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 23, 2007

January 23, 2007

Top News of the Day
Human Rights Defender - Guo Feixiong (郭飞雄)

张青得知郭飞雄案退查 郭飞雄被转押沈阳 (Wife of Guo Feixiong Told Husband's Case Delayed, Guo Sent to Shenyang)
Radio Free Asia, January 22, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/01/22/guo/
On January 22, the Guangzhou Procuratorate sent back the case against rights defender Guo Feixiong (also known as Yang Maodong) for a new round of investigation due to insufficient evidence. In addition, Guo has been transferred to a detention center in Liaoning, in spite of assurances earlier this month by Guangzhou authorities that this would not happen.

Related Information
HRIC Press Release: Guo Feixiong’s Case Delayed,
Transferred
Human Rights in China, January 22, 2007
http://www.hrichina.org/public/contents/press?revision%5fi
d=32200&item%5fid=32199

Protests and Petitions
上海访民最新事件 (Liu Xinjuan Forcibly Admitted to Mental Hospital for the 6th Time)
Radio Free Asia, January 22, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/01/22/fangmin/
On January 17, Shanghai petitioner Liu Xinjuan was picked up by Shanghai authorities in Beijing while trying to petition the government there. The following day, she was forcibly admitted to a mental hospital for the sixth time. She was tied to a bed for two days and force-fed drugs for mental illness. According to one reporter, police told Liu that if she continued petitioning, she would be locked up for life.

News
Civil Society

民间力量推动着中国社会的改革开放 (Commentary: Civil Society Pushes Forward China's Social Reforms)
Nanfang City News, January 23, 2007
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/southnews/spqy/200701230524.
asp


Environment
Living in China's Coal Heartland
BBC, January 22, 2007
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6271773.stm

Land Policy
Authorities Blamed for Costly Housing
South China Morning Post, January 23, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZHMPWH4XE.html

Provincial Gov'ts Get More Land Powers
People's Daily, January 23, 2007
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200701/23/eng20070123_3438
10.html


湖北农场违背承诺驱赶农民工 (Evicted Farmers Beaten for Working on Land Cleared for Development in Hubei)
Radio Free Asia, January 22, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/xinwen/2007/01/22/china_land_rur
al/


Law
中国限制外国人在华从事测绘活动 (New Measures to Restrict Foreigners' Surveying and Mapping Activities in China)
BBC, January 23, 2007
http://news.bbc.co.uk/chinese/simp/hi/newsid_6280000/newsid_
6288600/6288639.stm


Surveying, Mapping by Foreigners Restricted
South China Morning Post, January 23, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZSSSWH4XE.html

Media
Blogging News in China
Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University, January 23, 2007
http://www.nieman.harvard.edu/reports/06-4NRwinter/p48-060
4-luqiu.html


中国评论﹕看电视谁要政治洗脑 (Commentary: Who Wants to Be Politically Brainwashed While Watching TV?)
Ming Pao, January 23, 2007
http://www.mingpaonews.com/20070123/cat1.htm

More Held over Reporter's Death
South China Morning Post, January 23, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZKBYWH4XE.html

Politically Inspired Cleanup Ordered for Prime-Time TV
South China Morning Post, January 23, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZWIUWH4XE.html

Multilateral Relations
UN Expands Partnerships with Locals
China Daily, January 20, 2007
http://www.chinadaily.net/china/2007-01/20/content_788178.htm

Population
Anger at Rich and Famous Violating One-Child Policy
South China Morning Post, January 23, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZ451XH4XE.html

Rising Sex-Ratio Imbalance 'a Danger'
China Daily, January 23, 2007
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2007-01/23/content_789821
.htm


Protests and Petitions
花楼街千人游行反非法拆迁 维权代表遭构陷被起诉 (1,000 Protest Illegal Eviction in Wuhan, Trumped-up Allegation Against Rights Defender Passed to Procuratorate)
Radio Free Asia, January 22, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/01/22/wuhan/

当局拒批示威申请 莆田农民要求复议 (670 Victims of Land Grabs in Fujian Apply for Administrative Review of Rejection of Demonstration Request)
Radio Free Asia, January 22, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/xinwen/2007/01/22/china_rights_ru
ral/


广西村民抗议纸厂污染遭到镇压 (Guangxi Villagers Clash with Police for Protesting Polluting Factory, 10 Arrested)
Radio Free Asia, January 22, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/xinwen/2007/01/22/china_rights_c
lash/


Public Health
被禁佰易药品疑携丙肝病毒 (Banned Drug May Be Contaminated by Hepatitis C Virus)
The Beijing News, January 23, 2007
http://news.thebeijingnews.com/0554/2007/01-23/014@237860
.htm


New Law Urged to Counter Attacks on Medical Staff
South China Morning Post, January 23, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZ851XH4XE.html

Xinjiang
专家指疆独吸纳青少年 (Xinjiang Separatists Said to Recruit Youths)
Ming Pao, January 23, 2007
http://www.mingpaonews.com/20070123/caf1.htm