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.

Tuesday, February 01, 2005

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