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, January 18, 2006

January 18, 2006

Top News of the Day

Religion
北京方舟教会两受警方骚扰 (Fangzhou Church in Beijing Raided by Police)
Radio Free Asia, January 17, 2006
A Beijing church named Fangzhou (“ark”) - founded by rights activists such as writer Yu Jie and lawyer Gao Zhisheng about two years ago - has been raided by police twice recently. No one has been arrested in the incidents.
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2006/01/17/jiaohui/

Related News
北京加紧镇压地下教会 (Beijing Strengthens Control on House Churches)
Dajiyuan.com, January 18, 2006
http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/6/1/18/n1194054.htm


News

Environment
"Energy Police" to Patrol Malls
Xinhuanet, January 18, 2006
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-01/18/content_
4066093.htm


2006年国家将解决农村2000万人的饮水困难问题 (State Pledges to Resolve Problems with Drinking Water for 20 Million Residents in Rural Areas in 2006)
People's Daily, January 18, 2006
http://gov.people.com.cn/GB/46742/4038786.html

Human Rights Defenders
警方监视家人纪念赵紫阳去世周年 (Family Members of Purged Leader Zhao Ziyang Under Police Surveillance for Holding Memorial Activities to Mark the First Anniversary of His Death)
Voice of America, January 18, 2006
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/w2006-01-17-voa17.cfm

Mourners Gather to Mark Anniversary of Zhao's Death
SCMP, January 18, 2006
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZ7R5SJRGE.html

Law - Legislative Reform
Property Law Draft Set for Further Revisions
People's Daily, January 18, 2006
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200601/18/eng20060118_
236333.html


Media
China Has 111 Million Internet Users
Xinhuanet, January 18, 2006
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-01/17/content_
4066612.htm


中国严控互联网阻止新闻自由流通 (China Steps up Control on Internet to Rein in Press Freedom)
Voice of America, January 18, 2006
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/w2006-01-17-voa58.cfm

Media - Internet Censorship / Corporate Social Accountability
Beijing's New Enforcer: Microsoft
New York Times, January 17, 2006
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/17/opinion/17tue2.html

Media - Censorship / Press Freedom
Geisha Film Has Censors Stumped
SCMP, January 18, 2006

http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZLYBSJRGE.html

Migrant Workers
Website Launched to Safeguard Workers' Interests
Xinhuanet, January 18, 2006
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-01/17/content_
4064330.htm


农民工的工资由谁来定?(Who Should Decide the Salaries of Migrant Workers?)
China Youth Daily, January 18, 2006
http://zqb.cyol.com/gb/zqb/2006-01/15/content_120598.htm

Politics - Political Reform
中国地方党委集中换届启动 涉及数以十万计幹部 (Hundreds of Thousands of Cadres Will be Involved in Major Reshuffle at Provincial, City, County and Village Levels)
Asia Times Online, January 18, 2006
http://www.atchinese.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12689&Itemid=33=33

Protests and Petitions – Zhongshan Land Compensation Case
Fear Reigns in Land-Grab Village Amid Clampdown
The Standard, January 18, 2006
http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?we_cat=2&art_id=10109&sid=6275359&con_type=1&d_
str=20060118
9&con_type=1&d_str=20060118

三角镇警民冲突当局村民各执其词 (Police and Villagers Have Different Versions of Saturday's Crackdown on Land Protest in Sanjiao, Zhongshan)
Voice of America, January 18, 2006
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/w2006-01-17-voa36.cfm

Rural Issues - Rural Development
安徽小岗村重搞集体经济 (Collective Economy in Xiaogang Village, Anhui Becomes Role Model for Rural Reform)
Ming Pao, January 18, 2006
http://www.mingpaonews.com/