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, October 25, 2007

October 25, 2007

Top News of the Day
Human Rights Defender
中国首位信访调解员被判刑 (China's First Civil Mediator on Petitioning Matters Sentenced to 1.5 Years' Imprisonment)
Radio Free Asia, October 24, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/10/24/liu/
Liu Guiqin (刘贵琴) was sentenced to a year and a half in prison on charges of illegal possession of state secrets. Liu was appointed as China's first civil mediator on petitioning matters by the Yunxi county government in Hubei Province in May 2007, but was placed under criminal detention in June. Dissident Huang Qi (黄琦) said the document in dispute was not state secrets. Rather, local officials were very disturbed by Liu’s active involvement in helping petitioners to safeguard their rights.

News
Corruption

Shanghai Property Tycoon Appears in Court on New Charges
Xinhua (via People's Daily), October 25, 2007
http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90776/6290063.html

Human Rights Defender - Huang Weizhong (黄维忠)
农民代表黄维忠家人被阻挠前往探监 (Family Barred from Visiting Jailed Fujian Rights Defender Huang Weizhong)
Radio Free Asia, October 24, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/10/24/
huang/


Human Rights Defenders – Petitioners
家人担忧叶国强叶明君两人将被判刑 (Family Worried About Possible Sentence for Petitioning Uncle and Nephew)
Radio Free Asia, October 24, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/xinwen/2007/10/24/china_
rights_detain/


Human Rights Defender – Gao Zhisheng (高智晟)
营救组织要求立即释放高智晟 (Group Calls for Immediate Release of Gao Zhisheng)
Radio Free Asia, October 24, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/10/24/gao/

Human Rights Defender - Yang Chunlin (杨春林)
检察院多方阻挠律师与杨春林见面 (Heilongjiang Authorities Obstruct Work of Yang Chunlin's Lawyer)
Radio Free Asia, October 24, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/xinwen/2007/10/24/china_
rights_trail/


Labor
劳动争议调解仲裁法草案:劳动争议仲裁有望免费 (Draft Law on Labor Dispute Mediation and Arbitration Requires No Fees from Arbitration Parties)
Legal Daily, October 25, 2007
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/0705/2007-10/25/content_
725175.htm


Land Policy
黄石当局无视法院禁令出动公安及城管强拆民居 (Hubei Authorities Ignore Court Order on Eviction Ban; Evictee Attempts Suicide)
Radio Free Asia, October 24, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/xinwen/2007/10/24/china_
demolish/


Law
5,000 Yuan Payout in Shanghai Hepatitis Case
South China Morning Post, October 25, 2007
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ec
b329d3d7733492d9253a0a0
a0/?vgnextoid=e9a835658a2
d5110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD&ss=China&s=Ne


Energy-Saving Goals in Focus
South China Morning Post, October 25, 2007
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ec
b329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=639735658a
2d5110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD&ss=China&s=News


China Mulls Draft Administrative Mandatory Law
Xinhua (via China Daily), October 24, 2007
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2007-10/24/content_
6204305.htm


贵州检察院对公安打死教师事件不予立案 (County Procuratorate in Guizhou Refuses to Accept Case Concerning Death of Teacher)
Radio Free Asia, October 24, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/xinwen/2007/10/24/china_
police_abuse/


Media
US Panel Supports China Net Laws
BBC, October 25, 2007
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7059417.stm

Olympics
BOCOG Ahead of Schedule on Olympic Pledge
China Daily (via People's Daily), October 24, 2007
http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90776/6289559.html

Police
Drug Addicts May Face Three-Year Isolated Drug Rehabilitation Programs
Xinhua (via People's Daily), October 24, 2007
http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90776/6290083.html

Politics
Critic Urges China Communists to Abandon Dictatorship
Reuters (via YahooNews), October 24, 2007
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071024/wl_nm/china_party
_dc_1;_ylt=Avbj2Kz27xhALuG0FpNtf.NPzWQA
0FpNtf.NPzWQA

Protests and Petitions
简要新闻:驻京办雇打手对付上访者 仪化宾馆时闻惨叫声 (In Brief: Provincial Government's Regional Offices in Beijing Employ Thugs to Manage Petitioners)
Radio Free Asia, October 24, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/xinwen/2007/10/24/xinwen/#6

上海访民叙述十七大期间的遭遇 (Released Shanghai Petitioners Tell of Their Detention During CPC Meeting)
Radio Free Asia, October 24, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/10/24/sh/

Public Health
Experts: Pills Key to Curbing Abortions
China Daily, October 24, 2007
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2007-10/24/content_
6201172.htm