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, June 16, 2006

June 16, 2006

Top News of the Day
Human Rights Defender – Journalist – Zhao Yan (赵岩)
Trial of NYT Researcher Opens in China
Reuters (via YahooNews), June 16, 2006
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060616/ts_nm/rights
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ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl
EZ421Ocp
PzWQA;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl

The trial of Zhao Yan, a New York Times researcher accused of fraud and leaking state secrets, opens today (June 16). He has been in custody for 22 months since he was taken away by police in September 2004. The charges against him had once been dropped but were revived in May 2006.

  • Related News:

HRIC Press Release: HRIC Calls for Zhao Yan's Immediate Release
Human Rights in China, June 15, 2006
http://www.hrichina.org/public/contents/press?revision
%5fid=29277&item%5fid=29276


Human Rights Defender – Journalist – Yang Xiaoqing (阳小青)
揭黑记者阳小青被判刑一年 数百民众法院外喊冤 (Yang Xiaoqing Sentenced, Hundreds Gather Outside Court to Call for His Release)
Radio Free Asia, June 15, 2006
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2006/06/
15/yangxiaoqing/

On June 15th, journalist Yang Xiaoqing was convicted on charges of fabricating corruption stories in an attempt to blackmail the authorities and given a one-year sentence by a local court in Hunan Province. He immediately said he would appeal this decision, arguing that he merely reported on alleged corruption among local officials.

News
Bilateral Ties
The US Finger on China's Pulse
Asia Times Online, June 16, 2006
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/HF16Ad02.html

Civil Society
Foreign-funded Nonprofits Under Investigation in China
Boston Globe, June 16, 2006
http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/articles/2006/06/
15/foreign_funded_nonprofits
_under_investigation_in_china/

Corruption – Death Penalty
反腐课题组建议废除腐败官员死刑 (Anti-corruption Agency Proposes to Abolish Death Penalty for Officials Convicted of Corruption)
Nanfang Weekend, June 16, 2006
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/southnews/zmzg/
200606150629.asp


Death Penalty
安徽阜阳轮奸16名校园少女案宣判 2主犯判死刑 (Two Sentenced to Death for Gang-raping 16 School Girls in Anhui Province)
Xinhuanet, June 16, 2006
http://news.xinhuanet.com/legal/2006-06/16/content_
4705703.htm


China Makes Ultimate Punishment Mobile
USA Today, June 14, 2006
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2006-06-14-
death-van_x.htm?csp=34


Government
全新干部考核体系即将公开 (More Transparent Official Selection System to Be Adopted at Local Level in Several Provinces)
Nanfang Weekend, June 16, 2006
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/southnews/zmzg
/200606150628.asp


June 4th
蔡子强:请容悼念和烛光 保留一点私人空间 (Commentary: Please Leave Hong Kong Officials Private Time to Commemorate June 4th)
Ming Pao, June 16, 2006
http://www.mingpaonews.com/20060616/fab1.htm

Labor
中国劳动合同法引起争议 (China's Labor Contract Law Causes Dispute)
Radio Free Asia, June 16, 2006
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2006/
06/15/hetong/


iPod 'Slave' Claims Investigated
BBC, June 15, 2006
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/5079590.stm

胡新宇过劳死死了白死?(Work Exhaustion Common in Many Enterprises in China)
Nanfang Weekend, June 15, 2006
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/southnews/zmzg
/200606150632.asp


Media
上合组织峰会加强监控互联网合作 (SCO Summit Agrees to Strengthen Cooperation on Internet Surveillance)
Voice of America, June 16, 2006
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/w2006-06-15-voa48.cfm

China’s Media in Unusual Call for Transparency
Financial Times, June 15, 2006
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/f4c3da90-fbd1-11da-b1a1
-0000779e2340.html


Politics
纪念「文革」,重温邓小平讲话和《决议》 (Commentary: Why the Authorities Do Not Commemorate the Cultural Revolution)
Ming Pao, June 16, 2006
http://www.mingpaonews.com/20060616/msa.htm

Protests and Petitions
顺德械斗 警民仍对峙 (Protestors' Clash with Authorities Still Ongoing in Shunde, Guangdong Province)
Wen Wei Po, June 16, 2006
http://www.wenweipo.com/news_print.phtml?news_
id=CH0606160035


上合组织峰会沪上访者被拘押软禁 (Shanghai Petitioners Detained and Put Under House Arrest During SCO Summit)
Voice of America, June 15, 2006
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/w2006-06-15-voa51.cfm