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, December 18, 2007

December 18, 2007

News
Death Penalty

杀人时未发病/自首不足以轻判 湛江杀人局长宣雄判死刑 (Guangdong Court Sentences Former Cadre to Death for Murder)
Nanfang City News, December 18, 2007
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/southnews/jwxy/200712180610.asp

千万富翁遭活埋 风尘女涉嫌色诱绑架判死缓 (Shanxi Sex Worker Sentenced to Death with a 2-Year Reprieve for Burying Millionaire Alive)
Daynews.com.cn (via Xinhua), December 18, 2007
http://news.xinhuanet.com/legal/2007-12/18/content_7270810.htm

Environment
China's Environmental Agency Gets Teeth
Wall Street Journal, December 18, 2007
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119791498877734281.html

Government
村民为选举欲集体离婚 (Beijing Villagers Divorce En Masse to Gain More Votes in Local Election)
Nanfang City News, December 18, 2007
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/southnews/djjz/200712180597.asp

Human Rights Defender - Zheng Enchong (郑恩宠)
维权律师郑恩宠第11次被警方传唤 (Human Rights Lawyer Zheng Enchong Summoned by the Police for the 11th Time Since August)
Radio Free Asia, December 17, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/12/17/zheng/

Human Rights Defenders
陕西三门峡库区农民代表被刑事拘留 (Three Shaanxi Farmers' Representatives Placed Under Criminal Detention)
Radio Free Asia, December 17, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/12/17/nong/

Labor
Firms Warned Against Mass Layoffs
South China Morning Post, December 18, 2007
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=f0635663018e6110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Land Policy
Ruling in Land Dispute Seen as Threat to Art Centre near Capital
South China Morning Post, December 18, 2007
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=f1535663018e6110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

湖北民警指证当局拆迁牟利内幕 贪腐食物链派出所每月收两万 (Hubei Police Officer Reveals Corrupt Relations Between Local Eviction Authorities and Police)
Radio Free Asia, December 17, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/12/17/huangshi/

Law
国有资产法、食品安全法、社会保险法等法律案将首次审议 (Standing Committee of NPC to Examine Draft Law on State-Owned Assets, Food Safety, and Social Insurance for the First Time)
Xinhuanet, December 18, 2007
http://news.xinhuanet.com/legal/2007-12/17/content_7267683.htm

Migrant Workers
Migrant Workers' Demand for Entertainment Hardly Met
Xinhuanet, December 17, 2007
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-12/17/content_7269233.htm

Olympics
奥运选手可开博客 (IOC's New Resolution Allows Athletes in Beijing Olympics to Blog)
The Beijing News, December 18, 2007
http://www.thebeijingnews.com/news/olympic/2007/12-18/018@073318.htm

Population
Elderly Care Heavy Burden for Services, Report Finds
South China Morning Post, December 18, 2007
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=f2435663018e6110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Protests and Petitions
长沙城管打人致死数百人聚集谴责 当局压制舆论家属求助无门 (Hunan Urban Management Authorities Beat Man to Death; Internet Discussion Censored)
Radio Free Asia, December 17, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/12/17/changsha/

Religion
基督教商人石维翰被拘留 家庭教会河南分会长遭殴 (Beijing Christian Merchant Detained on "Illegal Business Activity" Charges; Henan Police Beat Family House Church Leader)
Radio Free Asia, December 17, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/12/17/shi/

Three Gorges
Officials Deny Evictees Returning to Partly Submerged Areas
South China Morning Post, December 18, 2007
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=9da35663018e6110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Villagers' Hopes Drowned in the Three Gorges
South China Morning Post, December 18, 2007
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=52335663018e6110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Tibet
Tibet Tourism 'Hits Record High'
British Broadcasting Corporation, December 17, 2007
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7147366.stm