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, September 17, 2007

September 15 – 17, 2007

Top News of the Day
Human Rights Defender – Zhao Yan (赵岩)

China Frees NY Times Reporter
Reuters (via YahooNews), September 15, 2007
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070915/ts_nm/china_journalist_dc_3
On September 15, former New York Times researcher Zhao Yan (赵岩) was released after being sentenced to three years’ imprisonment for fraud – a charge he denied. Zhao was detained in September 2004 on accusations of leaking state secrets after the Times reported that former Chinese President Jiang Zemin would give up his sole remaining leadership post as military chief, which Jiang did shortly afterwards. A Beijing court dropped the charge of leaking state secrets due to insufficient evidence but convicted Zhao for fraud.
Related Information
HRIC Says Release of Journalist Zhao Yan is Three Years Too Late
Human Rights in China, September 16, 2007
http://www.hrichina.org/public/contents/44931

News
Death Penalty
山西运城市畜牧局原副局长因婚外恋杀人被判死刑 (Former Shanxi Cadre Sentenced to Death for Murdering Lover's Husband)
Legal Daily, September 16, 2007
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/0705/2007-09/16/content_702346.htm

China: Orders to Use Death Penalty Less
Associated Press (via YahooNews), September 14, 2007
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070914/ap_on_re_as/china_death_penalty_2

Environment
83.7%的人不放心自己喝的水 (83.7 Percent of Interviewees Are Worried About Drinking Water Safety)
China Youth Daily, September 17, 2007
http://zqb.cyol.com/content/2007-09/17/content_1896201.htm

Beijing Gets Flak for Pollution of Waterways
South China Morning Post, September 17, 2007
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=249fba42c2f05110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Human Rights Defender – Li Yuanlong (李元龙)
Journalist Freed After Two Years
Agence France-Presse (via YahooNews), September 17, 2007
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=6180ba42c2f05110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Human Rights Defender – Guo Feixiong (郭飞雄)
郭飞雄妻子著文纪念丈夫被捕一周年 (Guo Feixiong's Wife Publishes Article to Commemorate Anniversary of Husband's Arrest)
Radio Free Asia, September 15, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/xinwen/2007/09/15/xinwen/ - 3
Related Information
Wife Appeals for Guo Feixiong's Release
Human Rights in China, September 14, 2007
http://www.hrichina.org/public/contents/44913

Human Rights Defender - Mao Qingxiang (毛庆祥)
组中国民主党入狱八年毛庆祥获释 (China Democracy Party Member Mao Qingxiang Released After Eight Years' Imprisonment)
Voice of America, September 14, 2007
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/w2007-09-14-voa35.cfm

Human Rights Defender - Sun Buer (孙不二)
孙不二已经出狱, 行动不自由? (Is Sun Buer Released from Detention but Still Restricted on Movement?)
Radio Free Asia, September 14, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/09/14/sun/

Law
China's Supreme Court Renews Ban on Uncorroborated Confessions
Xinhuanet, September 14, 2007
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-09/14/content_6724119.htm

Olympics
Paralympics Ready to Take Centre Stage
South China Morning Post, September 16, 2007
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=066ffdd941905110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Population
China to Crack Down on Rich Flouting One-Child Rule
Reuters (via YahooNews), September 15, 2007
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070915/wl_nm/china_family_planning_dc_1

Protests and Petitions
各地解决“医闹”的措施 (Various Places Tackle "Disturbances" Regarding Medical Disputes Differently)
China Youth Daily, September 17, 2007
http://zqb.cyol.com/content/2007-09/17/content_1896576.htm

十七大前当局开始加紧对各地访民严控 (Authorities Step Up Monitoring of Petitioners Ahead of CPC Meeting)
Radio Free Asia, September 14, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/09/14/yankong/

Demobilized Soldiers Riot in China
Associated Press (via YahooNews), September 14, 2007
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070914/ap_on_re_as/china_ex_soldiers_riot_1

北京上访人士双淑英保外就医申请被拒绝 (Medical Parole for Beijing Petitioner Shuang Shuying Rejected)
Radio Free Asia, September 14, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/09/14/liu/
Related Information
Elderly Activist Denied Medical Parole
Human Rights in China, September 13, 2007
http://www.hrichina.org/public/contents/44890
Public Health
China Hemophiliacs Face Dangerous Shortage of Drug
Reuters (via YahooNews), July 14, 2007
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070914/wl_nm/china_blood_dc_3

Religion
Church Leader Released from China Prison
Associated Press (via YahooNews), September 17, 2007
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070916/ap_on_re_as/china_banned_church_1

US Criticizes China for Repressing Religious Freedom
Wall Street Journal, September 14, 2007
http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20070914-708677-search.html