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.

Thursday, May 10, 2007

May 10, 2007

Top News of the Day

Protests and Petitions
上海访民繁华街道聚集 抗议官方任意殴打 (Shanghai Petitioners Protest Against Police Abuse)
Radio Free Asia, May 09, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/05/
09/shanghai/

On May 9, 2007, about 280 petitioners gathered on a busy street in Shanghai to protest against police abuses of petitioners. Eighty petitioners have been reportedly taken away by police; it is not known if they have been released or not. On May 4, petitioner Chen Zonglei was badly beaten up by police after petitioning to the Shanghai authorities over a forced eviction. The abuse against Chen escalated discontent amongst the petitioners, who later staged the protest on May 9.


News
Bilateral Ties
EU Urged to Resist China 'Bullying'
TheParliament.com, May 10, 2007
http://www.eupolitix.com/EN/News/200705/cdc552a1-
341b-4b0d-80e5-b26987db5abf.htm


Lawmakers Warn China of PR "Disaster" in Darfur
Reuters (via YahooNews), May 10, 2007
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070510/pl_nm/china_
usa_sudan_dc_2;_ylt=ApP4hY.3cm1PlDOuXjXhdPFPzWQA


Environment
China Says Threat from Global Warming 'Urgent'
Agence France-Presse (via YahooNews), May 10, 2007
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070510/sc_afp/chinaweather
environmentwarming_070510043448


水源污染穗民掘井解渴 (Severe Water Pollution Threatens Access to Clean Water in Guangzhou) Ming Pao, May 10, 2007
http://www.mingpaonews.com/20070510/cab1.htm

Government
法治要先治“官” (Strengthening Governance Is an Important First Step in Achieving the Goal of Rule of Law)
China Youth Daily, May 10, 2007
http://zqb.cyol.com/content/2007-05/10/content_1754861.htm

特稿:政府公开信息不是“恩赐”是“职责” (Feature Story: Open Government Information Initiatives Not a "Favor" But a "Responsibility")
Chinesenewsnet.com, May 09, 2007
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/
SinoNews/Mainland/xhw_2007_05_09_18_00_04
_353.html


Human Rights Defenders
高智晟与胡佳面谈近况 (Rights Activists Gao Zhisheng and Hu Jia Discuss Their Current Situations)
Radio Free Asia, May 09, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/05/09/
gao_hu/


June 4th
中国人权论坛发起为六四受害人的人道募捐 (China Human Rights Forum Launches Fundraising Campaign for June 4th Victims)
Radio Free Asia, May 09, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/xinwen/2007/05/09/china
_humanrights_64/


Labor
Millions of Graduates Join Army of Unemployed
South China Morning Post, May 10, 2007
http://focus.scmp.com/focusnews/ZZZZVOPXH1F.html

Olympics
北京奥组委发布08年奥运外国记者采访服务指南 (Beijing Olympics Committee Issues 'Service Guide for Foreign Media Coverage of the Beijing Olympic Games and the Preparatory Period'
People's Daily, May 10, 2007
http://sports.people.com.cn/GB/22155/5710504.html

Beijing Sets Sights on Green Goals with New Action Plan
Xinhuanet, May 10, 2007
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-05/10/content
_6079570.htm


Safe Tap Water Promised for Olympics
Xinhuanet, May 10, 2007
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-05/10/content
_6079521.htm


Rice Planting Banned Near China Capital
Agence France-Presse (via YahooNews), May 10, 2007
http://au.news.yahoo.com/070509/19/13ejh.html

Poverty
贫困县小学四年订三套校服 穷学生一天只吃两顿饭 (A Tough Life for Students in Poor Rural Villages)
People's Daily, May 09, 2007
http://society.people.com.cn/GB/41158/5708672.html

Protests and Petitions
看奥运歌谣预示中国上访出高峰? (Will Petitioning Escalate as Olympic Games Draw Near?)
Voice of America, May 09, 2007
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/w2007-05-09-voa33.cfm

Public Health
Education Key to Rural Health, Says Aid Worker
South China Morning Post, May 10, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZP1BE0I1F.html

Experts Divided over Reforming Health Care
South China Morning Post, May 10, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZE5QPXH1F.html

Tibet
Dalai Lama Cancels Brussels Visit on Request of Belgian Government
Phayul.com, May 09, 2007
http://www.phayul.com/news/article.aspx?article=Dalai
+Lama+cancels+Brussels+visit+on+request+of+Belgian+
government&id=16486