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 16, 2006

May 16, 2006

Top News of the Day

Human Rights Defenders - Journalist Zhao Yan (赵岩)
北京检察院对赵岩恢复起诉 (Beijing Procuratorate Resumes Prosecution Against Zhao Yan)
Radio Free Asia, May 15, 2006
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/
2006/05/15/zhaoyan/

The criminal investigation against Zhao Yan, a researcher for the New York Times, has been resumed by China's prosecutors, after the original charge of divulging state secrets were dropped in March. He was detained in September 2004 for correctly predicting in his report Jiang Zemin's plan to resign from the Central Military Commission. Zhao's lawyer will receive the new indictment in the next few days.

News

Children
专家呼吁健全国家监护制度 (Experts Call for Establishment of Nationwide Child Custody System)
China Youth Daily, May 16, 2006
http://zqb.cyol.com/content/2006-05/16/
content_1384261.htm


Programme Targets Children's Accidents
Xinhuanet, May 16, 2006
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-05/16/
content_4550271.htm


Civil Society
中国非政府组织为何得以大发展?(Why Are China's NGOs Growing So Rapidly?)
Voice of America, May 16, 2006
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/
w2006-05-16-voa16.cfm


Death Penalty
China Plans to Use Death Penalty More Sparingly
USA Today, May 16, 2006
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/
2006-05-15-china-death_x.htm?csp=34


上海零口供劫犯被判死刑 (Shanghai Murder Suspect Sentenced to Death)
The Beijing News, May 16, 2006
http://news.thebeijingnews.com/china/
2006/0516/018@180586.htm


Education
部分全国人大常委会委员提出:义务教育问责先要明确谁是直接责任人 (NPC Deputies Suggest That Compulsory Education Law Should Clarify Who Is Accountable for Answering Questions on Law)
China Youth Daily, May 16, 2006
http://zqb.cyol.com/content/2006-05/16/
content_1384161.htm


Food Security
Drought May Lead to Food Shortages
SCMP, May 16, 2006
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZG4YDQ3ME.html

Human Rights Defends – Petitioners Guo Qizhen (郭起真)
维权人士郭起真被便衣警察带走 (Rights Defender Guo Qizhen Taken Away by Plain-clothes Police)
Radio Free Asia, May 15, 2006
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/
2006/05/15/guo/


June 4th
办八九民调网站被关 涉历史当局仍过敏 (Government's Closure of Website That Held Opinion Poll on June 4th Shows Authorities Are Still Overly Sensitive on Subject)
Radio Free Asia, May 15, 2006
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/
2006/05/15/64/


Media – Press Freedom
记者李金华和吕爱强被强行开除一事出现新情况 (New Information on Dismissal of Journalists Li Jinhua and Lu Aiqiang)
Radio Free Asia, May 15, 2006
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/
2006/05/15/jizhe/


Migrant Workers
湖南年轻女性农民工调查 七成多曾遭性骚扰 (Hunan Survey Shows 70% of Young Female Migrant Workers Sexually Harassed)
People's Daily, May 16, 2006
http://society.people.com.cn/GB/41158/4371546.html

Medical Insurance Regulation Benefits Migrant Workers in Shenzhen
Xinhuanet, May 16, 2006
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/
2006-05/16/content_4550293.htm


Politics - Political Reform
美专家谈中国是否进行了民主改革 (US Experts Comment on Whether or Not China Is Implementing Democratic Reforms)
Voice of America, May 15, 2006
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/w2006-05-15-voa56.cfm

Poverty
One in Seven Chinese Living on under US$1 Daily
Xinhuanet, May 16, 2006
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/
2006-05/15/content_590383.htm


Protests and Petitions
Victim Continues Fight for Official Redress
SCMP, May 16, 2006
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZ84YDQ3ME.html

Hundreds of Military Veterans Make Appeals in Beijing
Dajiyuan.com, May 13, 2006
http://www.theepochtimes.com/news/6-5-13/41490.html

深圳不买房行动发起人邹涛在北京感受压力 (Zou Tao Pressured in Beijing for Launching "Don't Buy Apartments" Campaign in Shenzhen)
Radio Free Asia, May 15, 2006
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/
2006/05/15/fangwu/


Public Health
云南艾滋病疫情最严重 女性感染者比例大幅上升 (AIDS Epidemic Worsening in Yunnan Province, Especially Among Women)
EastDay.com, May 16, 2006
http://news.eastday.com/eastday/node81741/
node81762/node135161/
userobject1ai2039755.html

9755.html

国家发改委称药价将每两年调整一次 (Government To Adjust Prescription Drug Prices Every Two Years)
EastDay.com, May 16, 2006
http://news.eastday.com/eastday/node81741/
node81762/node135161/userobject1ai2039408.html

9408.html

世卫新书批评中国萨斯处理不当 (New WHO Book Criticizes China's Handling of SARS)
Voice of America, May 15, 2006
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/w2006-05-15-voa47.cfm

Religion
China Plans More Ordinations of Bishops without Vatican Approval
Voice of America, May 15, 2006
http://www.voanews.com/english/2006-05-15-voa18.cfm

State Security – Terrorism
SCO to Sign Anti-Terror Agreements
China Daily, May 16, 2006
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/
2006-05/16/content_590605.htm