February 1, 2005

Top news of the day

Detention – Xu Zhengqing (許正清)
Shanghai resident Xu Zhengqing (許正清) arrested and may face sentence for mourning Zhao
悼念紫阳被刑拘 上海许正清面临被判刑
Dayiuan.ocm, February 1, 2005
A Shanghai Resident Xu Zhengqing (許正清) has been formed arrested by the policy on the charge of “suspected of creating a disturbance in a public place and transport depot”. According to a human rights group, Xu’s arrest is believed to be related to his plan to Beijing for mourning the death of Zhao Ziyang.
http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/5/2/1/n799824.htm



News

Education – basic education / rural poverty
Poor students in poverty stricken provinces exempted lump sum fees for books and stationary
国贫县农村义务教育贫困生书杂费全免
People’s Daily, February 1, 2005
http://politics.people.com.cn/GB/1026/3158532.html

Gender – abuse (women trafficking)
Women caught fleeing ex-hostages' home county for vice trade
SCMP, February 1, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZROI9HJ3E.html

Gender
Maternity insurance regulation benefits women workers in Beijing
北京職工生育保險規定出臺 京籍女工生育不花錢
CRI Online, February 1, 2005
http://big5.chinabroadcast.cn/gate/big5/gb.chinabroadcast.cn/3821/
2005/02/01/106@439827.htm

Labour – industrial accidents
Coal mining company intentionally covered gas blast that killed 8 workers
唐山宏兴煤矿恶意瞒报瓦斯爆炸事故查实8人死亡
People’s Daily, February 1, 2005
http://society.people.com.cn/GB/1062/3157888.html

Law
Create a favorable environment for the rule of law
为司法营造良好环境
Legal Daily, February 1, 2005
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/bm/2005-02/01/content_184
609.htm

Media – press freedom
Freedom of speech to withstand lies and terrors – Liu Xiaobo’s speech of receiving News Freedom Defender award
刘晓波用自由言说对抗恐怖和谎言──接受无国界记者「新闻自由卫士奖」的答谢词
Chinesenewsnet.com, February 1, 2005
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/Opinion/2005_1_
31_18_54_8_442.html

Population
Fearing Future, China Starts to Give Girls Their Due
New York Times, January 31, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/31/international/asia/31china
.html

Protests and petitions
Urgent appeal: hundreds of petitioners in Beijing reported arrested by police with no given reasons
紧急呼吁：北京上访村警察正在大搜捕
Dajiyuan.com, February 1, 2005
http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/5/2/1/n799608.htm

Excerpted article: over half of petitioners in China experienced vengeance
《半月谈》杂志：逾半中国上访者遭抄家报复
Chinesenewsnet.com, February 1, 2005
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/SinoNews/Main
land/2005_1_31_16_33_12_651.html

Poverty – rural poverty
Closing farm-urban income gap "top" goal
Xinhuanet.com, February 1, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-02/01/content_2533283
.htm

Poor rural population reduced by 3 mln
Xinhuanet.com, January 31, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-01/31/content_2532
236.htm

Public health – HIV aids
12 given jail terms for organizing blood selling
卫生部通报非法组织卖血案查处情况 12人被判刑
EastDay.com, February 1, 2005
http://china.eastday.com/eastday/news/node37955/node37957/
node37979/node48788/userobject1ai839922.html

Rural issues
Interpretation of the No.1 document: a challenge to increase farmers’ incomes this year
中央一號文件解讀：農民增收今年難度大於去年
CRI Online, January 31, 2005
http://big5.chinabroadcast.cn/gate/big5/gb.chinabroadcast.cn/3821/
2005/02/01/106@439836.htm

• Related news:
  Comments on policies to strengthen rural work by the CPC Central Committee and the State Council
  中共中央国务院关于加强农村工作若干政策的意见 (全文)
  People’s Daily, January 31, 2005
  http://www.people.com.cn/GB/jingji/1037/3155616.html
  
  

Rural tensions still threaten stability: adviser
SCMP, February 1, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZNOI9HJ3E.html