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.

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

June 13, 2007

Top News of the Day
State Security

Group Calls on China to Define 'State Secret'
Los Angeles Times, June 12, 2007
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-sec
rets12jun12,1,7439228.story?coll=la-headlines-world

New York-based Human Rights in China released a report on June 12, calling on Beijing to create a clear definition of what constitutes a state secret. The group also urges China to create an independent review mechanism for secrecy cases, end political interference in the judicial system and halt the culture of secrecy. Currently, China's state secrets laws allow the government to retroactively change what are labeled as secrets.
Related Information
HRIC Press Release: New HRIC Report Details State Secrets
System
Human Rights in China, June 12, 2007
http://hrichina.org/public/contents/41500

News
Corruption

New Graft Scandal in Tianjin Centred on Court President
South China Morning Post, June 13, 2007
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62e
cb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0
a0/?vgnextoid=1e8dc88103
123110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD&ss=China&s=News


Disasters
村民被困,政府不救? (Lack of Equipment Delays Rescue for Flood-Trapped Villagers in Guangdong)
Nanfang City News, June 13, 2007
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/southnews/jwxy/20070
6130015.asp


Education
中国扫盲多年近年文盲反大幅上升 (China's Illiterate Population Growing Quickly)
Voice of America, June 13, 2007
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/w2007-06-12-voa1.cfm

Environment
60% of Chinese Cities Suffer from Air Pollution: Report
China Daily, June 12, 2007
http://english.people.com.cn/200706/12/eng20070612_3
83316.html


Food Security
China Says Food Safety Under Control
Associated Press (via YahooNews), June 12, 2007
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070612/ap_on_re_as/chin
a_tainted_food_5;_ylt=AhwmYz
SN9GjEgSGIJcaGjAdPz
WQA


Freedom of Speech
坚拒取消反思文革讲演 社科院学者批设障者不智 (CASS Scholar Asked Not to Speak on Cultural Revolution)
Radio Free Asia, June 12, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/06/12/
wenge/


Human Rights
美国报告称每年中国有10万到20万人口被买卖 (US Report Says 100,000 to 200,000 People Are Trafficked in China)
Radio Free Asia, June 12, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/06/12/
traffic/


Media
互联网和中国公民权利(三)互联网对传统媒体市场竞争力的挑战 (Internet and Citizens' Rights in China (Part 3) - Internet's Challenge to Traditional Media)
Radio Free Asia, June 11, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/06/11/
Internet3/


Military
美学者关注中国可能发展生化武器 (US Experts Are Concerned That China May Develop Biochemical Weapons)
Voice of America, June 12, 2007
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/w2007-06-12-voa55.cfm

Olympics
China Blames Foreigners for Abuse
Associated Press (via YahooNews), June 12, 2007
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070612/ap_on_re_as/beiji
ng_labor_abuses_7;_ylt=Aotiic
XenohEMzDJW7_LxFJPz
WQA


Politics
China Struggles to Define Democracy
Financial Times, June 13, 2007
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/8340c1c4-18f1-11dc-a961-000b5
df10621,dwp_uuid=9c33700c-4c86-11da-89df-0000779e2
340.html


Communist Capitalists
International Herald Tribune, June 12, 2007
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/06/12/opinion/edbowr
ing.php


Protests and Petitions
内蒙乌兰察布市近三百名居民抗议电厂污染 (300 Inner Mongolians Protest Pollution from Power Plant)
Radio Free Asia, June 12, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/xinwen/2007/06/12/china_
rights_environment/


Tibet
Dalai Lama Warns Against China Containment
Reuters (via YahooNews), June 12, 2007
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070612/wl_nm/australia_
lama_dc_4;_ylt=ArS9YKTdhClX
J4NaJ.KZLkVPzWQA

June 12, 2007

News
Civil Society

Residents Snub Poll on Renewal Plan
South China Morning Post, June 12, 2007
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ec
b329d3d7733492d9253a0a0
a0/?vgnextoid=e31f382488b1311
0VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD&ss=China&s=News


