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.

Wednesday, August 03, 2005

August 3, 2005

Top news of the day

Detention – Zhang Lin (張林)
Dissident writer Zhang Lin(张林) given five year jail terms for 'endangering state security" charge
中国异议作家张林被判五年有期徒刑
Chinesenewsnet.com, 02/08/2005
Lawyer of detained dissident writer Zhang Lin (張林) revealed that the court was set to impose a five-year prison sentence to Zhang for "inciting subversion of state power" in a few days.
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/SinoNews/Main
land/2005_8_2_14_40_30_992.ht
ml



Detention – Wu Shishen (吳士深)
RSF welcome the early release of detained journalist Wu Shishen (吴士深)
记者无国界欢迎吴士深提前获释
Peacehall, 03/08/2005
RSF welcomed the early release of former Xinhua editor Wu Shishen (吳士深), who was convicted of leaking state secrets to a Hong Kong journalist in 1992 and sentenced for life in prison. Wu was freed on August 2.
http://www.peacehall.com/news/gb/china/2005/08/2005080
30910.shtml



News

Bilaterals - Other
Tokyo casts wary eye on military build-up
Reuters, August 3, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZBLW1QUBE.html

Japan's official paper groundless in exaggerating "China threat"
Xinhua, August 3, 2005
http://english.people.com.cn/200508/03/text20050803_199894.html

Borders Territories/Issues - North Korea
China battles to save Korea nuclear talks
Reuters, August 3, 2005
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20050803/ts_nm/korea_north_dc_100

Gender - Reproductive health
Reproductive health in remote rural villages
偏僻乡村生育之重(图)
China Youth Daily, 03/08/2005
http://zqb.cyol.com/gb/zqb/2005-08/03/content_41295.htm

State Family Planning Commission conduct the first national survey on the effectiveness of contraception for improving reproductive health conditions in China
中国首次大规模避孕效果调查 提高生殖健康水平
China News Agency, 02/08/2005
http://www.chinanews.com.cn/news/2005/2005-08-02/26/
607173.shtml


Government - Governance and accountability
CCP Central Committee to discuss reforms of local governance structure
五中全會體制改革:強縣擴權浮上抬面
Asia Times Online, 02/08/2005
http://www.atchinese.com/2005/08/0802rep2.htm

Labor - Disasters
Coal Mines Fail to Apply for Safety Licenses
China.org.cn., August 3, 2005
http://china.org.cn/english/2005/Aug/137216.htm

Labor - Other
Marriage: A Career Obstacle?
Shanghai Daily, August 3, 2005
http://china.org.cn/english/China/137294.htm#

Media / June 4th
Press Freedom Guardian closed down due to funding problems
《新闻自由导报》因经费问题停刊
Dajiyuan.com, 03/08/2005
http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/5/8/3/n1006175.htm

Media – Internet
Legislators use Internet to test the water
China Daily, 02/08/2005
http://www2.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-08/02/
content_465452.htm


China bans minors under 18 from playing online games that allow players to kill other players
Interfax China, August 3, 2005
http://www.interfax.cn/showfeature.asp?aid=4211&slug=INTERNET-ONLINE%20GAME-MOC-POLICY-MII

Media - Press freedom/censorship / Public Health
CHINA: Swine flu cover-up -- China's stiff warning
Asia Pacific Media Network, 03/08/2005
http://asiamedia.ucla.edu/article.asp?parentid=27542

China puts brakes on foreign TV: Expanded clampdown forbids any new foreign-owned channels, jeopardizes plans by Disney, Viacom.
Reuters, August 3, 2005
http://money.cnn.com/2005/08/03/news/international/china_tv.reut/index.htm?section=money_latest

Protests and Petitions
A village woman spends 20 years petitioning her grievances, how much has it cost?
农妇伸冤20年2代记者关注 上访成本何其昂贵(图)
Xinhuanet.com, 03/08/2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/focus/2005-08/03/content_329
9946.htm


Protest over boy's death
SCMP, 03/08/2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZ1DX1QUBE.html

State Bureau of Letters and Complaints says some petitioners abuse the petition system
极少数人非法串联聚集扰乱信访 国家信访局表态
Chinesenewsnet.com, 02/08/2005
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/SinoNews/
Mainland/zxs_2005-08-
02_607000.shtml

Public Health
Ministry of health discuss the draft plan for health care reform with related departments
卫生部会同相关部委制定医疗改革新方案
Xinhuanet.com,03/08/2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2005-08/03/content_
3301671.htm


Religion - Catholics
Pope meets with Chinese priests
AP, August 3, 2005
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/World/2005/08/03/1157882-ap.html

Resettlement
China faces growing land disputes
BBC.com, 02/08/2005
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4728025.stm

Xinjiang
Rights group say China prepares to deter military uprisings in Xinjiang by force when necessary
传中国政府严防新疆兵团武装暴动
Peacehall, 03/08/2005
http://www.peacehall.com/news/gb/china/2005/08/2005080
12341.shtml


Overseas Uyghur rights group urges US to put pressure on China to stop persecuting Uyghurs in Xinjiang
维吾尔人海外组织吁美向北京施压
Dajiyuan.com, 02/08/2005
http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/5/8/2/n1005921.htm