Top News of the Day
Death Penalty
Mass Murderer Executed Without Psychiatric Test
SCMP, December 29, 2006
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZ4IHPD9WE.html
Convicted mass murderer Qiu Xinghua (邱兴华) was executed in public yesterday, just days before the Supreme People's Court is due to start reviewing all lower-level death penalty decisions. The Shaanxi Higher People's Court refused to order a psychiatric test, even though some psychiatric experts argued that his behavior and family history pointed to mental illness; under the mainland legal system, only the police, prosecutors and judges have the power to initiate a test. Qiu was executed about 50 minutes after the court opened at 9:00 am.
News
Death Penalty
社论：立斩邱兴华是对程序公正的执意漠视 (Editorial: Immediate Execution of Qiu Xinghua Is Blatant Disregard of Procedural Justice)
Nanfang City News, December 29, 2006
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/southnews/spqy/200612290529.
asp
邱兴华匆匆被“斩立决”说明什么？ (Commentary: What Does the Immediate Execution of Qiu Xinghua Illustrate?)
Nanfang City News, December 29, 2006
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/southnews/spqy/200612290411
.asp
多省赶死线掀打靶潮 (Several Provinces Rush Through Executions Ahead of Implementation of New Rule)
Ming Pao, December 29, 2006
http://www.mingpaonews.com/20061229/caa1.htm
China's Supreme Court Guarantees Strict Control of Death Penalty
People's Daily, December 28, 2006
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200612/28/eng20061228_3366
06.html
Environment
水利部安排中央投资60亿元解决3000万农村人口饮水安全 ( 6 Billion Yuan to Be Invested in Providing Safe Drinking Water for 30 Million Rural Residents)
Legal Daily, December 29, 2006
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/bm/2006-12/29/content_502244.htm
Lower Emission Data Fictitious: Watchdog
SCMP, December 29, 2006
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZAIHPD9WE.html
Freedom of Speech
中日同研历史和中国限制史学研究 (Sino-Japanese History Study Group and China's Internal Ban on Research on Selected Contemporary Historical Topics)
Voice of America, December 28, 2006
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/w2006-12-28-voa46.cfm
Government
The Death of a Chinese Democrat
Time.com, December 27, 2006
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1572943,00.html
Hukou
改革户籍制度才能解决留守儿童问题 (Hukou Reforms – The Way to Solve the Problem of Children Left Behind by Migrant Workers)
China Youth Daily, December 29, 2006
http://zqb.cyol.com/content/2006-12/29/content_1627456.htm
Human Rights Defenders
代理人刘正有被解除资格 失地农民状告公安案受阻 (Liu Zhengyou Barred from Representing Sichuan Victims of Land Grabs in Illegal Detention Case)
Radio Free Asia, December 28, 2006
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2006/12/28/land/
Human Rights Defender - Chen Guangcheng (陈光诚)
陈光诚两律师被殴重伤 警方不管 (Police in Shandong Ignore Reports on Beatings of Chen Guangcheng's Lawyers)
Voice of America, December 28, 2006
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/w2006-12-28-voa51.cfm
Labor
Jobs Scarce for China's Graduates
Los Angeles Times, December 28, 2006
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-chigrads28dec28,1,5943111.
story?coll=la-headlines-business
Land Policy
成都养殖户奶牛场遭强拆 百万家财一夕化乌有 (Dairy Farm in Chengdu Demolished)
Radio Free Asia, December 28, 2006
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2006/12/28/chengdu/
Law
讨薪6年无果 状告法院 (Migrant Workers in Hunan Sue Court over Ruling on Back Pay Claims)
The Beijing News, December 29, 2006
http://news.thebeijingnews.com/0567/2006/12-29/011@232249
.htm
Media
社论：十大新闻关宏旨 大众感知有隔阂 (Commentary: Xinhua's Selection of Top 10 News in 2006 Does Not Reflect People’s Concerns)
Nanfang City News, December 29, 2006
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/southnews/spqy/200612290522.
asp
New Media Rules May Be Permanent
SCMP, December 29, 2006
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZ21OPD9WE.html
各地发言人接电矇查查 (Government Spokespersons Across China Still Confused)
Ming Pao, December 29, 2006
http://www.mingpaonews.com/20061229/cca2.htm
Military
China Issues White Paper on National Defense
China Daily, December 29, 2006
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2006-12/29/content_770831
.htm
Three Gorges
In Building of Chinese Dams, Poorest Are Paying a High Price
International Herald Tribune, December 26, 2006
http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/12/26/news/dam.php