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, January 05, 2007

January 5, 2007

Top News of the Day
Human Rights Defenders
上海访民段惠民被警察殴打致死 (Shanghai Petitioner Duan Huimin Beaten to Death by Police)
Radio Free Asia, January 03, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/01/03/fangm
in/

Shanghai petitioner Duan Huimin (段惠民) was seriously beaten by police, denied treatment and died on January 2, 2007. He and his sister were making a petitioning trip to Beijing on November 4, 2006, and when the authorities beat his sister, he defended her with nail scissors. He himself was then beaten and detained. He had been bleeding since November 4 but the authorities denied him any treatment. He was sent home on December 31, three days after he first fell unconscious and the doctor diagnosed his condition as critical. His family admitted him to the hospital on January 1 but he died the next day.

News
Bilateral Ties
China Courts Africa with Aid, Projects
Associated Press (via YahooNews), January 05, 2007
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070105/ap_on_re_af/china_in_afr
ica_2


Children
中学生自杀现象调查 5个中学生中有1人曾想自杀 (One in 5 Secondary Students Once Thought About Suicide)
Xinhuanet, January 05, 2007
http://news.xinhuanet.com/legal/2007-01/05/content_5567513
.htm


Death Penalty
杭州杀人弃尸黄山 罪犯在安徽被执行死刑 (Murderer of Girlfriend Executed in Anhui)
Xinhuanet, January 04, 2007
http://news.xinhuanet.com/legal/2007-01/04/content_5565889.
htm


中国司法开启少杀时代 (China's Courts to Order Fewer Death Sentences)
Nanfang Weekend, December 31, 2006
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/southnews/zmzg/200612310297
.asp


Disasters
Disasters Take Highest Toll Since 1998
China Daily, January 05, 2007
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2007-01/05/content_775128
.htm


Environment
China Chokes on a Coal-fired Boom
The Times, January 05, 2007
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2089-2524271,00.html

Human Rights Defender – Gao Zhisheng (高智晟)
Freed Activist Lawyer Back in Home Town
South China Morning Post, January 05, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZ7R8MDJWE.html

Land Policy
沈阳暴力拆迁一人被殴致死 建设部通报房地产交易10起典型案件 (Ministry of Construction Announces 10 Typical Cases of Illegal Real Estate Transactions )
Nanfang Daily, January 05, 2007
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/southnews/jwxy/200701050296.
asp


Law
凶手强奸5岁女童后将其踩死抛尸 一审逃脱死刑 (Man Avoids Death Sentence for Raping and Murdering 5-Year-Old)
Xinhuanet, January 05, 2007
http://news.xinhuanet.com/legal/2007-01/05/content_5568071.
htm


律师执业遇袭趋势恶化 公开信呼吁当局落实法律 (Seven Beaten Lawyers Seek Better Protection in Open Letter)
Radio Free Asia, January 04, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/01/04/falu/

Media
政府与媒体应是合作伙伴 (Commentary: Government and Media Should Be Partners)
Nanfang City News, January 05, 2007
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/southnews/spqy/200701050381.
asp


中国放宽对外国记者限制被指做秀 (China's More Lenient Regulations for Foreign Journalists Criticized as Being Just for Show)
Voice of America, January 04, 2007
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/w2007-01-04-voa29.cfm

Politics
中国民生问题多学者呼吁政治改革 (Academics Say Political Reforms Will Help China Solve Social Problems)
Voice of America, January 04, 2007
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/w2007-01-04-voa24.cfm

Protests and Petitions
港商索偿天天靜坐法官也感动 (Hong Kong Businessman Petitions Outside Shenzhen Court Every Day, Judge Touched)
Ming Pao, January 05, 2007
http://www.mingpaonews.com/20070105/ccd1.htm

Workers Protest After 3 Beaten in Pay Row
South China Morning Post, January 05, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZMWUMDJWE.html

Fujian Villagers Block Road to Protest Pollution
Radio Free Asia, January 03, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/2007/01/03/china_protest/

Society
New Challenges in Ties with Minorities
South China Morning Post, January 05, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZQWUMDJWE.html

Hong Kong
Wang Dan to Seek Job Teaching on HK Campus
South China Morning Post, January 05, 2007
http://hongkong.scmp.com/hknews/ZZZJUUMDJWE.html