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, May 10, 2007

May 11, 2007

Top News of the Day
Law

自贡民告警非法关押案败诉 官员庭外操控结局早定? (Sichuan Villagers Lose Lawsuit over Illegal Detention, Complain Court Was Controlled by Authorities)
Radio Free Asia, May 10, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/05/10/z
igong/

On May 10, six Sichuan villagers lost a lawsuit against local police, whom they alleged had illegally detained them after a land grab protest. They villagers complained that the court was controlled by government officials. For example, the court did not summon any of the defendants' witnesses to testify in court, and the villagers were frequently interrupted when trying to make their case. Also, the videotape of the protest provided by the police did not show any police beatings, even though villagers said there was.

News
Bilateral Ties

Envoy to Africa Will Focus on Darfur
South China Morning Post, May 11, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZ5XBC0I1F.html

简要新闻:德国联邦议讨论谴责中国劳改制度的提案 (In Brief: German Parliament Discusses Motion Condemning China's Reeducation-Through-Labor System)
Radio Free Asia, May 10, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/xinwen/2007/05/10/#laogai

Environment
Polluters Face Automated Monitoring
South China Morning Post, May 11, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZQ5EE0I1F.html

Food Security
China to Start Mobile Food Testing
Associated Press (via YahooNews), May 10, 2007
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070510/ap_on_re_as/chin
a_food_safety_2;_ylt=AvlXhLEk
7ofMSkeBfuw9G7JPzWQA

Freedom of Speech
穆嘉:研究中国的学者存在多种形式的自我审查 (Hong Kong-Based Scholar Criticizes Self-Censorship Among China Scholars)
Radio Free Asia, May 10, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/xinwen/2007/05/10/china
_scholar/


Gender
世卫代表敦促中国减少妇女自杀 (WHO Urges China to Reduce Suicide Among Women)
BBC, May 09, 2007
http://news.bbc.co.uk/chinese/simp/hi/newsid_6630000/n
ewsid_6638100/6638137.stm


Government
Officials Punished for Spate of Accidents
South China Morning Post, May 11, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZ37TPXH1F.html

海淀原区长周良洛案涉违规批地 (Former Head of Local District in Beijing Suspected of Land Corruption)
The Beijing News, May 10, 2007
http://news.thebeijingnews.com/0547/2007/0510/017@2
60965.htm


Human Rights
Lo Haocai Elected Head of China's Top Human Rights Research Body
Xinhuanet, May 10, 2007
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-05/10/content_60
82167.htm


Human Rights Defenders
Wife Steps Into Anti-Pollution Warrior's Shoes After His Arrest
South China Morning Post, May 11, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZ77TPXH1F.html

江西乐平市村民举报村支书贪污被砍断手指 (Jiangxi Villager's Fingers Chopped Off for Reporting Corruption)
Radio Free Asia, May 10, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/05/10/
yueping/


Media
In Brief: Internet Firms Apologise for Morally Corrupt Content
South China Morning Post, May 11, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZT6TPXH1F.html

Olympics
Race Is on to Clean Waterways by Olympic Games Deadline
South China Morning Post, May 11, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZU5EE0I1F.html

Pressure China on Rights, MPs Say
The Globe and Mail, May 10, 2007
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.200
70510.wrights10/BNStory/Nati
onal/home

解决处置群体事件“非常紧迫”为哪般? (Why Is Work to Urge Petitioners to Return Home So Urgent?)
Radio Free Asia, May 10, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/05/10/q
unti/


Police
Autopsy Rejects Car Accident in Teacher's Death
South China Morning Post, May 11, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZ0TRPXH1F.html

Hospitals to Use Police to Curb Conflicts
South China Morning Post, May 11, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZPXBC0I1F.html

Protests and Petitions
汕头村民围工厂限期搬走 抗议非法占地 骚乱蔓延邻镇 (Victims of Land Grab in Guangdong Surround Factory After Week-long Standoff, Demand That Factory Move Away)
Ming Pao, May 11, 2007
http://www.mingpaonews.com/20070511/cca1.htm

湖北访民遭法警殴打并拘留 多次上访无果 (Judge Tells Beaten and Detained Hubei Petitioner That Rule of Law Means Using the Law to Rule Petitioners)
Radio Free Asia, May 09, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/05/09/
hubei/


Public Health
外地儿童短期无法在京入医保 (Children Not from Beijing Not Allowed Medical Insurance in the Capitol)
The Beijing News, May 11, 2007
http://news.thebeijingnews.com/0553/2007/05-11/017@26
1337.htm


民权县公安包庇黑社会 歧视艾滋病人 (HIV/AIDS Patients in Henan Beaten by Thugs; Police Protect Thugs and Hold Victims for 24 Hours)
Radio Free Asia, May 10, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/05/10/ai
zibing/


