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, January 16, 2007

January 16, 2007

Top News of the Day
Media
报社记者在大同煤矿被打死 当地否认其记者身份 (Reporter Beaten to Death in Shanxi Coal Mine)
EastDay.com, January 16, 2007
http://news.eastday.com/c/20070116/u1a2569463.html
Temporary newspaper reporter Lan Chengzhang (兰成长) was beaten to death by unidentified thugs on January 9 while collecting information in an illegal coal mine in Shanxi Province. However, the local government under which the mine operated questioned Lan's identity, as he did not have a reporters' ID card. Lan was taken to the hospital but died the next day.

News
Environment
Environment Tops Worry List: Poll
South China Morning Post, January 16, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZ0C7E9TWE.html

Food Security
ADB Urges Beijing to Draft Food Safety Law and Set Up Watchdog
South China Morning Post, January 16, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZKHW6ETWE.html

京涉港食品事故兩小时上报 (New Regulation Requires Beijing Municipality to Report "Very Serious" Food Safety Incidents Within 2 Hours)
Ming Pao, January 16, 2007
http://www.mingpaonews.com/20070116/cca1.htm

Human Rights Defender – Chen Guangcheng (陈光诚)
律师呼吁山东当局人道对待陈光诚 (Lawyer Urges Humane Treatment for Chen Guangcheng)
Voice of America, January 15, 2007
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/w2007-01-15-voa34.cfm

Human Rights Defender - Yan Zhengxue (严正学)
严正学颠覆罪案进入审讯阶段 (Yan Zhengxue's Family Allowed to Appoint Lawyer to Defend Subversion Charges)
Radio Free Asia, January 15, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/xinwen/2007/01/15/china_dissident/

Land Policy
市委书记否认强拆 扬州老人再被逼迁病危 (Elderly Man Has Heart Attack over Forced Eviction in Jiangsu)
Radio Free Asia, January 15, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/01/15/yangzhou/

Law
方正杯2006年中国十大影响性诉讼评选揭晓 (Top 10 Impact Litigations of 2006 Announced)
Legal Daily, January 16, 2007
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/misc/2007-01/16/content_516410.htm

Media
Freedom of Information, the Wiki Way
Washington Post, January 15, 2007
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/20
07/01/14/AR2007011400760.html
dyn/content/article/2007/01/1
4/AR2007011400760.html


Party Introduces New Censorship Rule
South China Morning Post, January 16, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZJDR8ETWE.html

'Vulgar' Copycat Western TV Shows Face Tighter Controls
South China Morning Post, January 13, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chifeatures/ZZZ4S7E9TWE.html

Olympics
Landmark Report Warns of Beijing's Rising Public Debt
South China Morning Post, January 16, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZFDR8ETWE.html

奥运安保国际警务联络部成立 (Security Command Center for the Olympics Established)
Legal Daily, January 16, 2007
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/bm/2007-01/16/content_515808.
htm


Police
Guangdong Needs New Tactics in War on Crime
South China Morning Post, January 16, 2007
http://focus.scmp.com/focusnews/ZZZZDR8ETWE.html

In City Ban, a Sign of Wealth and Its Discontents
New York Times, January 15, 2007
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/15/world/asia/15china.html?
_r=2&ref=asia&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
n&oref=slogin

Protests and Petitions
各地转业军人聚集在总政治部信访 (50 Former Soldiers Protest Retirement Benefits at PLA Headquarters)
Radio Free Asia, January 15, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/01/15/army/

State Security
成都女记者揭露违规收费 遭公安以泄密为由传讯 (Journalist Who Reported on Illegal Highway Tolls in Chengdu Summoned for Leaking State Secrets)
Radio Free Asia, January 15, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/01/15/chengdu/