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.

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

May 16, 2007

Top News of the Day
Human Rights Defenders

北京残疾维权人士齐志勇被非法拘禁 (Disabled Beijing Rights Defender Detained for Organizing Birthday Celebration)
Radio Free Asia, May 15, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/05/15/
qizhiyong/

Beijing-based rights defender Qi Zhiyong (齐志勇) was detained on May 15 after organizing a birthday party for himself, to which at least 30 rights defenders had been invited. His whereabouts remain unknown, and rights defender Liu Fenggang (刘凤刚) was beaten by police for his involvement in the birthday celebration. Qi’s left leg became paralyzed after he was shot during the June 4th incident.

News
Bilateral Ties

African Officials at Bank Summit Wary of Beijing's Largesse
South China Morning Post, May 16, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZVMQE0I1F.html

德国歪曲和攻击中国劳教制度 我表示强烈不满 (China Protests Germany's Distortion and Attack on China's Reeducation-Through-Labor System)
Legal Daily, May 16, 2007
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/0705/2007-05/16/content_
618185.htm


Economic Ties Will End Darfur Strife: Official
South China Morning Post, May 16, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZ225QXH1F.html

Gender
More Women Fill Top Posts, But Still Wield Little Authority
South China Morning Post, May 16, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZC25QXH1F.html

In Rural China, a Bitter Way Out
Washington Post, May 15, 2007
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content
/article/2007/05/14/AR2007051401506.html?hpid=topnews


Hukou
第二宗挑战户口制度的起诉被驳回 (Second Legal Challenge to Hukou System Fails)
Radio Free Asia, May 15, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/xinwen/2007/05/15/china_
rights_residents/


Human Rights Defender - Gao Yaojie (高耀洁)
高耀洁警队讲解爱滋 (Gao Yaojie Gives Talk to Police on HIV/AIDS)
Ming Pao, May 16, 2007
http://www.mingpaonews.com/20070516/cac1.htm

Human Rights Defender - Guo Feixiong (郭飞雄)
当局起诉郭飞雄 曾要家属劝其低头 (Guo Feixiong Indicted, Authorities Advise His Wife to Ask Him to Plead Guilty in Exchange for Lighter Punishment)
Radio Free Asia, May 15, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/05/15/guo/
Related Information
HRIC Press Release: Rights Defender Guo Feixiong
Maintains Innocence, Is Formally Indicted
Human Rights in China, May 15, 2007
http://www.hrichina.org/public/contents/item?item_id
=37607/

Land Policy
Stealing the Dirt Beneath Farmers' Feet
South China Morning Post, May 16, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZC1OC0I1F.html

Media
国家工商总局:集中打击传销 不再登记新网吧 (State Administration for Industry and Commerce to Launch Campaign Against Illegal Cyber Cafes in 3rd Quarter of 2007)
Legal Daily, May 16, 2007
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/0705/2007-05/16/content_617
478.htm


临沂流行儿童手足口病 当地政府试图封锁消息 (Local Government in Shandong Blocks News About Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease)
Radio Free Asia, May 15, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/xinwen/2007/05/15/china_d
isease_info/


Olympics
Olympic Games Construction Will Send Poor Packing
Reuters (via YahooNews), May 16, 2007
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070516/lf_nm/china_olym
pics_urban_villages_dc_1;_ylt
=Aoov7tO9wbRb9UqaD1erz
rZPzWQA


藏独明年办藏民奥运会 (Tibetan Independence Group to Hold Tibetan Olympics in May 2008)
Ming Pao, May 16, 2007
http://www.mingpaonews.com/20070516/caf1.htm

《北京奥运会及其筹备期间港澳记者采访服务指南》发布 (China Releases "Service Guide for Coverage of Media from Hong Kong and Macau of the Beijing Olympic Games and the Preparatory Period")
Xinhuanet, May 15, 2007
http://news.xinhuanet.com/sports/2007-05/15/content_610
4089.htm


Poverty
我国民族地区贫困状况得到明显缓解 (Poverty Reduced in China's Ethnic Minority Regions)
Xinhuanet, May 16, 2007
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2007-05/16/content_61
06492.htm


Protests and Petitions
到天安门喊冤的两姐弟被当地警察录口供 (13- and 11-Year-Old Sister and Brother Interrogated by Police over Kneeling Petition in Tiananmen Square)
Radio Free Asia, May 15, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/05/15/ji
edi/


Public Health
“聘警察处理医患纠纷是媒体误解” (Cadre Says Employing Police in Hospital Is Only One of the Strategies for Establishing "Peaceful Hospitals")
The Beijing News, May 11, 2007
http://news.thebeijingnews.com/0546/2007/0511/017@26
1382.htm