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 05, 2005

December 3-5, 2005


Top News of the Day

Hong Kong
Marching for Change
SCMP, December 05, 2005
Tens of thousands of Hong Kong people once again took to the streets to demand greater democracy in the territory's electoral system. Chief Executive Donald Tsang last night promised to amend the government's proposal on the political reforms, which are now under consultation, but he maintained that there was little room for concession.
http://www.scmp.com/topnews/ZZZU5DAKRGE.html

UN
Abuse Found in China Prisons
Washington Post, December 04, 2005
Manfred Nowak, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture, concluded after a two-week visit to China that torture is still widespread in the country. Nowak said that although Chinese officials had granted him free access to most facilities and he was able to speak to detainees, there was a palpable level of fear and many detainees were only willing to be interviewed under the condition of absolute confidentiality.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/
12/02/AR2005120201779.htmldyn/content/article/2005/12/02/
AR2005120201779.html



News

Children - Child Trafficking
16 Arrested in Probe into Baby-Smuggling Syndicate
SCMP, December 04, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZRPBAKRGE.html

Corruption
Corrupt Official Steals Three Gorges' Cash
China Daily, December 05, 2005
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-12/05/content
_500400.htm

Death Penalty
杀害荆州烟草局长高荆洪 侯红宇一审被判死刑 (Death Sentence for Man Who Killed Tobacco Chief)
Xinhuanet.com, December 04, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/legal/2005-12/04/content_3874718.htm

Disasters
China Issues Circular to Build Social Environment for Stability, Security
People's Daily, December 05, 2005
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200512/05/eng20051205_
225583.html

China Launches Spokesman Training Courses on Quick Response to Accidents
People's Daily, December 05, 2005
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200512/03/print20051203_
225341.html

Economic Development
Growing Wealth Crowds Out Oppression
CATO Institute, December 05, 2005
http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=5235

Environment
民間環團上書要求合法化 (Green Group Demands Legal Status)
Ming Pao, December 05, 2005
http://www.mingpaonews.com/

Government
Leaders Should Sack Those with Real Responsibility for Toxic Leak
SCMP, December 05, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZEFPU6SGE.html

从解振华辞职看中国官员问责制的建立 (A Glimpse into China's Accountability System for Government Officials: The Sacking of Environmental Chief Jie Zhenhua)
Radio Free Asia, December 04, 2005
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2005/12/04/
jiezhenhua/

Mainland's Environmental Chief Sacked over Toxic Chemical Spill
SCMP, December 03, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/cgi-bin/gx.cgi/AppLogic+FTContentSer
ver?pagename=SCMP/Printacopy&aid=ZZZIDHQ58GEbin/gx.cgi/
AppLogic+FTContentServer?pagename=SCMP/Printacopy&aid
=ZZZIDHQ58G

Human Rights
Law Firm Closed
SCMP, December 03, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZZEPM78GE.html

Law
律师指东阳画水410事件易地重审为非法 (Trial Held in Neighboring Jurisdiction for Zhejiang Water Poisoning Case Illegal, Lawyer Says)
Radio Free Asia, December 02, 2005
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2005/12/02/
dongyang/

Media
中国实行手机实名制 (China to Implement Real Name System for Mobile Phone Users)
Radio Free Asia, December 02, 2005
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2005/12/03/
shimingzhi/

Olympics
Rogge Asks West to Give China a Fair Go
Sydney Morning Herald, December 05, 2005
http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/rogge-asks-west-to-give-
china-a-fair-go/2005/12/04/1133631150105.html

IOC Chief Defends Hosts Beijing
BBC.com, December 04, 2005
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/4496578.stm

Poverty
中国城乡收入差距不断拉大 (Urban-Rural Income Gap Widening)
Radio Free Asia, December 02, 2005
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2005/12/02/chaju/

Protests and Petitions
Chinese Peasants Turn Their Rage on Authorities
Washington Post, December 04, 2005
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/
12/01/AR2005120101812.htmldyn/content/article/2005/12/01/
AR2005120101812.html
-
12·4法制宣传日 中央电视台前大举抓人 (Petitioners Arrested on Law Promotion Day)
Dajiyuan.com, December 04, 2005
http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/5/12/4/n1142374.htm

Protesters Demand to Know About Toxic River
SCMP, December 03, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZ1OLM78GE.html

Public Health - HIV AIDS /STDs
30m Yuan Sought in Tainted Blood Lawsuit
SCMP, December 05, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZDDOU6SGE.html

消除歧视应是防艾立法核心 (Elimination of Discrimination is Key to AIDS Prevention)
Legal Daily, December 05, 2005
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/bm/2005-12/05/content_229
659.htm

Officials Face Dilemma over Lower HIV Figure
SCMP, December 05, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZRXVOJRGE.html

HIV-Positive Blood Donor Infects 23 People in Jilin Before Being Diagnosed
SCMP, December 04, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZW9UOJRGE.html

Resettlement
上海扣押向UN峰会递交请愿信的拆迁户 (Petitioners Detained in Shanghai for Handing Over Letter to UN Protesting Resettlement)
Radio Free Asia, December 02, 2005
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2005/12/02/shanghai/

三峡库区村民面临政府强行逼迁 (More "Three Gorges" Residents Forcefully Evicted)
Radio Free Asia, December 02, 2005
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2005/12/02/sanxia/

Rural Issues
Farmers Hit by Double Whammy
China Daily, December 05, 2005
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-12/05/content_
500406.htm

UN / Human Rights
联合国酷刑专员指中方阻挠调查工作 (UN Torture Inspector's Work Obstructed in China)
Radio Free Asia, December 02, 2005
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2005/12/02/kuxing/