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.

Thursday, February 24, 2005

February 24, 2005

Top news of the day

Detention – Wang Mingqing (王明清)
Shanghai Petitioner Wang Mingqing Detained
Human Rights in China, February 23, 2005
According to Human rights in China, a human rights group based in New York and Hong Kong, a Shanghai resident Wang Mingqing (王明清) was placed under administrative detention on February 16 for ‘causing trouble’. The detention is believed to be related to Wang’s persistent petitioning the Chinese authorities over the destruction of his home in an urban redevelopment project.
http://www.hrichina.org/public/contents/press?revision%5fid=
20519&item%5fid=20518


Hukou
Public Security Bureau plans to draft new household registration law, submission date for the draft yet to be set
公安部:我国将制定新户籍法 提审日期尚未确定
People’s Daily, February 23, 2005
Deputy Chief of the Public Security Bureau said that the Bureau is preparing for drafting a new household registration law to address issues of accelerating labour mobility and inequality in the society; however, a time-table for submitting the draft has yet to be set.
http://legal.people.com.cn/GB/42735/3198817.html



News

Corruption
Mystifying budgets fuel graft, says magazine
SCMP, February 24, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZ5D3J985E.html

Public fund used in 80% of bribery cases
八成中国行贿者使用公款行贿
Dajiyuan.com, February 24, 2005
http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/5/2/24/n824875.htm

Environment
China's southern boomtown must clean up its act, mayor admits
AFP via YahooNews.com, February 24, 2005
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1530&
ncid= 731&e=4&u=/afp/20050224/wl_asia_afp/chinabritainenvi
ronmentshenzhen


Chinese environmental groups support punishment for projects failing to meet standards
中国环保组织支持惩罚违建工程
Voice of America, February 23, 2005
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/w2005-02-23-voa48.cfm

3 major rivers heavily polluted
Xinhuanet.com, February 23, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-02/23/content_260907
1.htm


China Resettles Hundreds of Thousands from Dam Site
Reuters, Feb 24, 2005
China has resettled about three quarters of the more than 1 million people forced from their homes by the massive Three Gorges Dam project but now must find ways to employ them, officials said on Thursday.
http://story.chinanationalnews.com/p.x/ct/9/id/bceea51b024d9
be4/cid/9366300fc9319e9b/


Human rights
US human rights report on China to criticize China’s poor human rights record
讨论:美人权报告将再次指责中国人权状况
Dajiyuan.com, February 24, 2005
http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/5/2/24/n824846.htm

June 4th – EU arms ban
Schroeder confident EU will lift embargo
SCMP, February 24, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZULM9585E.html

China Arms Embargo Not What It Seems
Associated Press Newswires, 24 February 2005
http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D88F30F80.htm

Europe Wants China Sales But Not Just of Weapons
The New York Times, 24 February 2005
To some critics, Europe's plan to lift its arms embargo on China is simply a way to make sure its weapons makers claim a slice of one of the world's largest military budgets. http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/24/international/europe/24
weapons.html


June 4th – Prisoners – Zhao Ziyang
Funeral Committee of Zhao Ziyang urges the Communist Party to investigate criminal liabilities for ordering illegal detention of innocent citizens
来稿:敦请审查中共非法拘禁公民赵紫阳的法人犯罪问题
Chinesenewsnet.com, February 24, 2005
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/Opinion/2005_
2_23_18_21_27_730.html


Lawyers speak about Lin Mu’s lawsuit against Xian Police over illegal detention
高智晟 刘军国律师谈林牧起诉西安公安局
Dajiyuan.com, February 24, 2005
http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/5/2/24/n824831.htm

Labour – employment market
Featured article: labour rights protection is fundamental in revolving labour shortages
李强来稿:保障工人的权利才是解决“民工荒”的根本办法
Chinesenewsnet.com, February 24, 2005
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/Opinion/2005_
2_23_19_18_26_97.html


Labour – industrial accidents (Fuxin case)
Safety chief faces probe after blast
SCMP, February 24, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZILM9585E.html

Media - Internet
China restates view on international management of Internet
Xinhua News Agency, 24 February 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-02/25/content_26166
02.htm


Police
Public Security Bureau to announce regulations to prevent and correct prolong detention
公安部即将出台规定预防和纠正超期羁押
China Youth Daily, February 24, 2005
http://zqb.cyol.com/gb/zqb/2005-02/24/content_1036813.htm

Protests and petitions
Petitioners Dragged From Gates as China's Leaders Hold Social Justice Meeting
Radio Free Asia, February 23, 2005
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/2005/02/23/china_petitioners/

Public health – HIV aids
Funding crunch threatens group helping Aids orphans
SCMP, February 24, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZQ3O9585E.html

UNICEF calls on China to treat AIDS as a general public health issue
Agence France Presse, 24 February 2005
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory?id=526812

Rural issues – taxation
Tax burden remains on farmers despite agricultural tax scrapped
农业税取消后农民仍是纳税人
China Youth Daily, February 24, 2005
http://zqb.cyol.com/gb/zqb/2005-02/24/content_1036933.htm