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.

Friday, December 29, 2006

December 29, 2006

Top News of the Day
Death Penalty

Mass Murderer Executed Without Psychiatric Test
SCMP, December 29, 2006
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZ4IHPD9WE.html
Convicted mass murderer Qiu Xinghua (邱兴华) was executed in public yesterday, just days before the Supreme People's Court is due to start reviewing all lower-level death penalty decisions. The Shaanxi Higher People's Court refused to order a psychiatric test, even though some psychiatric experts argued that his behavior and family history pointed to mental illness; under the mainland legal system, only the police, prosecutors and judges have the power to initiate a test. Qiu was executed about 50 minutes after the court opened at 9:00 am.

News
Death Penalty

社论:立斩邱兴华是对程序公正的执意漠视 (Editorial: Immediate Execution of Qiu Xinghua Is Blatant Disregard of Procedural Justice)
Nanfang City News, December 29, 2006
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/southnews/spqy/200612290529.
asp


邱兴华匆匆被“斩立决”说明什么? (Commentary: What Does the Immediate Execution of Qiu Xinghua Illustrate?)
Nanfang City News, December 29, 2006
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/southnews/spqy/200612290411
.asp


多省赶死线掀打靶潮 (Several Provinces Rush Through Executions Ahead of Implementation of New Rule)
Ming Pao, December 29, 2006
http://www.mingpaonews.com/20061229/caa1.htm

China's Supreme Court Guarantees Strict Control of Death Penalty
People's Daily, December 28, 2006
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200612/28/eng20061228_3366
06.html


Environment
水利部安排中央投资60亿元解决3000万农村人口饮水安全 ( 6 Billion Yuan to Be Invested in Providing Safe Drinking Water for 30 Million Rural Residents)
Legal Daily, December 29, 2006
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/bm/2006-12/29/content_502244.htm

Lower Emission Data Fictitious: Watchdog
SCMP, December 29, 2006
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZAIHPD9WE.html

Freedom of Speech
中日同研历史和中国限制史学研究 (Sino-Japanese History Study Group and China's Internal Ban on Research on Selected Contemporary Historical Topics)
Voice of America, December 28, 2006
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/w2006-12-28-voa46.cfm

Government
The Death of a Chinese Democrat
Time.com, December 27, 2006
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1572943,00.html

Hukou
改革户籍制度才能解决留守儿童问题 (Hukou Reforms – The Way to Solve the Problem of Children Left Behind by Migrant Workers)
China Youth Daily, December 29, 2006
http://zqb.cyol.com/content/2006-12/29/content_1627456.htm

Human Rights Defenders
代理人刘正有被解除资格 失地农民状告公安案受阻 (Liu Zhengyou Barred from Representing Sichuan Victims of Land Grabs in Illegal Detention Case)
Radio Free Asia, December 28, 2006
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2006/12/28/land/

Human Rights Defender - Chen Guangcheng (陈光诚)
陈光诚两律师被殴重伤 警方不管 (Police in Shandong Ignore Reports on Beatings of Chen Guangcheng's Lawyers)
Voice of America, December 28, 2006
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/w2006-12-28-voa51.cfm

Labor
Jobs Scarce for China's Graduates
Los Angeles Times, December 28, 2006
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-chigrads28dec28,1,5943111.
story?coll=la-
headlines-business

Land Policy
成都养殖户奶牛场遭强拆 百万家财一夕化乌有 (Dairy Farm in Chengdu Demolished)
Radio Free Asia, December 28, 2006
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2006/12/28/chengdu/

Law
讨薪6年无果 状告法院 (Migrant Workers in Hunan Sue Court over Ruling on Back Pay Claims)
The Beijing News, December 29, 2006
http://news.thebeijingnews.com/0567/2006/12-29/011@232249
.htm


Media
社论:十大新闻关宏旨 大众感知有隔阂 (Commentary: Xinhua's Selection of Top 10 News in 2006 Does Not Reflect People’s Concerns)
Nanfang City News, December 29, 2006
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/southnews/spqy/200612290522.
asp


New Media Rules May Be Permanent
SCMP, December 29, 2006
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZ21OPD9WE.html

各地发言人接电矇查查 (Government Spokespersons Across China Still Confused)
Ming Pao, December 29, 2006
http://www.mingpaonews.com/20061229/cca2.htm

Military
China Issues White Paper on National Defense
China Daily, December 29, 2006
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2006-12/29/content_770831
.htm


Three Gorges
In Building of Chinese Dams, Poorest Are Paying a High Price
International Herald Tribune, December 26, 2006
http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/12/26/news/dam.php