State Security
China Reticent over Reportedly 'Dead' Leader
Agence France-Presse (via YahooNews), May 10, 2007
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070510/wl_asia_afp/china
politicsdeath_070510061019;
_ylt=AqpLL5gVo.q_YvfTPyF
2eytPzWQA

May 10, 2007

Top News of the Day

Protests and Petitions
上海访民繁华街道聚集 抗议官方任意殴打 (Shanghai Petitioners Protest Against Police Abuse)
Radio Free Asia, May 09, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/05/
09/shanghai/

On May 9, 2007, about 280 petitioners gathered on a busy street in Shanghai to protest against police abuses of petitioners. Eighty petitioners have been reportedly taken away by police; it is not known if they have been released or not. On May 4, petitioner Chen Zonglei was badly beaten up by police after petitioning to the Shanghai authorities over a forced eviction. The abuse against Chen escalated discontent amongst the petitioners, who later staged the protest on May 9.


News
Bilateral Ties
EU Urged to Resist China 'Bullying'
TheParliament.com, May 10, 2007
http://www.eupolitix.com/EN/News/200705/cdc552a1-
341b-4b0d-80e5-b26987db5abf.htm


Lawmakers Warn China of PR "Disaster" in Darfur
Reuters (via YahooNews), May 10, 2007
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070510/pl_nm/china_
usa_sudan_dc_2;_ylt=ApP4hY.3cm1PlDOuXjXhdPFPzWQA


Environment
China Says Threat from Global Warming 'Urgent'
Agence France-Presse (via YahooNews), May 10, 2007
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070510/sc_afp/chinaweather
environmentwarming_070510043448


水源污染穗民掘井解渴 (Severe Water Pollution Threatens Access to Clean Water in Guangzhou) Ming Pao, May 10, 2007
http://www.mingpaonews.com/20070510/cab1.htm

Government
法治要先治“官” (Strengthening Governance Is an Important First Step in Achieving the Goal of Rule of Law)
China Youth Daily, May 10, 2007
http://zqb.cyol.com/content/2007-05/10/content_1754861.htm

特稿:政府公开信息不是“恩赐”是“职责” (Feature Story: Open Government Information Initiatives Not a "Favor" But a "Responsibility")
Chinesenewsnet.com, May 09, 2007
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/
SinoNews/Mainland/xhw_2007_05_09_18_00_04
_353.html


Human Rights Defenders
高智晟与胡佳面谈近况 (Rights Activists Gao Zhisheng and Hu Jia Discuss Their Current Situations)
Radio Free Asia, May 09, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/05/09/
gao_hu/


June 4th
中国人权论坛发起为六四受害人的人道募捐 (China Human Rights Forum Launches Fundraising Campaign for June 4th Victims)
Radio Free Asia, May 09, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/xinwen/2007/05/09/china
_humanrights_64/


Labor
Millions of Graduates Join Army of Unemployed
South China Morning Post, May 10, 2007
http://focus.scmp.com/focusnews/ZZZZVOPXH1F.html

Olympics
北京奥组委发布08年奥运外国记者采访服务指南 (Beijing Olympics Committee Issues 'Service Guide for Foreign Media Coverage of the Beijing Olympic Games and the Preparatory Period'
People's Daily, May 10, 2007
http://sports.people.com.cn/GB/22155/5710504.html

Beijing Sets Sights on Green Goals with New Action Plan
Xinhuanet, May 10, 2007
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-05/10/content
_6079570.htm


Safe Tap Water Promised for Olympics
Xinhuanet, May 10, 2007
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-05/10/content
_6079521.htm


Rice Planting Banned Near China Capital
Agence France-Presse (via YahooNews), May 10, 2007
http://au.news.yahoo.com/070509/19/13ejh.html

Poverty
贫困县小学四年订三套校服 穷学生一天只吃两顿饭 (A Tough Life for Students in Poor Rural Villages)
People's Daily, May 09, 2007
http://society.people.com.cn/GB/41158/5708672.html

Protests and Petitions
看奥运歌谣预示中国上访出高峰? (Will Petitioning Escalate as Olympic Games Draw Near?)
Voice of America, May 09, 2007
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/w2007-05-09-voa33.cfm

Public Health
Education Key to Rural Health, Says Aid Worker
South China Morning Post, May 10, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZP1BE0I1F.html

Experts Divided over Reforming Health Care
South China Morning Post, May 10, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZE5QPXH1F.html

Tibet
Dalai Lama Cancels Brussels Visit on Request of Belgian Government
Phayul.com, May 09, 2007
http://www.phayul.com/news/article.aspx?article=Dalai
+Lama+cancels+Brussels+visit+on+request+of+Belgian+
government&id=16486