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, October 16, 2006

October 14-16, 2006

Top News of the Day
Protests and Petitions - Olympics
抗议建变电站 北京警民推撞 (200 Beijing Residents Clash with Police over Construction of Transformer Station for Olympics Facilities)
Ming Pao, October 16, 2006
http://www.mingpaonews.com/20061016/cag1.htm
More than 200 Beijing residents clashed with police on October 15 over the construction of a transformer station for the Olympic Games. They argued that there had been no consultation about the construction, and the station was way too close to their residences. Scores of elders were injured and at least four protestors were taken away.

Tibet
Video Contradicts China on Shooting of Tibetans
International Herald Tribune, October 15, 2006
http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/10/15/news/tibet.php
A Romanian videotape appearing to show that Chinese security forces shot Tibetans refugees in the Himalayas on September 30 contradicts Beijing's claim that the refugees were shot by soldiers acting in self-defense. The video was taken by a Romanian mountain climber who was near Cho Oyu where the shooting took place.

News
Children

In China, Children of Inmates Face Hard Time Themselves
Washington Post, October 13, 2006
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article
/2006/10/12/AR2006101201855.html


Death Penalty
Top Judge Urges Care in Death Penalty Review
SCMP, October 16, 2006
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZYM6O9CRE.html

Disasters
中国评论﹕欲盖弥彰 乌纱帽难保 (Commentary: Local Officials in Chongqing Underreport Car Accident Death to Save Jobs)
Ming Pao, October 16, 2006
http://www.mingpaonews.com/20061016/caz1.htm

Environment
Cover-up of Pollution in Guizhou
SCMP, October 16, 2006
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZXN8O9CRE.html

受害者多救济不畅 中国污染损害赔偿立法待破冰 (Legislation Needed to Regulate Compensation for Harmful Effects of Pollution)
EastDay.com, October 15, 2006
http://news.eastday.com/eastday/node81741/node81762/node1
65897/u1a2378146.htm
l

Gender - Sex Workers
Debate Rages over HIV Lecture for Sex Workers
SCMP, October 16, 2006
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZ56EO9CRE.html

Government - Grassroots Elections
武汉警督独立参选人大代表被殴打 (Independent Candidate for Local Election in Wuhan Beaten over Complaint on Illegal Ballot Box)
Radio Free Asia, October 13, 2006
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2006/10/13
/wuhan/


Human Rights Defender - Internet Activist - Li Hong (力虹)
高智晟与力虹被正式逮捕 (Gao Zhisheng and Li Hong Formally Arrested)
Radio Free Asia, October 13, 2006
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2006/10/13/ga
ozhisheng/


Labor
China Drafts Law to Boost Unions and End Abuse
New York Times, October 16, 2006
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/13/business/worldbusiness/
13sweat.html?_r=2&oref=
slogin&oref=slogin

沃尔玛中国店工会多 能否独立? (Can Wal-Mart Trade Unions Be Independent?)
Virgin.net, October 15, 2006
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/w2006-10-15-voa1.cfm

On the Back of China's Workers, Economic Lift Is Tainted by Exploitation
San Francisco Chronicle, October 15, 2006
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle
/archive/2006/10/15/INGK7LNDJ41.DTL


Land Policy
中央重拳遏制地方政府卖地冲动 (Central Authorities to Pass Measures to Limit Land Sales at Local Level)
Nanfang Daily, October 16, 2006
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/southnews/djjz/20061016
0325.asp


湖北随州征地费被层层克扣农民未获分文 (Corrupt Officials Deprive Victims of Compensation for Land Grabs in Suizhou, Hubei Province)
Radio Free Asia, October 14, 2006
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2006/10/14/hubei/

Media
重庆:立法叫停网络恶搞 违者可能被罚款拘留 (Chongqing Passes Regulation that Punishes "Internet Disturbances")
Xinhuanet, October 16, 2006
http://news.xinhuanet.com/legal/2006-10/16
/content_5208303.htm


Director Scorns 'Laughable' Laws
BBC, October 13, 2006
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6051292.stm

福建各中院及28个基层法院都将设新闻发言人 (All Intermediate People's Courts and 28 Local Courts in Fujian Province Adopt New System for Issuing Media Reports)
Xinhuanet, October 11, 2006
http://news.xinhuanet.com/legal/2006-10/11/content_518
8761.htm


Migrant Workers
生活观念改变 农民工从谋求生存转变追求平等 (A Change of Attitude - Migrant Workers No Longer Only Interested in Survival, They Now Demand Equality)
People's Daily, October 15, 2006
http://politics.people.com.cn/GB/1026/4919094.html

Politics
驻京周记﹕建设和谐社会,当务之急是啥 (Commentary: Why Is the Priority on Building a Harmonious Society?)
Ming Pao, October 16, 2006
http://www.mingpaonews.com/20061016/cah1.htm

Population - One-Child Policy
New Policy Will Offer Cash Instead of Kids
People's Daily, October 16, 2006
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200610/16/eng20061016_31
2043.html


Protests and Petitions - Olympics
王丹连署斥京为奥运提前清场 (Open Letter to IOC Condemns Beijing for Suppressing Rights Defense Movement Ahead of Games)
Apple Daily, October 16, 2006
http://appledaily.atnext.com/template/apple/art_main.cfm?iss
_id=20061016&sec_id=15
335&subsec_id=15336&art_id=6409197

Protests and Petitions
Patriot Pains
SCMP, October 16, 2006
http://focus.scmp.com/focusnews/ZZZZO6O9CRE.html

Tibetans Train for Olympics - at Protest School
SCMP, October 14, 2006
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZAN6O9CRE.html