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, August 18, 2006

August 18, 2006

Top News of the Day

Human Rights Defender – Lawyer - Gao Zhisheng (高智晟)
高智晟在山东姐姐家被抓 (Rights Defense Lawyer Gao Zhisheng Arrested at Sister's Home in Shandong)
Radio Free Asia, August 17, 2006
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2006/08/17/gao_zhisheng/
Rights defense lawyer Gao Zhisheng has been detained in Shandong since August 15. His two nephews were also taken away by police in Beijing. There is speculation that the arrest is a temporary measure in relation to Chen Guangcheng’s trial on August 18, although it may also signify the beginning of a series of arrests of rights defenders across the country.



Human Rights Defender – Lawyer - Chen Guangcheng (陈光诚)
陈光诚案开审前夕律师被困警署 (Lawyers Detained Ahead of Chen Guangcheng's Trial)
Radio Free Asia, August 17, 2006
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2006/08/17/
chenguangcheng1/

Three of Chen Guangcheng's lawyers were detained and beaten up for what was reportedly a fabricated theft ahead of his trial today (August 18). Two have been released but one is still being held in detention.

News
Corruption
爱滋村救助金未被挪用 (AIDS Relief Funds for Henan County Not Embezzled)
Ming Pao, August 18, 2006
http://www.mingpaonews.com/20060818/cad1.htm

Former Head of AIDS-hit County in Henan Arrested for Bribery
China Daily, August 17, 2006
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2006-08/1
7/content_667528.htm


Death Penalty
Mentally Ill Driver Who Killed Four Avoids Death
People's Daily, August 17, 2006
http://english.people.com.cn/200608/17/eng2006
0817_293900.html


制造广东东莞四尸五命案凶手被执行死刑 (Murderer of Four Executed in Guangdong Province)
Xinhuanet, August 17, 2006
http://news.xinhuanet.com/legal/2006-08/17/
content_4974999.htm


Disasters
民政部官员:灾情数字不必隐瞒也不可能瞒得住 (Ministry of Civil Affairs: Disaster-related Figures Need Not and Cannot Be Concealed)
Xinhuanet, August 17, 2006
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2006-08/
17/content_4975320.htm


Education
新华视点:是论价施教还是不公平施教(Students Get Better Computer and English Classes in Shandong’s Schools if Parents Pay More)
Xinhuanet, August 18, 2006
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2006-08/18
/content_4976963.htm


Environment
Garbage Suffocating Chinese Cities as Rapid Urbanization Continues
Xinhuanet, August 17, 2006
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-08/17/c
ontent_4974906.htm


Gender
疾控中心建同志论坛为同性恋网民提供帮助 (Disease Control Center in Beijing Establishes Gay Internet Forum)
Xinhuanet, August 18, 2006
http://news.xinhuanet.com/legal/2006-08/18/content_
4976115.htm


Hukou
活人上户难 死人不销户 (Hukou of Dead People Not Cancelled, While the Living Can’t Get One)
Nanfang Weekend, August 17, 2006
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/zm/20060817/x
w/szxw1/200608170009.asp


Human Rights
Police Have Easier Access to Data on Hotel Guests
China Daily, August 18, 2006
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2006-08/18/c
ontent_667605.htm


Human Rights Defender – Journalist - Ching Cheong (程翔)
程翔案关注組﹕部分媒体报道不公 (Group Concerned over Ching Cheong Case Criticizes Unfair Media Reports)
Ming Pao, August 18, 2006
http://www.mingpaonews.com/20060818/gbc1.htm

吴志森﹕审讯程翔 法治大戏 (Commentary: Trial for Ching Cheong a Legal Farce)
Ming Pao, August 18, 2006
http://www.mingpaonews.com/20060818/fac1.htm

Friends Pin Hopes on Parole for Spy-charge Journalist
SCMP, August 18, 2006
http://hongkong.scmp.com/hknews/ZZZWDCIWXQE.html

Spy Trial Looks Set to Add Pressure on Journalists
Financial Times, August 18, 2006
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/91c5c356-2e47-11db-93a
d-0000779e2340.html


程翔案是十七大人事布局的政治牺牲品? (Is Ching Cheong a Sacrificial Lamb in Personnel Struggle of Upcoming 17th CPC Central Committee?)
Radio Free Asia, August 17, 2006
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao
/2006/08/17/chenxiang/


