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 23, 2007

April 21 – 23, 2007

Top News of the Day
Protests and Petitions

广西村民抗议电镀厂污染与警方发生冲突 (2,000 Guangxi Villagers Clash with Police in Protest over Pollution from Electroplating Plant)
Radio Free Asia, April 20, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/xinwen/2007/04/20/china_r
ights_clash/

On April 16, 2,000 Guangxi villagers clashed with police in a violent protest over serious pollution caused by an electroplating plant. The authorities used tear gas to disperse the crowd. Six protestors were severely injured and more than 10 arrested. According to the villagers, the amount of manganese in their river water is 30,000 times higher than acceptable standards.

News
Death Penalty
Chinese Seek Answers in Organ Scandal
Associated Press (via YahooNews), April 21, 2007
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070421/ap_on_re_as/china
_death_harvest_2;_ylt=AryQfU
kNUJZ92BI6rtkiaSxPzWQA

Economic Development
Economic Growth in Rural Areas Still Slower Than Urban Regions
South China Morning Post, April 21, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZL0TUTQ0F.html

Education
高校政治课正大幅调整 (Political Courses for College Students Being Revamped)
China Youth Daily, April 23, 2007
http://zqb.cyol.com/content/2007-04/23/content_174163
6.htm


Environment
Beijing Admits Climate Change Will Be Harmful
South China Morning Post, April 23, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZWMSUTQ0F.html

Human Rights Defenders
环保人士被拘10日无音信 (Environmentalist Detained for 10 Days, Whereabouts Unknown)
Ming Pao, April 23, 2007
http://www.mingpaonews.com/20070423/cab2.htm

五名中国维权律师无法到港参加研讨会 (Five Human Rights Lawyers Not Allowed to Participate in Hong Kong Conference Organized by "Reactionary Organization")
Radio Free Asia, April 22, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/04/22/w
eiquan/


Human Rights Defender – Gao Yaojie (高耀洁)
Aids Activist 'Harassed' in China
BBC, April 20, 2007
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6577157.stm

Human Rights Defenders - Zou Tao (邹涛)
不买楼发起人受压返乡种田 (Initiator of "Don’t Buy Apartments" Campaign Gives Up Rights Defense Work Under Government Pressure)
Ming Pao, April 23, 2007
http://www.mingpaonews.com/20070423/cab1.htm

Land Policy
Developer's 'Soldiers' Demolish Beijing Family's Longtime Home
South China Morning Post, April 21, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZX1ZUTQ0F.html

上海又强拆民宅 (300 More Households to Be Evicted in Shanghai)
Radio Free Asia, April 20, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/04/20
/shanghai/


Media
China's Chief Censor Likely to Be Demoted
South China Morning Post, April 23, 2007
http://www.scmp.com/topnews/ZZZ5ZVUTQ0F.html

中国称让媒体说话 学者称待验证 (Academic Cautions Against PSB Spokesman's Call for Media Supervision on Government)
Voice of America, April 20, 2007
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/w2007-04-20-voa33.cfm

网上杂志须经出版审查 (Magazines Must Apply for Permission Before Publishing on Internet)
Ming Pao, April 23, 2007
http://www.mingpaonews.com/20070423/caindex.htm

Olympics
驻京周记﹕一切由奥运而生 未必以奥运而終 (Commentary: Reforms and Campaigns Have Begun Due to Olympics, But May Not End with It)
Ming Pao, April 23, 2007
http://www.mingpaonews.com/20070423/caf1.htm

Politics
In China, Talk of Democracy Is Simply That
New York Times, April 20, 2007
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/20/world/asia/20china
.html


Population
Landmark Hearing for Forced Abortion
South China Morning Post, April 23, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZZJPUTQ0F.html

百色强迫妇女堕胎新情况 (After Forced Abortions Revealed, Guangxi Hospital Secretly Sends Pregnant Women Away, Whereabouts Unknown)
Radio Free Asia, April 20, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/04/20/
abortion/


Protests and Petitions
Survivors Will Not Go Quietly
South China Morning Post, April 23, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZ402VTQ0F.html

安徽纺织工人罢工 卧轨抗议遭殴打 (Textile Factory Workers in Anhui Beaten for Protesting Substandard Wages)
Radio Free Asia, April 20, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/04/20
/anhui/


Three Gorges
陕西三门峡库区移民被政府暴力阻拦不许扫墓 (Three Gorges Migrants Forcibly Prevented from Paying Respects at Tomb of Right Defender's Mother)
Radio Free Asia, April 21, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/04/21/sh
anxia/


Tibet
Former Tibetan Protest Monk Details Torture in Jail
Radio Free Asia, April 20, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/english/tibetan/2007/04/20/tibetan_p
risoner/