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.

Thursday, March 15, 2007

March 15, 2007

Top News of the Day
Human Rights Defender - Gao Yaojie (高耀洁)
高耀洁在华盛顿:电邮被封,中国非法血库仍在运作 (Email Accounts of Gao Yaojie and Her Son Shut Down; Illegal Blood Trade Continues in China)
Radio Free Asia, March 14, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/03/14/gao/
During her trip to the US to receive a global human rights award on March 14, Gao Yaojie's (高耀洁) and her son's email accounts were blocked. An editor who tried to publish her work was fired. Gao was worried about the consequences after she returns to China. According to Gao, the number of illegal blood banks continued to rise in China, despite authorities claiming that they had been closed.

News
Bilateral Ties

Actor Gere Asks US, EU to Forge Common Human Rights Policy for China
Agence France-Presse (via YahooNews), March 14, 2007
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070314/pl_afp/uschinatibe
tcongress_070313232511;_ylt
=ApD6q_u8TQXn5baqv.IVK
8NPzWQA


Environment
Companies Volunteer to Cut Their Carbon Emissions
South China Morning Post, March 15, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZPFSJD8ZE.html

Government
Jiangsu Sets the Pace on How to Assess Officials
Financial Times, March 15, 2007
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/6919fc76-d282-11db-a7c0-000b
5df10621,dwp_uuid=9c33700c-4c86-11da-89df-0000779e2
340.html


Human Rights Defender – Chen Guangcheng (陈光诚)
Blind Activist Wins Free-Speech Accolade
South China Morning Post, March 15, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZBYRJD8ZE.html

Human Rights Defender – Shi Tao (師濤)
Yahoo Is Cleared in Case of Chinese Journalist
Wall Street Journal, March 15, 2007
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB117385900829636623.html
?mod=yahoo_hs


Labor
安徽人代倡设欠薪罪 (NPC Delegate from Anhui Proposes Criminalization of Back Pay)
Ming Pao, March 15, 2007
http://www.mingpaonews.com/20070315/caa1h.htm

Land Policy
南海三山民告官开庭延期 村民不满法院外静坐 (Guangdong Villagers' Claim over Land Grab Delayed as Judge Suddenly Falls Ill)
Radio Free Asia, March 15, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/03/14/n
anhai/


Law
Lower-Level Courts Face Bankruptcy When Fees Are Slashed
South China Morning Post, March 15, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZFYRJD8ZE.html

公民可直接建议立项司法解释 (New Regulation Allows Citizens to Directly Request the Supreme People's Court to Pass Judicial Interpretations)
Legal Daily, March 15, 2007
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/misc/2007-03/15/content_55
9749.htm


Media
14部委:为黑网吧提供接入互联网服务最高罚50万 (New Notice Imposes 500,000 Yuan Fine on Internet Service Providers to Illegal Cyber Cafes)
Legal Daily, March 15, 2007
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/misc/2007-03/15/content_55
9755.htm


《财经》主编杨大明承认受到压力撤换封面文章 (Editor-in-Chief of Caijing Magazine Admits Original Version of Latest Issue Withdrawn Due to Pressure)
Radio Free Asia, March 14, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/xinwen/2007/03/14/china_
media_freedom/


Olympics
Mainland Assesses Health Risks for Olympics
South China Morning Post, March 15, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZTFSJD8ZE.html

迎奥运北京反新四害 (Beijing to Ban 4 Uncivilized Behaviors Ahead of the Games)
Radio Free Asia, March 14, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/03/14
/4_harms/


Politics
Robust Forum Reduced to a 'Political Flower Vase'
South China Morning Post, March 15, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZ134HJ8ZE.html

各地泛蓝联盟成员被国保传唤拘留 (Member of the Pan-Blue Alliance Across China Summoned or Detained)
Radio Free Asia, March 14, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/03/14/
fanlan/


Population
一个不少,两个正好?29名委员联名提案建议尽快停止独生子女条例 (29 CPPCC Delegates Call for the End of One-Child Policy)
Nanfang City News, March 15, 2007
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/southnews/jwxy/200703
150067.asp


Protests and Petitions
Officials Blame Riot on Bus Firm
South China Morning Post, March 15, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZ3YRJD8ZE.html

湖北警员致信两会陈述访民疾苦和截访弊端 (Hubei Policeman Criticizes Petition Obstruction in Open Letter to NPC and CPPCC)
Radio Free Asia, March 14, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/xinwen/2007/03/14/china
_petition/


Olympic Preview as China Cracks down on Dissent
Agence France-Presse (via YahooNews), March 14, 2007
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070314/wl_asia_afp/chi
nacongressnpc_070314132358;
_ylt=AgzPPpFr.0Crl6Pq
VTbsgGlPzWQA


两会接近尾声 访民上访继续 (Petitions Continue as NPC and CPPCC Sessions Approach their Closing)
Radio Free Asia, March 14, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/03/14/fa
ngmin/


Public Health
Harvesting of Prisoner Organs Rare, Say Officials
South China Morning Post, March 15, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZAPXFJ8ZE.html

Rural Issues
Needs of Desperate Farmers Being Ignored, Says Professor
South China Morning Post, March 15, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZ5GSJD8ZE.html

Tibet
Bush Urged to Focus on Tibet
South China Morning Post, March 15, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZXFSJD8ZE.html

Confusion over Mini-Potala Palace Project
South China Morning Post, March 15, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZ1GSJD8ZE.html