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 17, 2007

January 17, 2007

Top News of the Day
Human Rights Defender - Mao Hengfeng (毛恒凤)
访民毛恒凤被判两年半 看守所内受凌辱 (Petitioner Mao Hengfeng Sentenced to 2-1/2 Years, Humiliated in Detention Center)
Radio Free Asia, January 16, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/01/16/maohenf
eng/

On January 12, Shanghai petitioner Mao Hengfeng was sentenced to 2-1/2 years’ imprisonment on charges of damaging property. Her husband said the charge was related to her breaking two lamps, which were damaged when the authorities beat her in a guesthouse. Mao told her husband that the charges were trumped-up, and he related that she protested throughout the trial. Before the trial, Mao had been held in extremely unsanitary conditions and subjected to humiliating treatment.


Related Information:
HRIC Press Release: Mao Hengfeng Sentenced to 2-1/2 Years for
Breaking Lamps

Human Rights in China, January 16, 2007
http://www.hrichina.org/public/contents/press?revision%5fid=32
150&item%5fid=32149

News
Bilateral Ties
China Urges Quick Darfur Solution Ahead of President Visit
Agence France-Presse (via YahooNews), January 16, 2007
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070116/wl_asia_afp/sudanchinad
iplomacy_070116165138
38

Pope to Convene Special Meeting on China: Media Source
Agence France-Presse (via YahooNews), January 16, 2007
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070116/wl_asia_afp/vaticanpop
ereligion_070116185540


Children
U.S. Families Puzzled by Tighter China Adoptions
Reuters (via YahooNews), January 17, 2007
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070117/lf_nm/china_adoption_u
sa_dc_1


Death Penalty
Killer's Widow Files Appeal
South China Morning Post, January 17, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZ6O16F0XE.html

Education
新疆贫困中小学生提前实现免费入学 (Free Schooling Made Available One Year Earlier Than Planned for Low-Income Elementary School Students in Xinjiang)
China Youth Daily, January 17, 2007
http://zqb.cyol.com/content/2007-01/17/content_1645416.htm

Environment
69亿难解山西采煤沉陷难题 (6.9 Billion Yuan Not Enough to Solve Environmental Problems Caused by Coal Extraction in Shanxi)
The Beijing News, January 17, 2007
http://news.thebeijingnews.com/0547/2007/0110/031@234669.
htm


洋垃圾大举侵入佛山 (Foshan, Guangdong, Invaded by Foreign Garbage)
Nanfang City News, January 17, 2007
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/southnews/jwxy/200701170115.asp

Freedom of Speech
公安威胁芳草如果继续在海外发表文章就拘捕她 (Anhui Police Threaten to Arrest Political Prisoner's Wife over Diary Publication Abroad)
Radio Free Asia, January 16, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/xinwen/2007/01/16/china_dissident/

Labor
东莞工人偷裤遭反锁示众 (Guangdong Worker Handcuffed to Factory Door for 7 Hours for Stealing One Pair of Jeans)
Ming Pao, January 17, 2007
http://www.mingpaonews.com/20070117/ccg1.htm

Media
张桂芳:媒体造成治安问题扩大化” 广州再增2000警力 (Cadre Blames Media for Exaggerating Seriousness of Crime in Guangzhou)
Nanfang City News, January 17, 2007
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/southnews/jwxy/200701170118.
asp


大同不能以打击假记者为真凶开脱! (Commentary: Authorities Must Not Let Off Killers of "Fake Reporter" Who Exposed Illegal Shanxi Coal Mine)
Nanfang City News, January 17, 2007
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/southnews/spqy/200701170484
.asp


南海村民受访后被抓 放松外媒采访政令能走多远? (Guangdong Petitioner Arrested After Being Interviewed by Foreign Media)
Radio Free Asia, January 16, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/01/16/nanhai/

四川记者陈宇被传唤近21个小时后获释 (Sichuan Journalist Held for 21 Hours, Told Not to Talk to Foreign Media)
Radio Free Asia, January 16, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/01/16/chen/

奥组委:恶搞会徽告你侵权 (Altering Emblem of Beijing Olympics Violates Copyright Law)
Nanfang City News, January 17, 2007
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/southnews/djjz/200701170126.asp

Police
逾九成群众对社会治安满意 (Over 90 Percent of Those Interviewed Find Public Order Satisfactory)
Legal Daily, January 17, 2007
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/misc/2007-01/17/content_516950.htm

Old-Man Politics Dies with Last 'Immortal'
South China Morning Post, January 17, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZ19IMD0XE.html

Population
Reshaping the Population Problem as a Human Resources Powerhouse
People's Daily, January 17, 2007
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200701/16/eng20070116_34172
1.html


Protests and Petitions
无锡松下200员工停工抗议厂方隐瞒镉中毒事实 (200 Workers on Strike in Jiangsu over Cover-up of Cadmium Poisoning)
EastDay.com, January 17, 2007
http://news.eastday.com/c/20070117/u1a2571634.html

刑警拒杀上司二奶被追杀 (Policeman Receives Death Threats After Reporting Request by Supervisor's Wife to Kill Mistress)
Ming Pao, January 17, 2007
http://www.mingpaonews.com/20070117/cca1.htm

Religion
中国家庭教会又有教徒被抓 (More Members of Protestant House Church in Henan Taken Away)
Radio Free Asia, January 16, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/01/16/zongjiao/

Hong Kong
Detainees Need Access to Own Counsel: Expert
South China Morning Post, January 17, 2007
http://hongkong.scmp.com/hknews/ZZZUO16F0XE.html

No Booking for Birth, No Entry to HK
South China Morning Post, January 17, 2007
http://www.scmp.com/topnews/ZZZ1IHMD0XE.html