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, August 10, 2009

August 8-10, 2009

Top news of the day
Multilateral
China Blames Unrest on Foreign-Based Separatists
Agence France-Presse (via Google News), August 08, 2009
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gMJH5T96LU_9YI9cXw-eRlGo6Oog

The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination began its review of China's progress in implementing its obligations under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination on August 7; the Committee will conclude its review on August 10. Before the Committee on August 7, Director General of the Department of Treaty and Law of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Duan Jielong accused the 2008 unrest in Tibet and 2009 unrest in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region on "separatists abroad." Members of the Committee posed questions including those on economic investment in ethnic minority regions and the teaching of minority languages; China is to respond to these questions today.
Related information:
A United Nations, China to Answer Broad Range of Concerns over Racial Discrimination
Human Rights in China, August 07, 2009
http://www.hrichina.org/public/contents/171805
News
Corruption
青島法官涉貪逾億被捕 (Four Qingdao Judges Detained on Graft Charges)
Ming Pao, August 09, 2009
http://news.sina.com.hk/cgi-bin/nw/show.cgi/94/1/1/1226081/1.html

Environment
Algal Bloom in C China Reservoir Affects Drinking Water of 15,000
Xinhua News Agency, August 08, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-08/08/content_11847923.htm

Beijing Air 'Cleaner' since Games
British Broadcasting Corporation, August 08, 2009
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8189921.stm
Related news:
Beijing's Smog Is Back Year after Olympics
Agence France-Presse, August 03, 2009
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090804/sc_afp/oly2008chn1yearenvironment
Toxic Villages Look to Hunan for Lessons
South China Morning Post, August 09, 2009
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=d1364a9b8baf2210VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Human Rights Defender – Guo Quan (郭泉)
郭泉颠覆案审结将择日宣判 (Guo Quan's Hearing Completed; Verdict and Sentencing to Be Later Announced)
Radio Free Asia, August 07, 2009
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/dissident_trial-08072009115917.html

Human Rights Defender – Xu Zhiyong (许志永)
当局不允许志永家人会面 香港学生公开质问温家宝 (Detained Activist Xu Zhiyong's Family Not Allowed to Meet with Him)
Radio Free Asia, August 07, 2009
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/xuzhiyong-08072009084748.html

Human Rights Defenders
China: Tibetan Dissident Disappears
New York Times, August 07, 2009
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/08/world/asia/08briefs-Chinabrf.html

Labor
Workplace Safety Investigation Targets China's Major Coalmines
Xinhua News Agency, August 08, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-08/08/content_11846456.htm

Media
广州戒网营里孩子打出SOS (Kids inside Guangzhou Net Addiction Camp Send Out an SOS)
Southern Metropolis News, August 10, 2009
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/tpxw/200908100010.asp

Police
A Rape Claim Puts Focus on Beijing's 'Black Jails'
Associated Press (via Yahoo! News), August 08, 2009
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090810/ap_on_re_as/as_china_black_jails

Public Health
300 Children Suffer Lead Poisoning
Xinhua News Agency, August 10, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-08/10/content_11854691.htm

State Security
China Says Rio Spying Has Cost It Rmb700bn
Financial Times, August 10, 2009
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/cecb1b40-8545-11de-9a64-00144feabdc0.html
Related news:
Rio Tinto Accuser Says Article Was His Own Opinion
Bloomberg News, August 10, 2009
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601081&sid=auJQaQ2A4FEM
XUAR
Urumqi Acts against Migrants
South China Morning Post, August 10, 2009
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=c60d97f091003210VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD
Related news:
Riot-Hit Urumqi to Tighten Migrant Population Administration
Xinhua News Agency, August 09, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-08/09/content_11852637.htm