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.

Friday, December 22, 2006

December 22, 2006

Top News of the Day
Human Rights Defender – Gao Zhisheng (高志晟)
China Gives Rights Lawyer Suspended Sentence
Reuters (via Yahoonews), December 22, 2006
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061222/wl_nm/china_lawyer_dc_2
Human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng was sentenced to three years in prison for subversion but he was given a five-year reprieve, which means that he does not have to serve his sentence unless he commits another crime over the next five years. However, he was also deprived of his political rights for one year, which will prevent him from speaking to reporters and might mean he could be kept under house arrest or surveillance.

News
Children
病残儿沦为行乞工具 76岁离休老干部卧底丐帮两月揭黑幕 (Retired Cadre Reveals Use of Children with Disabilities as Begging Tools in Shenzhen)
Nanfang Daily, December 22, 2006
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/southnews/jwxy/200612210549
.asp


中国南方虐童问题日益严重 (Child Abuse Getting More Serious in Southern China)
Radio Free Asia, December 21, 2006
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2006/12/21/ertong/

Corporate Social Accountability
中国高官呼吁给民营企业以宽容 (Senior Officials Urge Public to Show Leniency to Private Enterprises)
Radio Free Asia, December 22, 2006
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2006/12/21/qiye/

Corruption
Senior Legislator Goes on Trial for Corruption
China Daily, December 21, 2006
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2006-12/21/content_764920.
htm


Food Security
中国物价上涨使得有毒食品肆虐 (Rise in Food Cost Leads to Proliferation of Toxic Food)
Radio Free Asia, December 21, 2006
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2006/12/21/wujia/

Government
社论:事故频曝官商勾结 自我监察难解症结 (Editorial: Self-Monitoring Cannot Solve Problem of Collusion Between Government and Business)
Nanfang City News, December 22, 2006
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/southnews/spqy/200612220496.
asp


Human Rights Defender – Gao Qinrong (高勤荣)
A True Chinese Hero
SCMP, December 22, 2006
http://focus.scmp.com/focusnews/ZZZKB6I9UVE.html

Human Rights Defenders – Petitioners
美驻华大使官员会见天津维权人士郑明芳 (US Diplomat Meets Tianjin Rights Defender Zheng Mingfang)
Radio Free Asia, December 21, 2006
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2006/12/21/weiquan1/

Labor
30个城市工会组织为农民工结成"城际维权联盟" (30 Unions Form "City Rights Defense Coalitions")
EastDay.com, December 22, 2006
http://news.eastday.com/eastday/node81741/node81762/node1782
30/u1a2522730.html


Mainland Should Heed Lessons on Worker Safety
SCMP, December 22, 2006
http://focus.scmp.com/focusnews/ZZZ287I9UVE.html

Land Policy
顺德土地维权不同对待 质疑官方肃贪乃对策 (Rights Defense Campaigns in Guangdong Receive Different Treatment)
Radio Free Asia, December 21, 2006
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2006/12/21/weiquan/

Law
Dissident Writer Loses 'Political' Copyright Case
SCMP, December 22, 2006
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZOC6I9UVE.html

HK Man in 110m Yuan Dispute to Get Hearing
SCMP, December 22, 2006
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZH77I9UVE.html

争议声声:合阳133官们走上被告席 (Shaanxi Officials Stand Trial as Defendants in Administrative Litigations)
Legal Daily, December 22, 2006
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/misc/2006-12/22/content_494070.
htm


Media
China's Reporters Face a Backlash over Investigations
Wall Street Journal, December 22, 2006
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB116664572288655958.html?mod=to
days_us_page_one


Unveiling China's Past
Los Angeles Times, December 22, 2006
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-ed-veil21dec
21,1,425681.story?coll=la-news-a_section
veil21dec21,1,425681.story
?coll=la-news-a_section


四公司联手帮助网民突破中国封锁 (Four Companies Cooperate on Breaking China's Internet Censorship)
Voice of America, December 21, 2006
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/w2006-12-21-voa13.cfm

Migrant Workers
托管班争议引发留守儿童寄宿难题 (School in Anhui Ordered to Stop Providing Boarding Service Supported by Parents' Donations)
The Beijing News, December 22, 2006
http://news.thebeijingnews.com/0547/2006/1218/014@229671.htm

Police
官员们为何最关注社会治安? (Commentary: Why Are Officials the Group that Is Most Concerned About Social Order?)
Nanfang City News, December 22, 2006
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/southnews/spqy/200612220490.asp

广州拟组建城管公安机构 欲从根本上解决执法问题/打击暴力抗法 (Guangzhou Considers Establishing City Management Police Body)
Nanfang City News, December 22, 2006
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/southnews/jwxy/200612210008.asp

Protests and Petitions
南沙工人罢工讨加班费 (600 Guangzhou Workers Go on Strike over Demands for Overtime Pay)
Ming Pao, December 22, 2006
http://www.mingpaonews.com/20061222/ccm1.htm

In Booming China, Protests by Poor Escalate
Wall Street Journal, December 21, 2006
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB116663625973155809.html?mod=t
odays_us_page_one


Public Health
HIV Expert Advocates Free Testing, Treatment
SCMP, December 22, 2006
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZSC6I9UVE.html

Religion
央视罕有播天主教特辑 (CCTV Unexpectedly Shows Catholic Program)
Ming Pao, December 22, 2006
http://www.mingpaonews.com/20061222/cae1.htm

Trouble Brews as Bishops Die
SCMP, December 22, 2006
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZF52N9UVE.html

Rural Issues
Land Sale Proceeds to Help Rural Growth
SCMP, December 22, 2006
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZE4W3AUVE.html