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.

Tuesday, May 02, 2006

April 29 - May 2, 2006


Top News of the Day

Human Rights Defenders – Journalist Ching Cheong (程翔)
程翔案移交法院未有审讯日期, 学者︰掌足够证据正式起诉 (Journalist Ching Cheong to Face Trial Soon for Spying, Yet Trial Date is Not Yet)
Ming Pao, May 02, 2006
http://www.mingpaonews.com/20060502/gab1.htm
Hong Kong newspapers have reported an unnamed source as saying that journalist Ching Cheong (程翔)), held in jail on charges of espionage since last April, will stand trial in Beijing very soon, indicating that the prosecution has gathered enough evidence for the charge. A legal researcher said that Ching may be given a maximum jail term of 10 years.

Human Rights Defenders - Internet Activist Wang Xiaoning (王小宁)
雅虎再次涉嫌提供信息致使异见人士被判重刑 (Yahoo Accused of Helping China Jail Another Dissident)
Radio Free Asia, April 28, 2006
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2006/04/28/yahoo/
Yahoo has been accused of providing personal information on Chinese dissident writer Wang Xiaoning (王小宁) to the Chinese government, which led to Wang's 10-year prison sentence in 2003 for inciting subversion of state power. Amongst the evidence against Wang, the court accused Wang of criticizing China as being an "authoritarian dictatorship" in articles sent through his mainland-based Yahoo email account.

News

Death Penalty
武铁原副局长刘志祥被判死缓 (Former Wuhan Railway Official Sentenced to Death with Two-Year Reprieve for Corruption)
The Beijing News, May 02, 2006
http://news.thebeijingnews.com/china/2006/0501/011@
178062.htm

Education - Basic Education
义务教育法修订草案:完善农村教师工资保障机制 (Draft of Compulsory Education Law: Improve the System that Guarantees Salaries of Rural Teachers)
Xinhuanet, May 02, 2006
http://news.xinhuanet.com/legal/2006-05/02/content_
4501265.htm

Environment
Chemical Spill in River Affects 40,000
SCMP, May 02, 2006
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZM5UCQ3ME.html

Food Security / Land Policy
中国人均耕地降至1.4亩 (Arable Land Per Capital Drops to Record Low)
The Beijing News, May 02, 2006
http://news.thebeijingnews.com/china/2006/0502/014@
178121.htm

Government - Grassroots Elections
Victory for Villagers in Battle over 'Rigged Poll' for Chief
SCMP, May 02, 2006
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZU3TFQ3ME.html

Government - Civil Service
Senior Chinese Officials Required to Pass Law Exams
Xinhuanet, May 01, 2006
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-05/01/content_
4499905.htm

June 4th
It's Not Just About the Money, Say Tiananmen Mothers
SCMP, May 02, 2006
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZLZZCQ3ME.html

四川六四死难者家属破天荒获补偿 (China Makes 1989 Tiananmen Payout for the First Time)
Voice of America, May 01, 2006
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/w2006-05-01-voa24.cfm

六四难属获补助是否是解决六四问题的理想模式？(Do Payouts to Families of June 4th Victims Show that Authorities Have Changed Their Minds About June 4th?)
Radio Free Asia, May 01, 2006
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2006/05/01/6.4/

Labor - Industrial Accidents
违法使用女工下井遭遇矿难 (Female Mine Workers Hired Illegally Killed in Mine Blast)
Radio Free Asia, May 02, 2006
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2006/04/29/
nugong/

陕西煤矿瓦斯爆炸已造成30人死亡 (Blast at Shaanxi Coal Mine Kills 30)
Radio Free Asia, May 01, 2006
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2006/05/01/
shigu/

怎能让收入为生命“定价” (Income Should Not Be Used to Assess the Value of a Person’s Life)
The Beijing News, April 26, 2006
http://comment.thebeijingnews.com/0201/2006/0426/018@
177057.htm

Labor - Employment Conditions
The Painful Cost of Working in Dangerous Industries
SCMP, May 01, 2006
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZXNRFQ3ME.html

Labor Disputes Soar in Shanghai
SCMP, April 29, 2006
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZNNOFQ3ME.html

Law
42 Laws, Regulations Come into Effect in China
Xinhuanet, May 01, 2006
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-05/01/content_
4501617.htm

Media - Internet Censorship
网络活跃人士展开争取互联网自由的请愿活动 (Internet Activists Launch Battle over Internet Censorship)
Radio Free Asia, April 30, 2006
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2006/04/30/
hulianwang/

Migrant Workers
China's Neglected 'Untouchables'
SCMP, May 01, 2006
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZRKXCQ3ME.html

非政府组织为民工争权益 (NGOs Commit to Fight for Migrant Workers' Rights)
Radio Free Asia, May 01, 2006
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2006/05/01/
mingong/

中国农民工诉苦 (The Plight of Migrant Workers)
Voice of America, May 01, 2006
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/w2006-05-01-voa23.cfm

Migrant Workers - Children
是包袱，还是责任？—拷问“农民工子女上学难” (A Burden, or a Responsibility? - A Probe into the Issue of Education for Migrant Children)
Xinhuanet, April 28, 2006
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2006-04/28/content_
4485831.htm

Population - One-Child Policy
China Has Not Relaxed Family Planning: Official
Xinhuanet, May 01, 2006
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-05/01/content_
4499663.htm

Protests and Petitions
Rebels at Beijing's Front Door
SCMP, May 02, 2006
http://focus.scmp.com/focusnews/ZZZI3ZCQ3ME.html

Public Health - Health Care Reform
China Struggles to Rebuild Devastated Health Care System
Voice of America, May 02, 2006
http://www.voanews.com/english/China-Struggles-to-Rebuild
-Devastated-Health-Care-System.cfmSystem.cfm

Religion
China Defies Pope by Ordaining Bishop
Financial Times, May 02, 2006
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/43817ff6-d8c4-11da-9715-0000779e
2340.html

分析北京不经梵蒂冈同意任命主教 (China Ignores Vatican Over Bishop Appointment: An Analysis)
Voice of America, May 02, 2006
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/w2006-05-02-voa14.cfm

Vatican Must Halt Talks with Beijing, Says Zen )
SCMP, May 02, 2006
http://www.scmp.com/topnews/ZZZ25ZCQ3ME.html

Tibet
听众论班禅喇嘛转世灵童争议 (Listeners Discuss the Controversy over the Whereabouts of the Panchen Lama)
Voice of America, April 30, 2006
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/m2006-04-30-voa35.cfm

Tibetan Broadcasters Ordered to Wear Fur
Radio Free Asia, April 28, 2006
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/2006/04/28/tibet_fur/

Hong Kong
In Hong Kong, 'Democracy Will Have to Wait'
Asia Times Online, May 02, 2006
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/HE02Ad02.html

People Wrongfully Spied on May Be Told Under New Surveillance Law
SCMP, May 02, 2006
http://hongkong.scmp.com/hknews/ZZZGVXCQ3ME.html

Talk About Hypocrisy
SCMP, May 02, 2006
http://focus.scmp.com/focusnews/ZZZ64TFQ3ME.html