Corruption
China's Oral Health Committee Illegally Accepts Endorsement Fees
Xinhuanet, June 11, 2007
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-06/11/content_
6227614.htm


Death Penalty
An Olympic Reprieve for China's Convicts
The Times, June 11, 2007
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1631399,0
0.html?xid=rss-world


Disasters
Southern China Rainstorms Death Toll Rises to 71
Xinhuanet, June 11, 2007
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-06/11/content_
6228688.htm


Environment
Premier Demands Thorough Investigation of Taihu Lake Crisis
Xinhuanet, June 11, 2007
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-06/11/content_
6228454.htm


Report: China Growth Hurts Heritage
ABC News, June 11, 2007
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=3264853

Government
South China City Weeds Out Lazybones Officials
Xinhuanet, June 11, 2007
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-06/11/content_
6228443.htm


Human Rights Defender - Zeng Jinyan (曾金燕)
China Bars Dissident's Wife from Leaving
Associated Press (via YahooNews), June 11, 2007
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070611/ap_on_re_as/china_
activist_detained_1;_ylt=Av4
9tIPaln6r_Bv99o2SC_JPzWQA

Human Rights Defender – Guo Feixiong (郭飞雄)
郭飞雄案开庭延期 日期待定 (Trial for Guo Feixiong Delayed, New Date to Be Determined)
Radio Free Asia, June 11, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/06/11/
guofeixiong/


Media
Flickr网疑因存敏感照 在中国大陆遭屏蔽 (Flickr Web Site Blocked in China over Sensitive Photos)
Radio Free Asia, June 11, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/06/11/
Flickr/


Yahoo Weighs In on Free Speech in China
Associated Press (via YahooNews), June 11, 2007
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070611/ap_on_re_as/hong_
kong_yahoo_jailed_reporter
_9;_ylt=AjBGH98bRtKhYrlhJw
el8pVPzWQA


Migrant Workers
Pension Plan for Migrant Workers
South China Morning Post, June 12, 2007
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb
329d3d7733492d9253a0a0
a0/?vgnextoid=080e99b56cb13110
VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD&ss=China&s=News


Olympics
Merchandise Manufacturers Hit Back at 'Groundless' Allegations
South China Morning Post, June 12, 2007
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ec
b329d3d7733492d9253a0a0
a0/?vgnextoid=778e382488
b13110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD&ss=China&s=Ne


China May Cancel Olympic Contracts
Associated Press (via YahooNews), June 11, 2007
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070611/ap_on_re_as/beijing
_labor_abuses_5;_ylt=AtSzT
fMAxrfCGkzgJJBMkHVPzWQA

Police
Another Chinese City to Have "Energy Police"
Xinhuanet, June 11, 2007
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-06/11/content_6
228722.htm


Protests and Petitions
In Brief: Tibetans Riot in Sichuan over Sacred Mountain's Exploitation
South China Morning Post, June 12, 2007
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ec
b329d3d7733492d9253a0a0
a0/?vgnextoid=67ee382488b
13110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD&ss=China&s=Ne


上百名访民要人权被抓 周莉维权被打被威胁 (Petitioners Beaten and Threatened over Eviction in Beijing)
Radio Free Asia, June 11, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/06/11/
fangmin/


State Security
China's Secret Rules Stymie Legal System
Associated Press (via YahooNews), June 11, 2007
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070611/ap_on_re_as/chin
a_secrets_1;_ylt=Aq8CtZcFQ1
sLfKbOSK83dCFPzWQA
Related Information
HRIC Report: State Secrets: China’s Legal Labyrinth
Human Rights in China, June 2007
http://hrichina.org/public/contents/41421

Three Gorges
Official: Silting in Three Gorges Reservoir Less Serious Than Anticipated
Xinhuanet, June 11, 2007
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-06/11/content_
6228451.htm