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, October 15, 2004

DAILY NEWS BRIEF FOR October 15, 2004

Top news of the day

Death penalty
Provincial g0overnment’s authority over death0 penalty should be banned
省级死刑核准权应予突然死亡
Nanfang Weekly, October 14, 2004
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/zm/20041014/xw/tb/34543543.asp

China: Move to reduce executions?
Amnesty International (press release), October 13, 2004
http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGASA170532004

Land policy
Further crackdown on illegal land grabs
SCMP, October 15, 2004
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZM2245OXD.html


News

Death penalty
3 kidnappers get death penalty
Xinhuanet, October 15, 2004
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-10/14/content_2090640.htm


Detention – Jiang Yanyong
Jiang Yanyong on house arrest and no access to internet
路透社:蒋彦永软禁在家不准上网
Chinesenewsnet, October 15, 2004
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/Forums/BackStage/2004_10_14_17_53_27_789.html

Labour
Labour survey exposes extent of shortage in skilled workers
SCMP, October 15, 2004
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZE2245OXD.html

Labour departments consider setting guidance wage rate to reflect an appropriate minimum wage level
各劳动部门拟调最低工资标准 发布指导价
Dayoo.com, October 15, 2004
http://cn.news.yahoo.com/041015/83/2688f.html

Labour – Industrial accidents
A hundred Suzhou workers suspect inhaled radioactive pollutants but fail to get help from environment departments
百余工人疑遭放射源污染 苏州环保部门不知所措
Daijiyang, October 15, 2004
http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/4/10/15/n690804.htm

Law – Court system

First juvenile court to open in Chengdu
Xinhuanet, October 15, 2004
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-10/15/content_2093050.htm

Media – Censorship
China’s Web Crackdown—Is Porn the Real Target?
Radio Free Asia, October 13, 2004
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/technology/2004/10/13/china_web/

Petitions
Wang Dan: the political consequence of government’s repression on petitions
王丹:全面打压公民上访的政治后果
Chinesenewsnet, October 15, 2004
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/Opinion/2004_10_14_18_15_34_519.html

Innocent villager petitions against prolonged detention without success
无辜村民被警方超期羁押 上访50次无人答复
Boxun.com, October 14, 2004
http://www.peacehall.com/news/gb/china/2004/10/200410141358.shtml


Police
Nanjing police use pepper spray to stop gang fights
南京街头40余男子群殴 警方动用辣椒水喷射
Daijiyang, October 15, 2004
http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/4/10/15/n690917.htm

Politics
The extent of our expectation to President Hu
我們對胡錦濤能夠有多大的期待﹖
Mingpao, October 15, 2004
http://full.mingpaonews.com/20041015/t_msa1.htm

Population

China's one-child policy contributes to trafficking problem
Radio Free Asia, October 14, 2004
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/social/2004/10/14/china_one_child_policy/\

Public health – HIV aids

China vows to find and test all blood plasma sellers to control AIDS
AFP Asia, October 15, 2004
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20041015/wl_asia_afp/china_aids_041015020440

Rural issues - Petitions
3 Anhui farmers: from friends to enemies (Part III)
特稿:安徽三农民领袖反目成仇(下)
Chinesenewsnet, October 15, 2004
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/SinoNews/Mainland/2004_10_14_17_33_5_889.html

North Korea
UN Human Rights experts urge China accept “food” refugee
联合国人权专家敦促中国接纳朝鲜“粮食难民”
Radio Free Asia, October 15, 2004
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/xinwen/2004/10/14/chaoxian/

Xinjiang
Experts analyze Xinjiang’s latest situation
专家分析新疆局势
Voice of America, October 15, 2004
http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/4/10/15/n690726.htm