Top news of the day
Detention – Yang Tianshui(楊天水)
Urgent statement for the detained China Pen writer Yang Tianshui
独立中文作家笔会狱中作家委员会关于笔会会员杨天水被拘押的紧急声明
Chinesenewsnet.com, December 26, 2004
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/SinoNews/Mainland/
2004_12_26_9_21_13_866.html
Detention – Zhang Qianfu(張倩夫)
Petition letter for the imprisoned China Pen writer Zhang Qianfu
独立中文作家笔会狱中作家委员会关于作家张倩夫被判刑的呼吁书
Chinesenewsnet.com, December 26, 2004
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/SinoNews/Mainland/
2004_12_26_9_22_38_525.html
Protests and petitions
Clashes after elected Henan village chief dies in police custody
Radio Free Asia, December 23, 2004
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/2004/12/23/china_henan/
Thousands in clashes with police
SCMP, December 27, 2004
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZEYFMG73E.html
News
Accountability / Civil service
Civil servants to be held accountable
SCMP, December 27, 2004
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZOEAMG73E.html
Corruption
Corruption case highlights nasty surprises lurking in 'little treasuries'
SCMP, December 27, 2004
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZGFAMG73E.html
Death penalty
China should revise death penalty system: experts
People’s Daily, December 26, 2004
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200412/26/eng20041226_168653.html
Law
NPC passes draft of secession legislation
SCMP, December 27, 2004
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZIYFMG73E.html
Law – legal reform
Expert testimony to be independent of judicial authorities
Xinhuanet.com, December 25, 2004
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/25/content_2380634.htm
Media – internet
China’s strict control over public opinion on the internet
中国严控网上言论
Voice of America, December 27, 2004
http://www1.voanews.com/Chinese/article.cfm?objectID=871A81AB-5F0B-43DD-B6B62D4E1BC3D3EF&title=%D6%D0%B9%FA%D1%CF%BF%
D8%CD%F8%C9%CF%D1%D4%C2%DB%2804%C4%EA12%D4%C227%C8%D5%29&catOID=C283D8A3-4AB3-11D5-8EC2009027ACC5C2&
categoryname=National%20News
Public health
Fresh debate on failure to help the dying
SCMP, December 27, 2004
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZQXFMG73E.html
Religion
Church Christmas gathering called off by Beijing police
北京警方取消一个基督教徒圣诞聚会
Radio Free Asia, December 25, 2004
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/xinwen/2004/12/25/jidujiaotu/
Zhejiang police alleged of arresting Catholic father
传浙江警方抓走天主教神父
Voice of America, December 26, 2004
http://www1.voanews.com/Chinese/article.cfm?objectID=630CA75F-
B892-498D-8C53DA9300802EE0&title=%B4%AB%D5%E3%BD%
AD%BE%AF%B7%BD%D7%A5%D7%DF%CC%EC%D6%F7%B
D%CC%C9%F1%B8%B8%2804%C4%EA12%D4%C226%C8%D5%
29&catOID=C283D8A3-4AB3-11D5-8EC2009027ACC5C2&categoryn
ame=National%20News
Other – Hong Kong
Several hundreds protest against Government’s West-Kowloon development project
几百人示威反港府开发西九龙政策
Voice of America, December 27, 2004
http://www1.voanews.com/Chinese/article.cfm?objectID=BBDF4F24-D599
-415A-80619795919BAB84&title=%BC%B8%B0%D9%C8%CB%CA%
BE%CD%FE%B7%B4%B8%DB%B8%AE%BF%AA%B7%A2%CE%F7
%BE%C5%C1%FA%D5%FE%B2%DF%2804%C4%EA12%D4%C227%
C8%D5%29&catOID=C283D8A3-4AB3-11D5-8EC2009027ACC5C2&
categoryname=National%20News