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.

Monday, May 14, 2007

May 12 – 14, 2007

Top News of the Day
Protests and Petitions

最高检:疑难信访可听证 (Supreme People's Procuratorate Issues Regulation on Petitioning Work)
The Beijing News, May 14, 2007
http://news.thebeijingnews.com/0564/2007/05-14/017@2
62047.htm

The Supreme People's Procuratorate has issued a regulation on petitioning work, which took effect on May 13. These are some of its main points:
i) Officials will be punished for abuse of power, dereliction of duty and other negligent behavior when they process petitions;
ii) Petitioners will be held criminally responsible for distorting facts and harming others' lawful interests; and
iii) Heads of local procuratorate offices must receive petitioners at least 12 times a year and for at least half a day each time they meet.

News
Death Penalty

In Brief: Policeman, Court Official Get Death Sentences for Murder
South China Morning Post, May 14, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZJ8KE0I1F.html

Environment
China's Yellow River is 10% Sewage: NGO
The Sydney Morning Herald, May 11, 2007
http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Chinas-Yellow-River-i
s-10-sewage-
NGO/2007/05/11/1178390544634.html

Freedom of Association
Beijing Police Call Off UN Anti-Hunger March
South China Morning Post, May 14, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZ30ZPXH1F.html

Gender
Rise in Abortions Marks a Changing Society in China
International Herald Tribune, May 11, 2007
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/05/11/news/china.php

Human Rights
中国再次上世界人权状况“劣中之劣”之榜 (Freedom House Again Lists China as One of the "World's Most Repressive Societies")
Radio Free Asia, May 11, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/05/11/zh
ongguo/


Human Rights Defender - Zhu Yufu (朱虞夫)
简要新闻:异议人士朱虞夫及儿子两人案件被送检察院 (In Brief: Case of Dissident Zhu Yufu and Son Sent to Hangzhou Procuratorate)
Radio Free Asia, May 14, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/xinwen/2007/05/11/xinwen/

Human Rights Defender – Zheng Enchong (郑恩宠)
胡佳上海看望郑恩宠 警方强加阻挠 (Police Bar Hu Jia from Visiting Zheng Enchong in Shanghai)
Radio Free Asia, May 13, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/05/13/hu/

Human Rights Defenders
中国维权者频频遭打压 (Suppression of China's Rights Defenders Continues)
Radio Free Asia, May 11, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/05/11
/weiquan/


Labor
China Faces Labour Shortage in 2010
Agence France-Presse (via YahooNews), May 12, 2007
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070512/wl_asia_afp/china
economylabour_0705120522
54;_ylt=AhQIsJc9qowd__lIy9
h4M05PzWQA


Land Policy
Shop Owners Hounded by Locals
South China Morning Post, May 14, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZNJYPXH1F.html

群众声援京租房业主 大批警察到现场阻止 (Police Prevent Public Show of Support for Owners of Demolished Apartments in Beijing)
Radio Free Asia, May 13, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/05/13
/chaiqian/


Media
Media Turns a Blind Eye at Politically Sensitive Period
South China Morning Post, May 14, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZN8KE0I1F.html

Olympics
澳洲对北京奥运空气污染提出警告 (Australian Olympic Committee Raises Air Pollution Warning on Beijing Olympics)
BBC, May 13, 2007
http://news.bbc.co.uk/chinese/simp/hi/newsid_6650000/
newsid_6652100/6652167.stm


Steven Spielberg Urges China to Act over Darfur
Agence France-Presse (via YahooNews), May 11, 2007
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070511/wl_asia_afp/suda
ndarfurunrest_070511224859;
_ylt=AkQiFR5JgPfZT89mw
0QjYABPzWQA


Protests and Petitions
Attack on Mao Portrait Just One of Many Protests in Beijing's Heart
South China Morning Post, May 14, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZVJYPXH1F.html

中国地方政府对付访民有新招:陪访和领访 (Local Government in Hubei Has New Methods for Handling Petitioners: Accompanying and Leading Petitioners)
Radio Free Asia, May 11, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/05/11/f
angmin/