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 03, 2007

January 3, 2007

Top News of the Day
Human Rights Defender – Lawyer - Gao Zhisheng (高智晟)
高智晟律师一家的行踪引起关注 (Whereabouts of Gao Zhisheng and His Family Unknown)
Radio Free Asia, January 02, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/01/02/gao/
Contact has been lost with Gao Zhisheng's family, according to his sister-in-law and his friend Hu Jia. Hu said someone told him Gao and his family were escorted out of Beijing, but another source said he saw Gao's daughter near their home. Hu speculated that Gao's family had to leave Beijing because the authorities did not want them to receive media interviews, as is permitted under the new regulations on foreign journalists.
News
Children
中国涉外收养政策没有变 优先办理符合各方利益 (China Maintains Policy of Giving Preferential Treatment to Most Suitable Adoptive Parents)
Xinhuanet, January 03, 2007
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2007-01/03/content_556092
6.htm


Death Penalty
从人治走向法治 中国死刑复核下放的27年长路 (The History of Legal Reforms on the Death Penalty in China)
EastDay.com, January 03, 2007
http://news.eastday.com/c/20070103/u1a2544296.html

"9•15"特大贩毒案贩毒家族3名主犯一审被判死刑 (Three Drug Dealers Sentenced to Death in Anhui)
Xinhuanet, January 02, 2007
http://news.xinhuanet.com/legal/2007-01/02/content_5559754
.htm


Environment
As Officials Bicker, Polluters Cash In and Waterways Die
South China Morning Post, January 03, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZFX5GOFWE.html

Counting the Cost of Chaotic Development
South China Morning Post, January 03, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZGYJIOFWE.html

No Price Too High for China's Clean Water
South China Morning Post, January 03, 2007
http://focus.scmp.com/focusnews/ZZZALSHOFWE.html

Pollution Engulfs Bohai Bay Fishermen
South China Morning Post, January 03, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZN6UGOFWE.html

Government
高干子女掌握中国五大经济部门 (Cadres' Children Control China's 5 Main Financial Sectors)
Radio Free Asia, January 02, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/01/02/gaogan/

Human Rights Defender - Xu Yonghai (徐永海)
北京基督徒徐永海受到警方监视 (Christian Xu Yonghai Not Allowed to Leave Home for 3 Days Starting New Year's Day)
Radio Free Asia, January 02, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/01/02/zongjiao/

Law
Lawyer Joins Calls to Close Rural-urban Compensation Gap
South China Morning Post, January 03, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZOYJIOFWE.html

郑州命传媒监督公仆 (New Regulations Ask Media to Monitor Civil Servants in Zhengzhou, Henan)
Ming Pao, January 03, 2007
http://www.mingpaonews.com/20070103/cab2.htm

Media
Clamour Grows for Freedom of Speech
South China Morning Post, January 03, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZV6UGOFWE.html

中国境内仅境外记者有采访自由? (Commentary: Do Only Foreign Media Have the Freedom to Work in China?)
Voice of America, January 02, 2007
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/w2007-01-02-voa30.cfm

Olympics
Service with a Smile -- It's the Law
Los Angeles Times, January 02, 2007
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-rude2jan0
2,1,1724960.story?coll=la-headlines-world
rude2jan02,1,1724960.st
ory?coll=la-headlines-world


Politics
New Year's Propaganda?
South China Morning Post, January 03, 2007
http://focus.scmp.com/focusnews/ZZZFW5GOFWE.html

Populist Policies Target Reforms in Key Sectors
South China Morning Post, January 03, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZQKSHOFWE.html

Population
The Graying of China
Boston Globe, January 03, 2007
http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/articles/2007/01/02/th
e_graying_of_china/


Protests and Petitions
广州千名教师请愿被驱 (1,000 Petitioning Teachers Dispersed in Guangzhou)
Ming Pao, January 03, 2007
http://www.mingpaonews.com/20070103/cci1.htm

Tibet
Unfree Thinker
South China Morning Post, January 03, 2007
http://focus.scmp.com/focusnews/ZZZILSHOFWE.html