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, December 20, 2004

December 21, 2004


News

Detention – Li Baiguang (李栢光)

Another reporter detained
多维追击:继赵岩之后李柏光也被拘留
Chinesenewsnet.com, December 21, 2004
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/SinoNews/Mainland/
2004_12_20_12_58_24_925.html


China Detains a Human Rights Advocate
New York Times, December 20, 2004
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/20/international/asia/20beijing.html?oref
=login&oref=login&oref=login


Labour
One in eight feels burnt out by job: survey
Xinhuanet.com, December 20, 2004
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/20/content_2358919.htm

Labour – industrial accidents
14 miners died in gas blast in Sichuan
四川宜宾煤矿瓦斯爆炸,14名矿工死亡
Radio Free Asia, December 20, 2004
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/xinwen/2004/12/20/meikuangshigu/

Fifteen dead, five missing in China mine blasts
AFP via Yahoo News, December 20, 2004
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?mpl=story&cid=1529&ncid=1529&e
=3&u=/afp/20041220/wl_asia_afp/chinamine_041220174548


Labour – protests
Factory layoffs shelved after thousands protest
SCMP, December 21, 2004
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZZVJDQB1E.html

Law
Anti-secession bill reveals China's fears
Asia Times On-line, December 21, 2004
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/FL21Ad01.html

Secession bill shows China's wisdom
Asia Times On-line, December 21, 2004
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/FL21Ad02.html

Legal – court system
Guidelines set for new jury system
SCMP, December 21, 2004
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZ7WJDQB1E.html

Media

CCTV put under microscope as auditors move in
SCMP, December 21, 2004
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZ6180RB1E.html

Religion
New rules offer little comfort to religious groups
SCMP, December 21, 2004
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZ1S70RB1E.html

Officials and analysts hold different views on new religious provisions
中国官方与分析人士就宗教事务新法规看法不一
Radio Free Asia, December 20, 2004
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/xinwen/2004/12/20/zongjiao/

SOEs
Laid-off state workers to lose special status
SCMP, December 21, 2004
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZTR70RB1E.html

Rural issues – taxation
China reduces farmers' taxes by 30 bln yuan
Xinhuanet.com, December 21, 2004
http://news3.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/21/content_2360876.htm

Other – Hong Kong
You must do better, Hu tells Tung
SCMP, December 21, 2004
http://www.scmp.com/topnews/ZZZDR70RB1E.html

Other – North Korea
Two repatriated North Koreans may be executed
两名强行被中国遣返的朝鲜人可能遭处决
Radio Free Asia, December 20, 2004
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/xinwen/2004/12/20/chaoxian/