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.

Thursday, December 29, 2005

December 29, 2005

Top News of the Day

Detention - Ching Cheong
程翔案下月将移交检察院 (Journalist Ching Cheong's Espionage Case to Be Handed Over to Procuratorate on January 6)
Radio Free Asia, December 29, 2005
The case of renowned Hong Kong-based journalist Ching Cheong, who has been charged with spying for Taiwan, will be handed over to the procuratorate in Beijing on January 6. Ching Cheong was detained in April and formally arrested on August 5 of this year.
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2005/12/28/
chingcheong/


Protests and Petitions
Villagers Held for Disrupting Poll and Staging Sit-In
SCMP, December 29, 2005
An unknown number of villagers in Shaoguan, Guangdong Province have been arrested by police for reportedly disrupting a local election in June and organizing a sit-in demonstration at government offices last month.
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZ42LW6SGE.html

News

Children
Stress Affecting 30m Schoolchildren
SCMP, December 29, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZROQQJRGE.html

Corruption
全面推进反腐败工作 中纪委公布反腐败举报网站 (Website for Reporting Corruption Launched)
EastDay.com, December 29, 2005
http://china.eastday.com/eastday/node81741/node81762/node
108937/userobject1ai1753959.html
3959.html

Environment
九成城市地下水受污染 北方城市污染较南方严重,污染元素多且超 (90 Percent of Underground Water Contaminated; More Pollutants and Higher Levels of Pollution Found in Cities in the North than in the South)
Nanfang City News, December 29, 2005
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/southnews/dd/nfrb/a08/
200512290080.asp


Concern Voiced Over Salt Tide Threat
China Daily, December 29, 2005
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-12/29/
content_507629.htm


Government
Central Government Portal Website to Be Launched
China Daily, December 29, 2005
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-12/29/
content_507605.htm


Human Rights
Beijing Bars Exit for SARS Hero
The Standard, December 29, 2005
http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asppp_cat=5&art_id=8748&sid
=6060225
&con_type=1&d_str=20051229


蔣彥永申请出国未获准 (SARS Whistleblower Jiang Yanyong Barred from Leaving the Country)
Wen Wei Po, December 29, 2005
http://www.wenweipo.com/news.phtml?news_id=
CH0512290013&cat=002CH


Labor
80% of Private Firms Violate Employee Rights
Xinhuanet.com, December 29, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-12/29/content_
3983058.htm


China Plans Criminal Penalties to Run-Away Employers of Unpaid Workers
People's Daily, December 29, 2005
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200512/29/eng20051229
_231463.html


我国劳动法实施存5大问题 超时加班较普遍 (Five Major Problems in Enforcement of Labor Law, Unpaid Overtime Most Common)
EastDay.com, December 29, 2005
http://china.eastday.com/eastday/node81741/node81762/
node109158/userobject1ai1755273.html
5273.html

Media
Editor of Outspoken Newspaper Sent Packing
SCMP, December 29, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZ7OQQJRGE.html

大陆《百姓》杂志网站被封 (Website of Mainland-based Magazine "Baixing" Shut Down)
Peacehall, December 29, 2005
http://www.peacehall.com/news/gb/china/2005/12/
200512291221.shtml


Olympics
Safety Given Top Priority at Beijing Olympics
China Daily, December 29, 2005
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-12/29/
content_507528.htm


Protests and Petitions
京警涉毆上访村民 (Beijing Police Allegedly Beat Up Petitioners)
Ming Pao, December 29, 2005
http://www.mingpaonews.com/

Public Health
Aids Funding to Double, Says Report
SCMP, December 29, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZVOQQJRGE.html

轮血染艾滋 医院赔5(Hospital Compensates Woman 50,000 Yuan for Contracting AIDS Through Blood Transfusion)
The Beijing News, December 29, 2005
http://news.thebeijingnews.com/china/2005/1229/005@151310.htm

Hospitals Ordered to Offer Cheaper Check-Ups
China Daily, December 29, 2005
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-12/29/
content_507527.htm


Religion
圣诞期间新疆河南家庭教会遭到冲击 (Five Christians in Xinjiang Detained During Church Celebration on X'mas Day)
Radio Free Asia, December 29, 2005
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2005/12/28/jiaohui/