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, May 15, 2007

May 15, 2007

Top News of the Day
Human Rights Defenders

国保监控期间强行绝育 维权人士称遭变相报复 (Rights Defender Forcibly Sterilized in Guangxi)
Radio Free Asia, May 14, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/05/14/
jueyu/

On May 13, Guangxi-based rights defender Mo Jufeng (莫巨烽) was forcibly sterilized for having two children and thus violating the one-child policy. Mo argues that both his children are over 10 years old and he has no intention of having a third child. Also, the authorities have not taken any action against him in the past 10 years. Mo therefore suspects the forced surgery is actually retaliation against his rights defense work. He is monitored by the police and his Internet access is blocked.

News
Bilateral Ties

China's Direct Investment in Africa Exceeds 6 Bln U.S. Dollars in Last Seven Years
People's Daily, May 14, 2007
http://english.people.com.cn/200705/14/eng20070514_37
4476.html


Environment
State of Destruction
South China Morning Post, May 15, 2007
http://focus.scmp.com/focusnews/ZZZ47NE0I1F.html

Government
社论:乔洪去向莫测,舆论只好索隐 (Editorial: Without Transparency, Public Can Only Guess Where Allegedly Corrupt SOE Manager Has Gone)
Nanfang City News, May 15, 2007
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/southnews/spqy/2007051
50340.asp


中国将允许更多公众参与立法和监督执法 (China to Allow More Public Participation in Legislation Process and Monitoring of Law Enforcement)
Radio Free Asia, May 14, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/05/14/li
fa/


吉林丰满区永庆村村民代表选举内幕 (Inside Story of Village Election in Jilin Revealed)
Radio Free Asia, May 14, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/05/14/
jilin/


Human Rights Defenders
周莉举办拆迁维权咨询会后被警方扣留问话七小时 (Zhou Li Interrogated for 7 Hours After Organizing Rights Defense Meeting with Evictees in Beijing)
Radio Free Asia, May 15, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/xinwen/2007/05/14/china
_petition_beijing/


Labor
The Changing Face of Outsourcing
BBC, May 15, 2007
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6645583.stm

Land Policy
Historic Hutong Being Demolished
South China Morning Post, May 15, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZGR1QXH1F.html

Media
北京全市封杀“鬼故事” (Beijing City Bans 8 Popular Ghost Story Books)
The Beijing News, May 15, 2007
http://news.thebeijingnews.com/0553/2007/05-15/015@26
2248.htm


Multilateral Relations
UN, EU Join Forces in Bid to Strengthen NGOs
South China Morning Post, May 15, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZKO1QXH1F.html

Politics
联署索偿 反遭打压 (China Suppresses Campaigns Demanding Compensation for "Rightists")
Ming Pao, May 15, 2007
http://www.mingpaonews.com/20070515/chb1.htm

Protests and Petitions
西安暴力拆迁职工住房 八旬老汉哭诉单位无情警旁观 (80-Year-Old Man in Xi'an Complains That Police Are Ignoring Eviction Complaint)
Radio Free Asia, May 14, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/05/14/c
haiqian/


上海公安陆续软禁和逮捕活跃访民 (Petitioners Placed Under House Arrest or Arrested Ahead of Premier Wen Jiabao's Meeting in Shanghai)
Radio Free Asia, May 14, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/xinwen/2007/05/14/china
_petition_shanghai/


Public Health
China Denies Epidemic Killing Children
The Australian, May 15, 2007
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21728
382-1702,00.html


乙肝病毒携带者起诉诺基亚歧视索赔50万元 (Hepatitis B Carrier Sues Nokia over Discrimination, Demands 500,000 Yuan in Compensation)
China Youth Daily, May 15, 2007
http://zqb.cyol.com/content/2007-05/15/content_1759671.
htm


民调显示多半中国人排斥艾滋病人 (Survey Shows Half of Chinese Discriminate Against People with HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis B)
Voice of America, May 14, 2007
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/w2007-05-14-voa52.cfm