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.

Monday, August 22, 2005

August 20-22, 2005

Top news of the day

Detention - Xie Chunren (谢纯仁) / State Security - Spying
China Has Arrested American on Suspicion of Spying for Taiwan
New York Times, 19/08/2005
The Chinese Foreign Ministry confirmed the arrest of Xie Chunren(谢纯仁), a Chinese-born American businessman who runs a nutritional company in Sichuan, on May 31,2005 in Sichuan. Xie has been accused of "engaging in activities harmful to the security of the People's Republic of China", and put under "residential surveillance under suspicion of espionage for Taiwan".
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/19/international/asia/19spy
.html





News
Border Territories - Taiwan
Taiwan detains 20 fishermen from China
Taiwan News, 22/08/2005
http://www.etaiwannews.com/Taiwan/Society/2005/08/22/1124
674571.htm


Corruption / Government - Governance and accountability
Beijing to step up efforts in curbing corruption by stressing on accountability of public officials
北京加大反腐治本力度 领导干部问责办法将制定
Xinhuanet.com, 21/08/2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2005-08/21/content
_3382413.htm


Detention – Ching Cheong (程翔) / State Security - Spying
Glimmer of hope for Ching Cheong
SCMP, 22/08/2005
http://hongkong.scmp.com/hknews/ZZZOVG77MCE.html

Hong Kong Democratic Party stage protest outside the China's Representative office demanding a fair and open trial for Ching Cheong
香港民主党到中联办请愿 促公开审讯程翔
Chinesenewsnet.com, 19/08/2005
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/SinoNews/
Mainland/cna_2005_08_19_05_30_11
_352.html

Detention – Zhu Jiuhu (朱久虎) / Human Rights - Human rights defenders
Chinese lawyers urge lawyer association to relay industry's concerns over the detention of Zhu Jiuhu (朱久虎) to the authorities as clarification needed to protect lawyers' rights
中国律师呼吁协会关注律师被拘案
Voice of America, 21/08/2005
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/w2005-08-21-voa10.cfm

Shaanxi arrests highlight doubts over the rule of law in China
Financial Times, 20/08/2005
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/a8f53b0a-1116-11da-adc0-0000
0e2511c8.html


Education / Politics
NPC Representative agrees more efforts needed to enforce 9-year free education, but 12-year free education appears unrealistic
人大代表反对义务教育增至12年 强调巩固九年制
Xinhuanet.com, 21/08/2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2005-08/21/content
_3382409.htm


Food Security
China succeeds in solving food problem
Xinhuanet.com, 20/08/2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-08/20/content_33
81507.htm


Gender - Marriage
China witnesses record divorces in 2004
Press Trust of India via Financial Express, 21/08/2005
http://www.financialexpress.com/latest_full_story.php?content
_id=99751


Law
Administrative Procedure Law: 30 % of the plaintiff win their cases in the first hearing
一审行政案件原告胜诉率占三成
Legal Daily, 22/08/2005
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/bm/2005-08/22/content_184
051.htm


Law - Legal reform
Accused government agents required to suspend administration duties throughout the court hearing period, according to the draft revision of Administrative Procedure Law
行政诉讼期间停止执行行政行为
The Beijing News, 22/08/2005
http://www.thebeijingnews.com/news/2005/0822/12@013
157.html


Draft revision of Civil Procedure Law to reduce legal fee to as low as 10yuan per case to ensure access to legal advice
民事诉讼法修改稿再降低诉讼费 打官司10元起价
Xinhuanet.com, 22/08/2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/legal/2005-08/22/content_338
6833.htm


China to amend law on administrative procedure
Xinhua, 22/08/2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-08/22/content_33
88455.htm


Media - Press freedom/censorship
Party raps media over beer reports
SCMP, 22/08/2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZU1Z67MCE.html

Poverty - Rural poverty
Income gap critical by 2010, experts warn
China Daily, 22/08/2005
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-08/22/
content_470967.htm


Protests and Petitions / Labor - Work safety / conditions
Outrage over orders to blow up coal mines
SCMP, 22/08/2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZVM638MCE.html

Protests and Petitions – Cases / Police -Abuse
Dozens Hurt After China Factory Protest
AP via YahooNews.com, 21/08/2005
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050821/
ap_on_re_as/china_factory_protest_2


Toxic waste sparks violent protest at China factory
Reuters, 22/08/ 2005
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/PEK86664.htm

Dozens hurt as police beat demonstrators
AP via SCMP, 22/08/2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZ8WG77MCE.html

Public Health / Education
Medicare to cover college students
Xinhuanet.com, 22/08/2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-08/22/content_338
6082.htm


Public Health
Survey shows 90% of the respondents discontent with changes resulted from the health care reform in the last decade
調查顯示九成公眾不滿意10年來醫療體制的變化
CRI Online, 22/08/2005
http://big5.chinabroadcast.cn/gate/big5/gb.chinabroadcast.cn/
3821/2005/08/22/107@668596.htm


Review the current debate on health care reform
“中国医改第一市”医疗现状扫描 
Nanfang City News, 22/08/2005
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/southnews/dd/dsb/A14/20050
8220237.asp


More youth, women smoking: survey
Xinhuanet.com, 20/08/2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-08/20/content_3380
048.htm


Can foreign insurance companies save China's health care reform from disgrace?
中国医疗走入困境,外国保险公司能够起死回生?
Chinesenewsnet.com, 19/08/2005
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/SinoNews/Main
land/2005_8_19_12_52_45_597.h
tml

Hong Kong says China often stays mum on food scares
YahooNews.com, 22/08/2005
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20050822/
hl_afp/healthhongkongchina_050822110651


Resettlement - Forceful eviction / Law
Supreme High Court refuse to involve in resettlement and forceful eviction disputes shows wisdoms or helpless of our judicial system
司法的智慧还是无奈? 最高法回避房屋拆迁纠纷
EastDay.com, 22/08/2005
http://china.eastday.com/eastday/news/node37955/node37957/
node37979/node81454/userobject1
ai1369587.html

Society - Social Stability
China's widening income gap threatening social stability: government
AFP via YahooNews.com, 22/08/2005
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20050822/
ts_afp/chinaeconomyincomepoverty_050822040904


Xinjiang
China bans Islamic group in Xinjiang, arrests 179
News From Bangladesh via YahooNews.com, August 20, 2005
http://www.bangladesh-web.com/news/view.php?hidDate=
2005-08-20&hidType=RIN&hidRecord=0000000000000
000057419


Xinjiang in NW China becomes country's major oil, gas production base
People’s Daily Online, 22/08/2005
http://english.people.com.cn/200508/22/eng20050822_2038
22.html