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.

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

December 13, 2006

Top News of the Day
Human Rights Defender – Gao Zhisheng (高智晟)
Top Chinese Civil Rights Lawyer Tried in Secret: Recordings
Radio Free Asia, December 12, 2006
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/politics/2006/12/12/china_gaoz
hisheng/
The Beijing No. 1 Intermediate People's Court secretly tried human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng on unspecified subversion charges on December 12. Gao's family and his family-appointed lawyer Mo Shaoping had not been informed of the trial and were subsequently unable to attend. Two court-appointed attorneys who were unknown to the family represented Gao instead. Mo could not comment on the claim that Gao confessed to the subversion charges.
News
Death Penalty
北工大杀友男生一审被判死缓 (University Student Sentenced to Death with Two-year Reprieve over Girlfriend's Murder in Beijing)
The Beijing News, December 13, 2006
http://news.thebeijingnews.com/0558/2006/12-13/014@228523.htm

Economic Development
Unstoppable Yet Unsustainable
Financial Times, December 13, 2006
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/1fb6e9b2-86d4-11db-9ad5-0000779e2340,
dwp_uuid=9c33700c-4c86-11da-89df-0000779e2340.htm
l0000779e2340,dwp_uuid=9c33700c-4c86-11da-89df-0000779e2
340.html

Hukou
China Debates Reform of Household Registration System
Xinhuanet, December 12, 2006
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-12/12/content_5474403.htm

Human Rights
Parade of Shame
SCMP, December 13, 2006
http://focus.scmp.com/focusnews/ZZZ1Z7LVKVE.html

Human Rights Defender - Huseyin Celil (塞利尔)
In Brief: Ministry Refuses to Send Charged Uygur to Canada
SCMP, December 13, 2006
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZSL5PVKVE.html

Human Rights Defender – Gao Qinrong (高勤荣)
It Was a Set-up, Says Journalist Freed Early
SCMP, December 13, 2006
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZJQ9LVKVE.html

Labor
In Brief: Women Battery Factory Workers Sue Bosses Again
SCMP, December 13, 2006
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZSL5PVKVE.html

Law
政军学界千人反《物权法》(1,000 People Join Signature Petition Against Draft Law on Property Rights)
Ming Pao, December 13, 2006
http://www.mingpaonews.com/20061213/caa1.htm

Court Rejects Lawsuit by Victims of Fatal Antibiotic
SCMP, December 13, 2006
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZXZ7LVKVE.html

2006中国法治·立法计划完成得怎样？ (Progress of the Legislative Agenda for 2006)
Xinhuanet, December 13, 2006
http://news.xinhuanet.com/legal/2006-12/13/content_5473850.htm

Media
China Tightens Control on "Network Music"
Xinhuanet, December 12, 2006
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-12/12/content_5474585.
htm

Migrant Workers
Cities' Migrant Women Lack Benefits
Shanghai Daily, December 12, 2006
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/art/2006/12/12/299558/Cities__03
9__migrant_women_lack_benefits.htmck_benefits.htm

Olympics
明年8月警方进驻奥运场馆 (Police to Be Deployed to Olympic Venues in August 2007)
The Beijing News, December 13, 2006
http://news.thebeijingnews.com/0553/2006/12-13/014@228498.htm

Politics
China Warns of "Non-Traditional" Security Threats
Reuters (via YahooNews), December 13, 2006
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061213/wl_nm/china_security_dc_1

中国评论﹕《物权法》争议反映改革思辩 (Commentary: Debates on Property Rights Law Are Part of the Economic Reforms Discussion)
Ming Pao, December 13, 2006
http://www.mingpaonews.com/20061213/caz1.htm

Politics: Push to Bring the Provinces into Line
Financial Times, December 13, 2006
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/208e92c2-86d4-11db-9ad5-0000779e2
340,dwp_uuid=9c33700c-4c86-11da-89df-0000779e2340.htm
l0000779e2340,dwp_uuid=9c33700c-4c86-11da-89df-0000779e2340
.html

Population
Running out of Time to Help Elderly
SCMP, December 13, 2006
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZMX7LVKVE.html

Protests and Petitions
Hu Halts Dog Cull After Reading Petitions
SCMP, December 13, 2006
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZMA7PVKVE.html

民工讨薪遭伏击？ (Migrant Workers Beaten for Demanding Backpay at Construction Site)
Nanfang City News, December 13, 2006
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/southnews/shyp/200612130418
.asp

Public Health
Crackdown Proposed on Smoking in Public
SCMP, December 13, 2006
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZ9REXVKVE.html

New Rural Medical Care System Covers 495 Mln Farmers
Xinhuanet, December 12, 2006
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-12/12/content_5473367
.htm

Tibet
False Optimism on Tibet?
SCMP, December 13, 2006
http://focus.scmp.com/focusnews/ZZZPW7LVKVE.html

India Halts Tibetans' 'Go-west' Plans
Hindustan Times, December 13, 2006
http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1866176,0008.htm