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 20, 2009

May 20, 2009

News
Bilateral Ties
China Slams U.S. Foreign Affairs Bill Proposal, Urges Deletion
Xinhuanet, May 19, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-05/19/content_11402518.htm

Corruption
China Welcomes Chinese Embezzlers' US Jail Sentences
Voice of America, May 19, 2009
http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-05-19-voa12.cfm

Top Guangdong Official Investigated For Bribes
Shanghai Daily, May 20, 2009
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sp/article/2009/200905/20090520/article_401459.htm

受贿副局长卧室藏221万称是“个人爱好” (Corrupt Vice Minister: Storing 2.21 Millions is a "Personal Hobby")
Net Ease, May 20, 2009
http://news.163.com/09/0520/01/59NJEGPA0001124J.html

Disasters
Lax Safety Measures Blamed for Bridge Collapse
South China Morning Post, May 20, 2009
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=e182649c1c951210VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Environment
China Working on Further National Plan to Address Climate Change: Official
Xinhuanet, May 20, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-05/20/content_11403657.htm

Related News
China and US Held Secret Talks on Climate Change Deal
The Guardian, May 18, 2009
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/may/18/secret-us-china-emissions-talks
Food Security
Food Poisoning Kills 4 Kids in SW China
Xinhua (via China Daily), May 19, 2009
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2009-05/19/content_7792857.htm

Human Rights Defenders - Zhang Kai and Li Chunfu (张凯、李春富)
北京律师成立援助团调查张凯李春富被殴 (Beijing Lawyers Form Group to Investigate Beating of Lawyers)
Radio Free Asia, May 19, 2009
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/lawyer-05192009115259.html

Related Information
Beijing Lawyers Beaten for Representing Falun Gong Case
Human Rights in China, May 13, 2009
http://hrichina.org/public/contents/press?revision_id=164835&item_id=164831
June 4th
China Brushes Aside Zhao's Tiananmen Memoirs
Reuters, May 19, 2009
http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE54I1MY20090519

Last Tiananmen 'Hooligan' Released From Prison
AP available at Yahoo News, May 19, 2009
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090519/ap_on_re_as/as_china_tiananmen_prisoner

Labor
China's Labor Departments Help 6.98 mln Workers Get Back Wages in 2008
Xinhuanet, May 19, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-05/19/content_11403244.htm

China to Create 3M Jobs in Light Industry
Xinhua (via China Daily), May 18, 2009
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2009-05/18/content_7788713.htm

Media
Bloggers Frustrated as Beijing Blocks Google Service
South China Morning Post, May 20, 2009
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=2192649c1c951210VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Police
民警滥用职权致人亡 河南周口警方一审赔61万 (Court: Police in Zhoukou, Henan Fined for Beating Citizen to Death)
Xinhuanet, May 19, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/legal/2009-05/19/content_11401267.htm

Protests and Petitions
Student Demonstrators Clash with Police in Nanjing
South China Morning Post, May 20, 2009
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=afa2649c1c951210VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

重庆粮食系统被买断员工请愿 连日拉横幅露宿街头 (Chongqing Food System Privatized, Staff Protest for Social Security)
Radio Free Asia, May 19, 2009
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/chongqing-05192009164619.html

湖北上千名军转干部到省政府上访 (Over a Thousand Hubei Military Officials Petition)
Radio Free Asia, May 19, 2009
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/hubei-05192009093212.html

村民进京上访返乡被拘 警方称其涉嫌破坏生产 (Police Detain Farmers who Petition to Beijing)
Xinhuanet, May 19, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/legal/2009-05/19/content_11399331.htm

甘肅二百群眾圍堵縣委 (200 Surround Government Office in Gansu)
Ming Pao Immediate News, May 20, 2009
http://inews.mingpao.com/htm/INews/20090520/ca31218a.htm

Public Health
AP Reporter Quarantined in China after Cancun Stop
AP available at Yahoo News, May 19, 2009
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090519/ap_on_re_as/as_china_swine_flu_quarantine

Mainland Counts 4th H1N1 Case
Xinhuanet (available at Shanghai Daily), May 20, 2009
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sp/article/2009/200905/20090520/article_401474.htm

Social Security
两部门发布人力资源和社会保障事业发展统计公报 (Gov't Release Statistics of Human Recourse and Social Security Development)
Xinhuanet, May 19, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2009-05/19/content_11400984.htm

Tibet and XUAR
Police Chiefs Replaced in Troubled Regions
South China Morning Post, May 20, 2009
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=1652649c1c951210VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD