June 17-19, 2006

Top News of the Day

Human Rights Defender – Journalist - Zhao Yan (赵岩)
北京法院闭门审判赵岩 (Zhao Yan Tried Behind Closed Doors)
Radio Free Asia, June 16, 2006
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2006/06/
16/zhaoyan/
The trial of New York Times researcher Zhao Yan (赵岩), who has been detained for 22 months since September 2004, took place behind closed doors in a Beijing Court and ended on June 16, with no verdict reached. According to one of Zhao's lawyers, Zhao pleaded not guilty to the charges of fraud and leaking state secrets. The court rejected Zhao's bail application. The lawyer added that it was not immediately clear when there would be a verdict. If convicted of leaking state secrets, Zhao could face a prison terms of 10 years.

• Related news:

Journalist's Case is a Bellwether of Freedom
SCMP, June 17, 2006
http://focus.scmp.com/focusnews/ZZZ26UHB7OE.html

News
Civil Society
Aid Group's HIV Work Blocked for Four Years
SCMP, June 19, 2006
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZNAGJB7OE.html

Corruption
Top Official Vanishes Amid Graft Allegations
SCMP, June 19, 2006
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZ0DXHB7OE.html

Environment
Beijing's Cleanup Bill to Cost 1.6pc of GDP - Environment Official
SCMP, June 19, 2006
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZNEVR67OE.html

Mainland Must Get More Serious on Desert Menaces
SCMP, June 19, 2006
http://focus.scmp.com/focusnews/ZZZBBGJB7OE.html

Government
Public Services Sidelined by Growth, Say Scholars
SCMP, June 19, 2006
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZ8DXHB7OE.html

Human Rights Defender – Petitioner - Fu Xiancai (付先财）
维权者获德国资助医瘫 (German Government Provides Financial Assistance to Help Paralyzed Three Gorges Activist Get Medical Treatment)
Ming Pao, June 19, 2006
http://www.mingpaonews.com/20060619/cae1.htm

• Related News:

HRIC Press Release: HRIC Calls for International Action as Fu Xiancai Denied Vital Surgery
Human Rights in China, June 16, 2006

http://www.hrichina.org/public/contents/press?
revision%5fid=29328&item%5fid=29288

Human Rights Defender – Petitioner - Chen Guangcheng (陈光诚)
百名知识分子签名吁释放陈光诚 (One Hundred Intellectuals Urge Authorities to Release Blind Activist Chen Guangcheng)
Radio Free Asia, June 19, 2006
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2006/06/
18/chenguangcheng/

Labor
Foreign Investors May Quit If China Tightens Up Labour Law
The Times, June 19, 2006
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,13132
-2231993,00.html

就业不如"吃低保"? 弱势群体需要特殊就业援助 (Is Living on Social Security Assistance Better Than Work?)
EastDay.com, June 19, 2006
http://news.eastday.com/eastday/node81741/node81762
/node142169/userobject1ai2115478.html5478.html

Toll in China Chemical Blast Rises to 16
AP( via YahooNews), June 19, 2006
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060619/ap_on_re_as/
china_chemical_blast;_ylt=At75yfdujPDb86nykMbaEmABxg8F
;_ylu=X3oDMTBjMHVqMTQ4BHNlYwN5bnN1YmNhdA--

农村和城市低保家庭大学生求职更难 (University Graduates from Poor Families Find it Harder to Get Jobs)
China Youth Daily, June 19, 2006
http://zqb.cyol.com/content/2006-06/19/content_
1421131.htm

Sweatshop Conditions at IPod Factory Reported
Washington Post, June 16, 2006
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article
/2006/06/15/AR2006061501898.
htmldyn/content/article/2006/06/15/AR2006061501898.html

Land Policy
Officials Warned on Illegal Land Deals
SCMP, June 17, 2006
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZUFDJB7OE.html

Migrant Workers
民工夫妇无力支付医药费跳江自杀 (Migrant Worker Couple Commits Suicide over Being Unable to Pay Medical Bill)
Radio Free Asia, June 19, 2006
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2006/06
/16/yiyao/

Olympics
Cleanup Efforts Slow Toxic Spill in China
AP (via CBSNews), June 18, 2006
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060618/ap_on_re_as/china
_river_pollution

Politics
35岁以下党员达23% (23% of CPC Members Are Under 35 Years Old)
The Beijing News, June 19, 2006
http://news.thebeijingnews.com/0565/2006/06-19/
015@024052.htm

Religion
安徽牧师被捕 妻子否认丈夫非法经营 (Anhui Pastor's Wife Denies Charges of Illegal Business Operations)
Radio Free Asia, June 16, 2006
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2006/06/
16/mushi/

Tibet
Chinese Authorities Detain Five Tibetans for Alleged Leafleting
Radio Free Asia, June 16, 2006
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/2006/06/16/tibet_karze/