Friday, May 20, 2005

May 20, 2005

Top news of the day

Detention – Shi Tao (師濤)
Appeal Documents Expose Injustice in Shi Tao Case
Human Rights in China Press Release, May 19, 2005
It is reported that dissident Shi Tao had made an appeal with documents demonstrating the wrongly conviction of “illegally revealing state secrets abroad”.
http://www.hrichina.org/public/contents/press?revision%5fid=
22495&item%5fid=22494

Media – Press freedom and censorship
Reporter without Border: censorship of Google in China market represents the deprivation of press freedom
记者无国界致函Google
Voice of America, May 19, 2005
Reporter without Border (RSF) criticised the Chinese government of her censorship over Google’s content and news information as the move would significantly undermine press freedom in China.
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/w2005-05-19-voa78.cfm



News

Corruption
New anti-corruption method sparks debate
China Daily, May 20, 2005
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-05/20/content
_444125.htm

Death penalty
Four sentenced to death by Kunming court for children trafficking
人贩昆明哄骗19名儿童拐卖广东 8人贩4人判死刑
EastDay.com, May 20, 2005
http://china.eastday.com/eastday/news/node37955/node37957/
node37979/node62497/userobject1ai1111166.html

Education
Are High Priced Elementary Schools Against the Mandatory Education Law?
高价初中是否违反《义务教育法》惹争议
Dayoo.com, May 16, 2005
http://gz.dayoo.com/gb/content/2005-05/16/content_2054
259.htm

June 4th – EU arms ban
EU Backs Off Lifting China Arms Embargo
The Guardian, May 19, 2005
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,1282,-5015
610,00.html

Labour – Industrial accidents
Race to rescue 51 missing after blast rocks coal mine in Hebei
SCMP, May 20, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZ6FI3UT8E.html

Law
Conflicts of judicial evaluation, when would it end?
司法鉴定何时才能不“打架”
Nanfang Weekend, May 19, 2005
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/zm/20050519/xw/ms/2005
05190015.asp

Media – Internet
Special force tackles negative chat on Net
SCMP, May 20, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZ4GI3UT8E.html

Government employs undercover commentators to guide public opinion in net space
中国雇用地下评论员引导网络舆论
Voice of America, May 19, 2005
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/w2005-05-19-voa44.cfm

Internet users hit 100 million in China, CNNIC statistic shows
中國網民數字突破一億僅次美國
Hong Kong Economic Journal, May 20, 2005

NGO
Civil organisation rewarded with more flexibility when new regulations announced this year
新社团条例年内出台　民间组织将获适度鼓励
Nanfang Weekend, May 19, 2005
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/zm/20050519/xw/szxw2/
200505190006.asp

Police – abuse / Law
Lawyers given presence in clients’ interrogations to prevent torture and forceful conviction, experiment underway according to Beijing Haidan police
北京海淀警方试行律师旁听审讯制 严防刑讯逼供
EastDay.com, May 20, 2005
http://china.eastday.com/eastday/news/node37955/node37957
/node37979/node62497/userobject1ai1111142.html

Poverty – Income gap
“Fewer poor people when the rich spend more?”
“富人消费多了，穷人就少”？
Nanfang Weekend, May 19, 2005
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/zm/20050519/xw/zy/2005
05190025.asp

Religion-Christianity
New religious regulations bring hopes to legalise underground churches in China
中国地下教会面临合法化契机
Boxcu.com, May 20, 2005
http://www.peacehall.com/news/gb/china/2005/05/200505
200445.shtml

Resettlement - Forceful eviction
Strong resistance to closure of Hangzhou’s Cuiyuan night market
杭州停办翠苑夜市：摊主强烈反弹
Voice of America, May 19, 2005
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/w2005-05-19-voa39.cfm

Rural Issues
Rural governance and decentralization of power showcased in WuYi city, Zhejiang
浙江武义：分权治村
Nanfang Weekend, May 19, 2005
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/zm/20050519/xw/szxw1/
200505190005.asp

Society – ethnic minority
Poor ethnic minorities need more attention: commission
Xinhuanet.com, May 19, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-05/19/content_297
7046.htm

Social security
2 mln farmers receive pensions
Xinhuanet.com, May 19, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-05/19/content_297
6907.htm

Hong Kong
NPC ruling on leader necessary, says judge
SCMP, May 20, 2005
http://hongkong.scmp.com/hknews/ZZZ8Y4ATM8E.html

Still wrong on democracy
SCMP, May 20, 2005
http://focus.scmp.com/focusnews/ZZZZCH3UT8E.html