December 6, 2005

Top News of the Day

Human Rights
Liu Binyan, China's Conscience, Dies at 80
SCMP, December 06, 2005
Prominent dissident-writer Liu Binyan, known as "China's conscience" died at the age of 80 in the US after fighting a three-year battle with colon cancer. Liu was a journalist with People's Daily and a CPC member before fleeing to the US after the June 4th student movement.
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZPB2PJRGE.html

Public Health / Detention
Bird Flu Whistle-Blower Detained, Sparking Fears of Revenge
SCMP, December 06, 2005
A farmer from Jiangsu has been detained by police for allegedly exposing the bird flu outbreak in Anhui in October. He is also being held for his involvement in a vaccine case, the South China Morning Post reported.
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZAKSU6SGE.html


News

Death Penalty
杀害无辜研究生 罗志刚一审被判死刑 (Man Sentenced to Death for Killing Research Student)
Xinhuanet.com, December 06, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/legal/2005-12/02/content_3868863.htm

Detention – Shi Tao (师涛)
Journalist Shi Tao does Forced Labour While Prime Minister Wen Jiabao Signs Contracts in France
Reporters without Borders, December 05, 2005
http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=15819

Disasters
Chinese Mine Blast Death Toll Rises to 171 After Last Body Recovered
AFP via YahooNews.com, December 06, 2005
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20051206/wl_asia_afp/chinamine
blasttoll&printer=1;_ylt=AkTj3p6z3LA8TsUfvzkH7JfuOrgF;_ylu=
X3oDMTA3MXN1bHE0BHNlYwN0bWEkTj3p6z3LA8TsUfvzkH7J
fuOrgF;_ylu=X3oDMTA3MXN1bHE0BHNlYwN0bWE-

Environment
4 New Environmental Accidents Reported
Xinhuanet.com, December 06, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-12/05/content_
3880299.htm

Russia Hits Out at 'Lax Attitude' to Ecology
SCMP, December 06, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZWKHAKRGE.html

Government
Govt Function to be Further Reformed
Xinhuanet.com, December 06, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-12/05/content_
3880956.htm

Government - Governance and Accountability
Jilin Plant chief, Two Managers Sacked over Songhua Toxic Spill
SCMP, December 06, 2005
http://www.scmp.com/topnews/ZZZ2LSU6SGE.html


中国评论﹕公共知识分子仍欠生存空间 (China Analysis: Room for Public Intellectuals still Limited )
Ming Pao, December 06, 2005
http://www.mingpaonews.com/

Labor
Police Arrest Owner as Mine Rescue Continues
SCMP, December 06, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZB41PJRGE.html

Labor - Protests
胜利油田数千下岗工抗议 (Thousands of Laid-Off Workers Protest at Oil Field)
Ming Pao, December 06, 2005
http://www.mingpaonews.com/

Politics
31个省级立法机关全部设立全国人大代表联络处 (Liaison Offices for NPC Representatives Set Up in 31 Provinces)
Xinhuanet.com, December 06, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/legal/2005-12/05/content_3880049.htm

Poverty
广州近百名老年乞丐聚居居民楼昼伏夜出行乞 (Guangzhou’s Elderly Homeless Go Begging at Night)
EastDay.com, December 06, 2005
http://china.eastday.com/eastday/node81741/node81762/
node104549/userobject1ai1698646.html8646.html

Public Health
天价医药费折射职业道德 医疗体制改革刻不容缓 (Reforms Should be Implemented Quickly to Eliminate Exorbitant Medical Fees)
EastDay.com, December 06, 2005
http://china.eastday.com/eastday/node81741/node81762/
node104549/userobject1ai1699423.html9423.html

WTO
300 'Troublemakers' on Official Blacklist
SCMP, December 6, 2005.
http://hongkong.scmp.com/hknews/ZZZK9UOJRGE.html

Hong Kong
US Asks China to Provide Quick Timetable for Democracy in Hong Kong
AFP via YahooNews.com, December 06, 2005
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20051205/pl_afp/ushongkongchina
_051205233458