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.

Monday, April 16, 2007

April 14-16, 2007

Top News of the Day
Human Rights Defender - Yan Zhengxue (严正学)

严正学被浙江法院以煽动颠覆罪判刑三年 (Yan Zhengxue Sentenced to 3 Years' Imprisonment for Inciting Subversion)
Radio Free Asia, April 13, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/xinwen/2007/04/13/china
_dissident_trial/

On April 13, Yan Zhengxue (严正学) was sentenced to three years' imprisonment on charges of "inciting subversion" by a local court in Zhejiang and deprived of political rights for a year. Yan's lawyer will discuss with him whether or not to appeal the decision.

News
Death Penalty

八旬妇运毒判死缓 (80-Year-Old Woman from Guizhou Sentenced to Death with 2-Year Reprieve over Opium Trafficking)
Ming Pao, April 16, 2007
http://www.mingpaonews.com/20070416/ccf1.htm

凶手因故意杀人一审被判死刑 (Hebei Man Sentenced to Death for Vehicular Manslaughter)
Legal Daily, April 16, 2007
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/misc/2007-04/16/content_59
1847.htm


Education
个子矮就不能当老师吗 (Letter to Editor: Why Can't Short Men Be Teachers Under Sichuan Measures?)
China Youth Daily, April 16, 2007
http://zqb.cyol.com/content/2007-04/16/content_1734221.
htm


Human Rights Defenders
右派人士在京举行座谈纪念 会后组织者铁流被监控 ("Rightist" Tie Liu Monitored After Holding Seminar in Beijing)
Radio Free Asia, April 13, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/04/13/
you/


Land Policy
江苏徐州拒绝迫迁的村民受到暴力威胁 (Thugs with Kitchen Knives Threaten Jiangsu Villagers for Ignoring Government Eviction Order)
Radio Free Asia, April 13, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/xinwen/2007/04/13/china
_demolition/


Law
四川自贡法院终于受理维权村民控告公安案 (Sichuan Local Court to Try Land Dispute After 10 Months of Delay)
Radio Free Asia, April 13, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/xinwen/2007/04/13/china_ri
ghts_rural/


Media
钉户事件:媒体网络促维权开民智 (Media and Internet Facilitate Rights Defense Campaign in "Nail House" Incident)
Voice of America, April 13, 2007
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/w2007-04-13-voa41.cfm

Olympics
中国评论﹕京奥运门票涉侵私隐宜三思 (Commentary: Method of Selling Olympics Tickets Infringes on Privacy)
Ming Pao, April 16, 2007
http://www.mingpaonews.com/20070416/caz1.htm

Politics
Impromptu Remarks Reveal the Party's Pressure for Reforms
South China Morning Post, April 16, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZNNORUG0F.html

Social Justice 'Most Important Reform'
South China Morning Post, April 14, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZZ9MSRG0F.html

Protests and Petitions
官员指八成上访有理 (Xinjiang Official Says 80 Percent of Petitions Are Reasonable)
Ming Pao, April 16, 2007
http://www.mingpaonews.com/20070416/cag1.htm

上海200多访民抗议官方歪曲报道遭拘留 (200 Shanghai Petitioners Detained for Protesting Report on Success of Petitioning System in Official Newspaper)
Radio Free Asia, April 13, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/04/13/
shangfang/


Related Information
HRIC Press Release: Shanghai Petitioners Detained Following Protests
Human Rights in China, April 12, 2007
http://www.hrichina.org/public/contents/item?item_i
d=35890


上海370名冤民上书新任市委书记习近平 (370 Petitioners Write Open Letter to New Party Secretary of Shanghai Seeking Justice)
Radio Free Asia, April 15, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/04/15/x
ijinping/


重庆工人游行当局被迫释放领头者 (As Laid-off Workers Protest, Chongqing Authorities Release Labor Activist)
Voice of America, April 15, 2007
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/w2007-04-15-voa29.cfm

Hundreds of Ex-Soldiers Petition Beijing for Jobs
South China Morning Post, April 15, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZO8MRUG0F.html

青岛企图自焚抗议拆迁的夫妇被正式逮捕 (Qingdao Couple Formally Arrested over Self-Immolation in Land Dispute)
Radio Free Asia, April 13, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/xinwen/2007/04/13/china
_demolition_clash/


Religion
构建和谐社会 借力神佛 (Support from Religions Needed to Build Harmonious Society)
Ming Pao, April 16, 2007
http://www.mingpaonews.com/20070416/cha1.htm