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.

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Death Penalty

Beijing Touts Drop in Capital Crimes in Annual Human Rights Reports
South China Morning Post, May 15, 2013
www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1237864/beijing-touts-drop-capital-crimes-annual-human-rights-reports

Environment

云南发改委:中石油昆明项目环评报告涉密不公示 (Yunnan Authorities: Environmental Impact Assessment of Oil Refinery Project is Secret)
China National Radio, May 14, 2013
news.163.com/13/0514/19/8US23FMU00014JB5.html

Healthy Environment Vital, Says White Paper
China Daily, May 15, 2013
usa.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2013-05/15/content_16499510.htm

Health

Man Sues Chinese Hospital Over Forced Psychiatric Admission
Radio Free Asia, May 15, 2013
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/sues-05142013105349.html

Human Rights Defenders

Change in China 'Inevitable', Says Blind Activist Chen
Agence France-Presse, May 14, 2013
www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/afp/130514/change-china-inevitable-says-blind-activist-chen

Information Control

发泡餐具5月1日解禁产品标准、准入条件与回收机制饱受质疑, 律师要求发改委公开解禁信息 (Lawyer Seeks Information on Controversial Decision to Lift Ban on Polyfoam Utensils)
The Beijing Times, May 15, 2013
epaper.jinghua.cn/html/2013-05/15/content_1989303.htm

China Tries to Rein in Microbloggers
The Guardian, May 14, 2013
www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/may/15/china-microblogging-accounts-closed

International Relations

88 Generation Students Hold Talks with U.S., China
Radio Free Asia, May 14, 2013
www.rfa.org/english/news/burma/88-generation-students-05142013135841.html

Arctic Council Adds Six Members, Including China
The New York Times, May 15, 2013
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/16/world/europe/arctic-council-adds-six-members-including-china.html

Land, Housing, Property

中国多地现暴力征地 官方紧急通知严肃查处 (Ministry Issues Urgent Directive to Investigate Unlawful and Violent Land Grabs)
Beijing News, May 14, 2013
www.bjnews.com.cn/news/2013/05/14/263693.html
Related:
China Ministry Urges End to "Forcible" Land Requisition: Paper
Reuters, May 14, 2013
www.reuters.com/article/2013/05/15/us-china-land-idUSBRE94E04320130515

Political and Economic Reform

Binding the Baton in China
Asia Times Online, May 14, 2013
www.atimes.com/atimes/China/CHIN-01-140513.html

Population

北上广超生人群调查:明星富豪及中低收入者均有 (Survey: Celebrities, Millionaires, and Low-to Middle-Income Families Among Those Exceeding Birth Quota)
Beijing Evening Post, May 15, 2013
news.sina.com.cn/c/sd/2013-05-15/151927130901.shtml

Refugees and Asylum Seekers

Shan Rebels Ask China to Provide Shelter for Refugees
The Irrawaddy, May 15, 2013
www.irrawaddy.org/archives/34582

Vulnerable Groups

China Sex Workers 'Abused by Police'
British Broadcasting Corporation, May 14, 2013
www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-22520455

Opinion

中国缺乏开放的思想市场 (China Still Lacks Free Thinking)
Financial Times, May 15, 2013
www.ftchinese.com/story/001050413

人民日报:期待昆明成功走出“PX困局” (Transparency and Open Information are Key to Building Public Trust and Reducing Mass Protests against Industrial Projects)
The People's Daily, May 15, 2013
comments.caijing.com.cn/2013-05-15/112781409.html