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.

Thursday, May 26, 2005

May 26, 2005

Top news of the day

Protests and petitions
Petitioners rounded up in capital
SCMP, May 26, 2005
Between 300 to 500 petitioners in Beijing were, who were planning to file petitions with the Communist Party Discipline Committee, were forced to return to their home town yesterday, despite government rows to handle petitioning better under the new petitions regulations.
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZHGEURX8E.html



News

Children
Child safety cited in call for better toy quality
Xinhuanet, May 26, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-05/26/content_300
3352.htm

More parents leaving their children in countryside
SCMP, May 26, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZK61CSX8E.html

Death Penalty
Legislation urged to specify the right of prisoners on death row to see their family before execution
建议立法明晰死刑犯刑前会见家属的权利
China Youth Daily, May 26, 2005
http://zqb.cyol.com/gb/zqb/2005-05/26/content_9535.htm

Criminal sentenced to death for poisoning milk
向牛奶注甲醛 蒙牛毒牛奶案主犯被判死刑
Ynet.com, May 26, 2005
http://china.ynet.com/view.jsp?oid=5396838

Environment – Water
Nearly 75pc of Yellow River declared unfit for drinking, swimming
SCMP, May 26, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZWQSURX8E.html

Gender Issues
Pink China comes out of shadows
BBC, May 24, 2005
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4575437.stm

Human Rights
In the eye of the beholder
SCMP, May 26, 2005
http://columns.scmp.com/colart/observer/ZZZPD0CSX8E.html

International rights group criticizes China for executions, religious repression
AP via YahooNew.com, May 26, 2005
http://asia.news.yahoo.com/050525/ap/d8aa4nho0.html

Labour
Labour rights group urged China to ban forced labour practices
劳工组织吁中国等国结束强迫劳工
Voice of America, May 25, 2005
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/w2005-05-25-voa62.cfm

Law
Lawyer doesn’t help in “wife-killer” case
佘祥林案律师有多少无奈
Legal Daily, May 26, 2005
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/bm/2005-05/26/content_140
378.htm

Law – legal reform
Supreme People’s Procuratorate to build special report-filing mechanism to prevent innocent conviction cases
高检拟建特别备案审查制 有效防止冤错案发生
EastDay.com, May 26, 2005
http://china.eastday.com/eastday/news/node37955/node37957/
node37979/node63830/userobject1ai1127836.html

Flashy points and blindspots of the amendment of Administrative Proceeding Law
行政诉讼法“大修稿”亮点与盲区
Legal Daily, May 26, 2005
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/bm/2005-05/26/content_1403
75.htm

Olympics
Beijing strive to hold a “Green” Olympics
北京奥运场馆的筹备工作力求体现“绿色”理念
Xinhuanet.com, May 26, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2005-05/25/content_
3002437.htm

Population
Human tide expected to flood affluent coastal cities
SCMP, May 26, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZ072HSX8E.html

Poverty – Income gap
An inequitable life
The Guardian, May 25, 2005
http://www.guardian.co.uk/elsewhere/journalist/story/0,,1491
934,00.html

East-west wealth gap now a chasm
SCMP, May 26, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZ1HEURX8E.html

Rural Issues
Who still gives farmers a big burden on their lives?
新华时评：查一查谁还在加重农民负担
Xinhuanet.com, May 26, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2005-05/26/content
_3004370.htm

Society – Housing
Law as tool to protect right of housing
用法律维护百姓基本住房权益
Legal Daily, May 26, 2005
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/bm/2005-05/26/content_1403
33.htm

Hong Kong – Basic Law
Anger and walkouts as CE bill gets rubber stamp
The Standard, May 26, 2005
http://www.thestandard.com.hk/stdn/std/Metro/GE26Ak04.html

Beijing fears election 'conspiracy'
The Standard, May 26, 2005
http://www.thestandard.com.hk/stdn/std/Metro/GE26Ak03.html

China heightens worries about human rights in Hong Kong, Amnesty says
AP via YahooNews.com, May 26, 2005
http://asia.news.yahoo.com/050525/ap/d8aabh500.html