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 31, 2007

January 31, 2007

Top News of the Day
Protests and Petitions
广西村民投诉锰产业 五人已判刑七人待审 (Five Representatives Convicted over Pollution Protest in Guangxi, 7 More to Stand Trial)
Radio Free Asia, January 30, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/01/30/guangxi/
Five village representatives were convicted of "attacking a state organ" and sentenced to half a year to two years' imprisonment in Guangxi Province in late December 2006. They led protests against a manganese electrolyte plant which had caused serious pollution. Seven others from a nearby village were arrested, charged with "disrupting production" and "obstructing the execution of official duties" and are awaiting trial. They protested against the inadequate compensation received for their land.
News
Bilateral Ties
Hu Leaves on African Tour in Latest Effort to Woo Continent
South China Morning Post, January 31, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZ7VMLJKXE.html

Corruption
问题煤矿标本:市委副书记是后台 屡次曝光不倒 (Corruption Allegation Against a Hunan-Based Coal Mine)
EastDay.com, January 31, 2007
http://news.eastday.com/c/20070131/u1a2599957.html

Death Penalty
广东东莞尝试赔钱减刑 抢劫犯赔5万获轻判死缓 (Death Sentence Reprieved as Guangdong Murderer Pays 50,000 Yuan Compensation)
EastDay.com, January 31, 2007
http://news.eastday.com/c/20070131/u1a2599967.html

死刑案件关键证人拟出庭幕后 (Issues Around the Appearance of Key Witnesses in Death Penalty Trials)
Legal Daily, January 31, 2007
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/misc/2007-01/31/content_529623.
htm

Economic Development
How a Village Went from Rags to Rolls-Royces
Asia Times Online, January 31, 2007
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China_Business/IA31Cb03.html

Labor
Labour Law Won't Go to NPC in March
South China Morning Post, January 31, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZU3LEJKXE.html

Two HK Bosses Among 29 Fined for Failing to Pay Their Workers
South China Morning Post, January 31, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZY3LEJKXE.html

Labour Disputes Threaten China's Stability: Report
Reuters (via YahooNews), January 30, 2007
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070130/wl_nm/china_stability_d
c_1;_ylt=Am63thepojfLUeLc3zzhE9FPzWQA;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW
04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUleLc3zzhE9FPzWQA;_ylu=X3oDMT
BiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl

Land Policy
Land-Seizure Rows the Main Cause of Rural Unrest in '06
South China Morning Post, January 31, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZ1ZDXEKXE.html

Law
段惠民的亲属提出行政复议要求撤销劳教决定 (Duan Huimin's Family Launches Administrative Review Against His Reeducation-Through-Labor Order)
Radio Free Asia, January 30, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/01/30/duanhui
fang/

Media
国家新闻出版总署改口否认曾下令禁书 (Official Denies Having Ordered the Ban on 8 Books)
Radio Free Asia, January 30, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/xinwen/2007/01/30/china_media_f
reedom/

Protests and Petitions
Farmers' Protests Decline 20 Percent Last Year
China Daily, January 31, 2007
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2007-01/31/content_796946.
htm

佛山希涌和三山港乡征地维权新发展 (Latest Development on the Land Grabs in Guangdong)
Radio Free Asia, January 30, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/01/30/fushan/

湖北擂鼓墩村农民抗争月余后与政府达成协议 (Victims of Land Grabs in Hubei Reach Compromise with Village Cadres)
Radio Free Asia, January 30, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/xinwen/2007/01/30/china_rights
_rural/

Public Health
江苏吴江工厂解雇22名乙肝病毒携带者 (22 Hepatitis B Workers Dismissed by Jiangsu Factory)
Radio Free Asia, January 30, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/01/30/yigan/

Religion
权威人士：爱国会地位将加强 (Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association Will Strengthen, Says Unnamed Chinese Authority)
Wen Wei Po, January 31, 2007
http://paper.wenweipo.com/2007/01/31/CH0701310015.htm

Tibet
Tibetan Teen Says He Fled China Captors
Associated Press (via YahooNews), January 30, 2007
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070130/ap_on_re_as/india_tibetan
s_shot_1;_ylt=AgKrCQmGhYjN2fmp2Teiln1PzWQA;_ylu=X3oDMT
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A;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl

Hong Kong
HK Race Is Everything but an Election
Financial Times, January 31, 2007
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/49c7227c-b0b8-11db-8a62-0000779e23
40,dwp_uuid=9c33700c-4c86-11da-89df-0000779e2340.
html0000779e2340,dwp_uuid=9c33700c-4c86-11da-89df-000077
9e2340.html