Tuesday, February 08, 2005

February 8, 2005

Top news of the day

Political dissidents

China disclose political prisoners details to US
中国向美国提交一份政治犯名单
Voice of America, February 8, 2005
The Chinese government disclosed a list of 51 political prisoners who have been granted sentence reductions or are being considered for early release to the US government. The move is seen as a gesture that comes as the Bush administration is considering whether to sponsor a resolution on China’s poor human rights records.
http://www1.voanews.com/Chinese/article.cfm?objectID=D7983F
D0-C9A2-4168-9AF2B0EEB63FC889&title=%D6%
D0%B9%FA%C F%F2%C3%C0%B9%FA%CC%E1%BD%BB%D2%B
B%B7%DD%D5%FE%D6%CE%B7%B8%C3%FB%B5%A5%2805%C
4%EA2%D4%C27%C8%D5%29&catOID=C283D8A3-4AB3-11D5-8
EC2009027ACC5C2&categoryname=National%20News


Religion
Freed church leader speaks about tortured experience in labour-camp
获释教会领袖首次述说酷刑经历 联合国就张义南被拘禁作出裁定
Dajiyuan.com, February 8, 2005
Community church leader Liu Xianzhi (劉先枝) revealed her experience in the labour-camp and religion prosecution in China for the first time after her release from the camp last February. Liu spent 6 year in a labour camp for her involving in church activities. According to a religious rights group, UN is due to rule on China’s arbitrary detention of church leader Zhang Yinan (張義南).
http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/5/2/7/n806937.htm

Falun Gong Death Toll Rises Sharply
The Epoch Times, Feb 07, 2005
http://story.chinanationalnews.com/p.x/ct/9/id/7deb3495b1100
927/cid/9366300fc9319e9b/


News

Corruption
Public takes mickey out of agency gift ban
SCMP, February 8, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZL7IBHJ3E.html

Related News:


Gender - marriage
Divorce rate doubles in Guangzhou
SCMP, February 8, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZ6YUDHJ3E.html

Gender / population – one-child policy
China to punish abortion of females
Asia Times Online, February 7, 2005
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/GB08Ad02.html

Human rights – bilateral ties
Canadian government considers to sponsor a resolution in condemning China’s human rights records in the upcoming Geneva meeting
加政府考虑是否提谴责中国人权案
Chinesenewsnet.com, February 8, 2005
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/NorthAmerica/
2005_2_7_13_43_33_997.html


Labour
Unpaid workers have a score to settle
SCMP, February 8, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZ3XUDHJ3E.html

Natural resources/energies (nuclear)
China set to pioneer meltdown-proof reactor and take lead in nuclear race
Financial Times, February 8, 2005
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/3a6108ae-7977-11d9-89c5-00000e
2511c8.html


Police – prison
Japan wants China to take prisoners home
SCMP, February 8, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZP6IBHJ3E.html

Protests and petitions
Featured article: New regulations on petitions are just a game playing with words
王丹:中国信访条例不过文字游戏而已?
Chinesenewsnet.com, February 8, 2005
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/Opinion/2005
_2_7_18_32_52_809.html


Public health
China develops bird flu vaccine
The Star Online, February 8, 2005
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2005/2/8/asia/1011
2085&sec=asia


Rural issues
Farmers' per capita income stands at 2,936 yuan
Xinhuanet.com, February 8, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-02/08/content_2560
949.htm