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.

Tuesday, February 27, 2007

February 27, 2007

Top news of the day
Protests and Petitions
北京78岁上访老人双淑英被判刑两年 (78-Year-old Petitioner Sentenced to 2 Years' Imprisonment)
Radio Free Asia, February 26, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/02/26/shangfang/
Seventy-eight-year-old petitioner Shuang Shuying (双淑英) was sentenced to two years' imprisonment on February 26 for "intentionally damaging property." Her oldest son, who attended the trial, was not convinced by the evidence presented by the prosecution regarding the damage she caused to a passing vehicle and a computer monitor used by petitioners. Shuang said she would appeal. Her second son was arrested at the same time as she was and is awaiting trial.

News
Education
历史教科书从来都不是客观的历史描述 (Commentary: History Books Never Describe History Objectively)
China Youth Daily, February 27, 2007
http://zqb.cyol.com/content/2007-02/27/content_1683041.htm

Environment
China and India Face up to Curbs on Carbon
Financial Times, February 26, 2007
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/966392c0-c5c4-11db-9fae-000b5df10621.html

China Plans Improvements in Water Consumption
Voice of America, February 26, 2007
http://www.voanews.com/english/2007-02-26-voa16.cfm

Yangtze Drought Cuts into Water for 1M
Associated Press (via YahooNews), February 26, 2007
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070226/ap_on_re_as/china_yangtze_drought_1

Freedom of Speech
潘小涛﹕禁书8本与中共高层的分歧 (Commentary: The Dispute Among CPC Leaders over the 8 Banned Books)
Ming Pao, February 27, 2007
http://www.mingpaonews.com/20070227/faa1.htm

Gender
In Brief: Stand-in Mistress Wanted for Beating by Wife
South China Morning Post, February 27, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZB597ZHYE.html

Government
民心网可投诉政府违法行为 (Website of Liaoning Authorities Allow Complaints Against Poor Administration)
Legal Daily, February 27, 2007
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/bm/2007-02/27/content_544688.htm

June 4th
曾坐牢十六年的喻东岳出狱一年后的近况 (One Year After Release from Prison, June 4th Dissident Yu Dongyue Suffers Brain Damage, Schizophrenia)
Radio Free Asia, February 26, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/xinwen/2007/02/26/china_dissident_64/

Labor
Hard Times Forecast for Mainland's Job Seekers
South China Morning Post, February 27, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZ8197ZHYE.html

Liberalisation Only Way to More Jobs
South China Morning Post, February 27, 2007
http://focus.scmp.com/focusnews/ZZZEPAAZHYE.html

Legal Action on Jobs Bias
The Standard, February 27, 2007
http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?we_cat=3&art_id=38970&sid=12400940&con_type=1&d_str=20070227

Migrant Workers
民工子女拿什么与城里孩子比明天 (Commentary: How Can Migrant Workers' Children Compete with City Children?)
China Youth Daily, February 27, 2007
http://zqb.cyol.com/content/2007-02/27/content_1683056.htm

Politics
Economy Before Democracy, Says Premier
South China Morning Post, February 27, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZUOAAZHYE.html

两会6热点 (Six Hot Topics in the Upcoming NPC and CPPCC Meetings)
Ming Pao, February 27, 2007
http://www.mingpaonews.com/20070227/chc1.htm

Poverty
China's Widening Income Gap
Business Week (via Yahoo.com), February 26, 2007
http://news.yahoo.com/s/bw/20070226/bs_bw/feb2007gb20070216056285

Public Health
Aids Activists Hail Win for Mainland Exposé
South China Morning Post, February 27, 2007
http://world.scmp.com/worldnews/ZZZIDN7ZHYE.html

中国政府对艾滋病问题态度渐开放 (Chinese Government Increasingly Open About Its AIDS Problem)
Voice of America, February 26, 2007
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/w2007-02-26-voa22.cfm

Religion
中梵就广东省汕头市教区主教的任命发生争执 (China and Vatican Dispute over the Ordination of Bishop in Guangdong)
Radio Free Asia, February 26, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/xinwen/2007/02/26/china_religion_bishop/

Social Security
Tibet to Grant Allowance to Elderly People
Xinhuanet, February 26, 2007
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-02/26/content_5776392.htm