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.

Friday, March 16, 2007

March 16, 2007

Top News
Protests and Petitions
上访者被截 所属省市罚1万 (Ministry of Public Security to Fine Local Authorities 10,000 Yuan for Every Petitioner That Is Caught in Beijing)
Ming Pao, March 16, 2007
http://www.mingpaonews.com/20070316/cab1.htm
According to Hong Kong newspaper Ming Pao, due to the large number of petitioners being captured by Beijing police, the Ministry of Public Security has issued an order which stipulates that local authorities will be fined 10,000 yuan for every petitioner from their locality who is caught in Beijing. It is estimated that there are currently 10,000 petitioners in Beijing and that more than 200 are captured by police every day. The ministry also has a four-stage alert system. A "super alert" will be issued for any petitioning group that contains more than 50 people, that stays in Beijing for more than 48 hours and that will grow in size or escalate their action.

News
Corruption

国家预防腐败局或不办具体案件 (State Corruption Prevention Bureau May Not Work on Specific Cases)
Wen Wei Po, March 16, 2007
http://news.wenweipo.com/2007/03/16/IN0703160004.htm

Disasters
Governor 'Cleans Up' the Coal Industry
South China Morning Post, March 16, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZYF1GJ8ZE.html

Education
Education Spending Level Is 'Unacceptable'
South China Morning Post, March 16, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZ64VJD8ZE.html

Environment
重庆:1000万人的饮水之难 (Too Many Dams Across Yangtze River, Right to Water of 10 Million Chongqing Residents Threatened)
Nanfang Weekend, March 16, 2007
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/southnews/zmzg/2007031
50718.asp


Human Rights Defender - Gao Yaojie (高耀洁)
Aids Activist Wishes She 'Could Have Done More'
South China Morning Post, March 16, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZELVJD8ZE.html

June 4th - EU Arms Ban
France Calls to Lift China Arms Embargo
Agence France-Presse (via YahooNews), March 15, 2007
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070315/wl_asia_afp/japan
francemilitary_070315140252;
_ylt=Ahr5YSagkqTVpIGIXl
X1BcZPzWQA


Land Policy
'Housing Slaves' Appeal to Beijing for Pricing Relief
South China Morning Post, March 16, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZV77HJ8ZE.html

Law
Landmark Property Law Adopted
China Daily, March 16, 2007
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2007-03/16/content_82
9330.htm


Politics
胡锦涛理论 中共新基调 (CPPCC's High Regard of President Hu's Theory Paves Road for the 17th CPC National Congress)
Ming Pao, March 16, 2007
http://www.mingpaonews.com/20070316/caa1.htm

社评: 港区政協表现差 享特权而不尽责 (Editorial: Hong Kong’s CPPCC Delegates Enjoy Privileges But Perform Badly)
Ming Pao, March 16, 2007
http://www.mingpaonews.com/20070316/mrb.htm

Editorial: China’s Sort of Congress
New York Times, March 15, 2007
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/15/opinion/15thu2.html

Protests and Petitions
《卫生信访工作办法》施行 ("Measures on Handling Health-Related Petitions" Implemented)
Nanfang City News, March 16, 2007
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/southnews/djjz/2007031
60356.asp


Shanghai Protest to Merkel over Maglev
South China Morning Post, March 16, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZILVJD8ZE.html

简要新闻:上千在京访民在递上访材料路上被抓 (Brief News: Up to 1,000 Petitioners Taken Away in Beijing on Their Way to Present Petitions)
Radio Free Asia, March 15, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/xinwen/2007/03/15/ - fang
min


Public Health
Health Minister Rejects Experts' Accusations
South China Morning Post, March 16, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZUF1GJ8ZE.html

In Poor Health
South China Morning Post, March 16, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZ24VJD8ZE.html

Tibet
拉萨政府发令禁止到寺庙参拜 (Lhasa Government Issues Notice Barring People from Temples During NPC and CPPCC Sessions)
Radio Free Asia, March 15, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/03/15/l
asa/