Human Rights Defender - Public Intellectual - Dolma Kyab (卓玛嘉)
China Denies Jailing Tibetan Teacher for Book
Reuters, August 17, 2006
http://in.today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=top
News&storyID=2006-08-17T114909Z_01_NOOTR_RTRJONC_
0_India-263923-1.xml
17T114909Z_01_NOOTR_RTRJONC_0
_India-263923-1.xml


Human Rights Defender - Public Intellectual - Zou Tao (邹涛)
邹涛参选人大受压 网上宣传遭反攻 (Internet Attack Launched Against Zou Tao's Electoral Campaign)
Radio Free Asia, August 17, 2006
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2006/08/17
/zhoutao/


Land Policy
山东菏泽市民不堪拆迁逼迫上吊身亡 (Shandong Man Hangs Himself over Forced Eviction)
Radio Free Asia, August 16, 2006
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2006/08/16/he
ze/


Labor
沃尔玛工会为谁而建 (For Whom Were Wal-Mart’s Trade Unions Established?)
Nanfang Weekend, August 17, 2006
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/zm/20060817/jj/c
j/200608170054.asp


Law
上半年454人受查处 (Judicial Authorities Investigated 454 Cadres in First Half of 2006)
Legal Daily, August 18, 2006
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/bm/2006-08/18/co
ntent_386469.htm


刑事诉讼法修改 沉默权成焦点 (The Right to Remain Silent Becomes Focus in Proposed Amendments to the Criminal Procedure Law)
Nanfang Weekend, August 17, 2006
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/zm/20060817/xw/szxw2/2
00608170011.asp


Media
Freeze on Internet Cafes to End
SCMP, August 18, 2006
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZ8DCIWXQE.html

中国加紧对互联网的控制 (China Tightens Internet Control)
Radio Free Asia, August 17, 2006
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2006/08/17/wang/

中国广电总局拟严管网上自制影视节目 (The State Administration on Radio, Film and Television Considers Tightening Control on Homemade Internet Programs)
Radio Free Asia, August 16, 2006
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/20
06/08/16/video/


Migrant Workers
剖析民工荒 (Analyzing the Shortage of Migrant Workers)
Nanfang Weekend, August 18, 2006
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/zm/20060817/jj/j
jxw/200608170042.asp


Military
Chinese Envoy Tells U.S. to 'Shut Up'
AP( via YahooNews), August 18, 2006
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060818/ap_on_re_as/brit
ain_china_us


Olympics
对半年死伤89名城管队员的反思 (Conflict Between Hawkers and Beijing City Authorities Escalate Ahead of Olympic Games)
China Youth Daily, August 18, 2006
http://zqb.cyol.com/content/2006-08/18/conte
nt_1483626.htm


China Hones Game for 2008 Olympics
Washington Post, August 17, 2006
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/artic
le/2006/08/16/AR2006081601722.html?nav=rss_world


China to Tighten Anti-terror Training Ahead of Olympics
China Daily, August 17, 2006
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2006-0
8/17/content_667518.htm


Police
34名民警被开除辞退 (34 Policepersons Dismissed for Corruption)
Legal Daily, August 18, 2006
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/bm/2006-08
/18/content_386475.htm


泛蓝联盟呼吁立即释放戴平山 ("Pan-blue Alliance" Calls for Immediate Release of Taiwanese Activist Dai Pingshan)
Radio Free Asia, August 16, 2006
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2006/
08/16/fanlan/


Protests and Petitions
Chinese Police Haul off "Bad Vaccine" Protesters
Reuters (via New York Times), August 18, 2006
http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/world/international-rights-
china.html?_r=1&oref=slogin


官方施压 太石维权周年纪念活动流产 (Authorities Pressure Taishi Residents to Cancel Activities to Commemorate Anniversary of Rights Defense Movement)
Radio Free Asia, August 16, 2006
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2006
/08/16/taishicun/


Public Health
欣弗事件怎么没有人引咎辞职 (Why Has No One Resigned over Deadly Antibiotic Case?)
China Youth Daily, August 18, 2006
http://zqb.cyol.com/content/2006-08/18/con
tent_1483621.htm


Religion
China: The Economics of Religious Freedom
Forum18, August 18, 2006
http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=831