April 14 - 18, 2006

Top News of the Day

Human Rights Defenders – Journalists - Zhao Yan (赵岩)
北京恢复对赵岩的审查起诉 (Beijing Resumes Indictment of New York Times Researcher Zhao Yan)
Radio Free Asia, April 18, 2006
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/
2006/04/17/zhaoyan/
Beijing authorities have announced that they are resuming the indictment procedure for Zhao Yan, a news researcher for the New York Times, after unexpectedly dropping all charges against him last month. Zhao's lawyer stated that this most likely means that the same two charges of leaking state secrets and fraud will be filed against him.

Related News

China Undercuts Speculation a Jailed Researcher Could Be Freed
New York Times, April 18, 2006
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/17/world/asia/17
cnd-zhao.html?_r=1&oref=slogin


News

Environment
Guangdong Getting Dirtier, Says Expert
SCMP, April 18, 2006
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZ8TPEQ3ME.html

Human Rights
Resume Rights Talk, China and US Urged
SCMP, April 18, 2006
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZVETBQ3ME.html

大赦国际呼吁布什向胡锦涛提出改善中国人权 (Amnesty International Calls on Bush to Urge Hu to Improve Human Rights)
Radio Free Asia, April 14, 2006
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2006/
04/14/bush_hu/

June 4th
June 4 Rally to Focus on Human Rights
SCMP, April 18, 2006
http://hongkong.scmp.com/hknews/ZZZ77QK1DLE.html

Labor
Working for Free Against Labor Law
China Daily, April 18, 2006
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2006-04/18/
content_570253.htm

Shenzhen to Increase Pay to Ease Labour Crunch
SCMP, April 14, 2006
http://www.scmp.com/topnews/ZZZ7RNK1DLE.html

Land Policy
Local Bodies Under Fire Over Land Deals
SCMP, April 17, 2006
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZJETBQ3ME.html

Media
柳斌杰:外资可在新闻出版领域有作为 (General Administration of Press and Publication Says: Foreign News Media Have Right to Operate in China)
Xinhuanet, April 18, 2006
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2006-04/18/
content_4440186.htm

AOL in Tie-Up With Chinese Firm
China Daily, April 18, 2006
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2006-04/18/
content_569929.htm

Poverty
China to Lift 23.65 Million out of Poverty in 5 Years
People's Daily, April 18, 2006
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200604/18/
eng20060418_259196.html

Protests and Petitions
波美官民冲突解冻 促成和谈官员获释 (Villagers Released After Standoff With Police in Shantou)
Radio Free Asia, April 18, 2006
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/
2006/04/17/bomei/

Five Held After Clash over Illegal Sluice Gates
SCMP, April 14, 2006
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZ51EK1DLE.html

Ex-bank Employees Protest at Sackings
SCMP, April 14, 2006
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZGVOK1DLE.html

Religion
Zen Hopes for Private Papal Audience in Next Few Weeks
SCMP, April 18, 2006
http://hongkong.scmp.com/hknews/ZZZRYWBQ3ME.html

Hope Leads the Path to Prayer for China's Catholics
SCMP, April 15, 2006
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZFCFK1DLE.html

Rural Issues
中国社科院预测农民人均年收入今年增长5％ (CASS Predicts Average Income for Farmers to Rise by 5 Percent This Year)
Radio Free Asia, April 18, 2006
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/
2006/04/15/nongmin/

Farmers Worse Off than Thought, Says Academic
SCMP, April 15, 2006
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZH9IZM1ME.html

Tibet
Monks in Bid to Smash Statues
SCMP, April 18, 2006
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZSLWBQ3ME.html

Dalai Lama Barred over 'Disharmony' Fears
SCMP, April 14, 2006
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZZXDK1DLE.html

Record on Religion Defended by Boy Lama
SCMP, April 14, 2006
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZ0WOK1DLE.html