全国将开展道路客运隐患专项整治 (Gov't Calls for Nationwide Safety Inspections of Road Passenger Carriers)
China Police Daily, April 02, 2011
http://www.mps.gov.cn/n16/n1237/n1342/n803715/2742702.html
Media
新疆礦難井下已無生命舻象 (No Signs of Life after Xinjiang Mining Accident Traps 10)
Xinhua News Agency, April 03, 2011
http://inews.mingpao.com/htm/INews/20110403/ca71457p.htm

Migrant Workers
透视成都户籍改革:农民成为职业不再是身份 (Examining Chengdu's Hukou Reform: "Farmer" No Longer an Identity But a Profession)
Xinhua News Agency, April 04, 2011
http://news.eastday.com/c/20110402/u1a5821030.html

Society
At China’s New Museum, History Toes Party Line
New York Times, April 03, 2011
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/04/world/asia/04museum.html

黄奇帆称让双职工7年能买房 (Chongqing Mayor: 7 Years Work Should Enable Dual-income Families to Afford a Home)
The Beijing Times, April 03, 2011
http://news.jinghua.cn/351/c/201104/04/n3322604.shtml

Tibet
Tibetan Protesters Sought
Radio Free Asia, April 01, 2011
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/tibet/protest-04012011152500.html

Crackdown on Monks Continues
Radio Free Asia, April 03, 2011
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/tibet/crackdown-04032011150423.html