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, March 06, 2007

March 6, 2007

Top News of the Day
Xinjiang

China Detains Uyghurs Over 'Separatist' Poster
Radio Free Asia, March 04, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/2007/03/04/uyghur_poster/
According to a recent report, a handwritten poster that Chinese authorities designated "separatist" when it appeared in 2003 in a small town in Xinjiang has led to a wave of arrests, interrogations and fines for local people. One resident said that up to 1,000 people have been detained on suspicion of writing the poster and fined a large proportion of their monthly income, even if no charges were laid against them. The mayor of the region denied knowledge of the case.

News
Corruption
Graft, Inequalities Top Concerns
The Standard, March 06, 2007
http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?we_cat=3&art_id=
39484&sid=125143
44&con_type=1&d_str=20070306

Environment
Nu River Dam Put on Hold Until After Reshuffle Next Year
South China Morning Post, March 06, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZFMJ5AWYE.html

Wen Seeks to Focus on Pollution, Green Issues
South China Morning Post, March 06, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZW3P5AWYE.html

Freedom of Speech
立法禁绝“汉奸言论”会伤害学术自由 (Commentary: Criminalization of "Treasonous Speech" Harms Academic Freedom)
China Youth Daily, March 06, 2007
http://zqb.cyol.com/content/2007-03/06/content_1690011.htm

Gender
生存压力、情感因素、不懂法律 是女性犯罪三大原因 (Money Problems, Emotional Factors and Lack of Legal Knowledge Are 3 Main Causes for Females Breaking the Law)
China Youth Daily, March 06, 2007
http://zqb.cyol.com/content/2007-03/06/content_1690081.htm

Survey: 70 Pct of Chinese Women Content with Their Lives
Xinhuanet, March 04, 2007
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-03/04/content_579928
7.htm


Human Rights Defender – Zheng Enchong (郑恩宠)
郑恩宠两会期间受严密看守 (Zheng Enchong Placed Under House Arrest During NPC and CPPCC Sessions, Wife Barred from Traveling to Hong Kong)
Radio Free Asia, March 05, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/03/05/zheng/

Labor
Work Safety Takes Aim at Illegal and Unsafe Coal Mining Operations
South China Morning Post, March 06, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZ5F04AWYE.html

Media
整顿网吧不能只靠封杀 (Commentary: Prohibiting New Cyber Cafes Will Deprive Urban Poor Access to Internet)
China Youth Daily, March 06, 2007
http://zqb.cyol.com/content/2007-03/06/content_1690051.htm

Olympics
北京多人到洛杉矶宣传奥运遭抗议 (Human Rights Groups Protest Beijing's Olympic Campaign in Los Angeles)
Voice of America, March 05, 2007
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/w2007-03-05-voa1.cfm

Politics
Education and Health the Focus as Emphasis Is on 'People First'
South China Morning Post, March 06, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZMFZ3AWYE.html

Premier Must Turn Rhetoric into Action
South China Morning Post, March 06, 2007
http://focus.scmp.com/focusnews/ZZZ84P5AWYE.html

Protests and Petitions
全国各地畅通信访渠道出实招见成效 (Streamlining of Petitioning Channels Proves Effective)
Legal Daily, March 06, 2007
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/misc/2007-03/06/content_550933.
htm


Lost Voices of China's Petitioners
BBC, March 05, 2007
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6420417.stm

全国人大会开幕 访民遭虐待民权何在? (Petitioners Harrassed During NPC and CPPCC Sessions)
Radio Free Asia, March 05, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/03/05/fangm
in/


Public Health
China Is Source of Bird Flu Virus, Study Shows
Reuters (via YahooNews), March 05, 2007
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070305/wl_nm/birdflu_origin_dc_
1;_ylt=AocW55hbVc03
HlOBKePgSVFPzWQA

Tibet
水利部长否认西藏调水 (Minister of Water Resources Denies Plan to Transfer Water from Tibet to Yellow River)
Ming Pao, March 06, 2007
http://www.mingpaonews.com/20070306/cal1.htm