22 Companies have produced melamine milk powder, the People’s Daily reported. China’s General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, tested 491 batches of products from 109 companies after the deaths of infants who had taken Sanlu milk powder. 69 Batches from 22 companies were found contaminated by melamine to varying degrees.
Source: People’s Daily, September 17, 2008
http://society.people.com.cn/GB/41158/8053691.html
Two more arrests were made according to Hebei authorities’ press conference on September 16, 2008 in connection with the melamine-tainted milk powder recall. As of September 16, 4 people were arrested and another 22 were in police custody. As of September 15, 2008, about 10,000 infants who had been fed contaminated Sanlu powdered milk were examined. 1,253 have been diagnosed with kidney illness. 2 of them have died. 913 are being treated as outpatients. 340 remain in the hospital. "…The number could rise sharply in coming days as more parents take their children for medical check-ups," Xinhua reported, citing Health Minister Chen Zhu.
Source: Xinhua, September 15 and 16, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2008-09/16/content_10040178.htm http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2008-09/15/content_10010189.htm
The social unrest in Weng’an is not an isolated incident, said Study Times, the publication of the Party School of the Chinese Communist Party. The article cited official statistics on the increase of social unrests, 8,700 in 1993, 87,000 in 2003 and over 90,000 in 2006. “The upward trend of numbers continues.” The article held that the Weng’an incident is representative of major social unrest in recent years in terms of the number of participants, duration, intensity of conflicts, and their ramifications.”
On June 28, over ten thousand local residents gathered in front of government buildings in Weng’an County, Guizhou Province, over the investigation of the death of a female high school student. Angry crowds torched the police station, county government building, and Civil Affairs Bureau building. 1500 anti-riot police arrived on Sunday morning and used tear gas and high voltage batons at the scene. It was reported that at least three people died, 200 people were arrested including 30 middle school students, and 150 injured.
Source: Xinhua, September 8, 2008
http://news/xinhuanet.com/legal/2008-09/08/content_9847136.htm
The Beijing Public Security Bureau admitted in a press interview that it has not issued protest permits to anyone since August, Xinhua reported. Of the 77 applications, “74 were voluntarily withdrawn,” 2 had “incomplete documentation” and 1 was rejected according to the law.
Since August, the Beijing Public Security Bureau has received 77 applications (149 persons), of which 74 applications (146 persons) were from Chinese residents while 3 applications (3 persons) were from people residing outside China. In addition, the authorities received 22 inquiries (24 persons) about matters of protest permits, 13 (14 persons) from Chinese residents and 9 (10 persons) from residents outside China.
According to Chinese law, one must apply for a permit before taking to the streets.
Source: Xinhua, August 18, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2008-8/18/content_9469687.htm
Two elderly women who applied for a permit to protest in the newly established protest park during the Beijing Olympics have received notification of a “Decision on Education through Labor” from the Beijing Municipal government, BBC reported.
Between August 5 and August 18 Wu Dianyuan of 79 and Wang Xiuying of 77 had applied 5 times with the Beijing Public Security Bureau seeking permit to protest. Both were detained and interrogated for 10 hours during their attempt on August 5 at Beijing’s Public Security Bureau. The two went to Beijing’s Public Security Bureau again on August 18 and were told that since both had received the notification “Decision on Education through Labor” on August 17, they have no right to apply for a permit to protest.
Education through forced labor (laogai) is an administrative form of sentencing issued at the discretion of the government or police without a trial.
Source: BBC, August 21, 2008
http://news.bbc.co.uk/chinese/simp/hi/newsid_7570000/newsid_7573200/7573239.stm
On August 20, 2008, the Chinese authorities indefinitely shut down a popular website dedicated to the advocacy of rights of citizens in China, www.315wqchina.com. For the over 200 days that it was active, the website was shut down repeatedly because of its content, but was generally allowed to be up, until August 20. The last articles that it posted and which apparently led to its final closure were a story titled “Olympic Gold Medals Will not Determine the Happiness of the People” and a poem by a policeman.
Weiquan (wq) is a Chinese phrase meaning “safeguarding rights.”
Source: Boxun, August 20, 1008
http://news.boxun.com/news/gb/china/2008/08/200808202102.shtml
On the 100th day since the Sichuan earthquake, tens and thousands parents who lost their children in the earthquake held memorial ceremonies in various locations, according to a news report by The Epoch Times. The ceremony in Beichuan was held with armed policemen were at the scene. In Mianyang, the police used force to intervene in a memorial ceremony held in front of a China Bank. Some parents told The Epoch Times that the government sent a large number of policemen to patrol major road entrances. Some parents complained that their phones are tapped and they have no place to appeal about unfair compensation. The residents were warned: “We will deal with your issues as an internal matter. Do not disclose any negative news to the foreign medis.”
On August 20, the Guangming Daily published commentaries praising the leadership of the Party in its handling of the restoration of damages from the earthquake. The titles of the commentaries included: “Monumental achievement in fighting against the natural disaster” and “Eyewitness on the 100th day of the Sichuan Earthquake: Glorious Party; Superior Policy; strong-minded People”.
Source:
The Epoch Times, August 19, 2008
http://epochtimes.com/gb/8/8/19/n2233865.htm
Guangming Daily, August 20, 2008
http://www.gmw.cn/01gmrb/2008-08/20/content_825519.htm
http://www.gmw.cn/01gmrb/2008-08/20/content_825520.htm
On the 100th day following the 5.12 Sichuan earthquake, no news appeared in China’s state media regarding the memorial service by survivors for their deceased family members or the progress of reconstruction in the earthquake-stricken areas. Such news had disappeared from the media landscape long before the Olympics. Radio Free Asia reports that the authorities continue to suppress petitioning activities by those who lost their family members in the earthquake. Emergency rescue programs have also stopped.
Source: Radio Free Asia, August 19, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/dizhen-08182008123523.html