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, December 27, 2007

December 25 – 27, 2007

News
Economic Development

China Aims to Grow Its Middle Class
Associated Press (via YahooNews), December 26, 2007
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071226/ap_on_re_as/china
_development_6;_ylt=Akyke8.
ReJxL7bw1bjB0it5PzWQA

Environment
Conservation Measures to Lead Attack on Power Usage
South China Morning Post, December 27, 2007
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ec
b329d3d7733492d9253a0a0
a0/?vgnextoid=2c283481b17
17110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD&ss=China&s=News


Food Security
China Mulls Law to Ensure Food Safety
Xinhuanet, December 26, 2007
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-12/26/content_
7316505.htm


Human Rights Defender - Zhang Qing (张青)
张青被法院提走存款冻结帐户 (Guangdong Court Freezes Zhang Qing's Bank Account)
Radio Free Asia, December 26, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/12/26/
zhangqing/


Human Rights Defender - Li Jianhong (Xiao Qiao) (李剑虹(小乔))
异见作家小乔被当局拘禁数日 (Shanghai Police Detain Dissident Writer Xiao Qiao for 4 Days)
Radio Free Asia, December 26, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/xinwen/2007/12/26/china_
dissident_release/


Human Rights Defenders
万人上书王桂兰被捕失踪 近失明刘杰劳教继续不予治疗 (Whereabouts of Arrested Petitioning Activist Unknown; Liu Jie Not Given Treatment for Serious Eye Problem)
Radio Free Asia, December 26, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/12/26/
wangguilan/


Human Rights Defender - Sun Xiaodi (孙小弟)
孙小弟女儿平安夜遭殴打 (Thugs Beat Sun Xiaodi's Daughter on Christmas Eve)
Radio Free Asia, December 25, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/12/25/
sunxiaodi/


Human Rights Defenders
China Detains Farmers Urging Land Privatization
Reuters, December 24, 2007
http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=world
News&storyid=2007-12-
24T110434Z_01_PEK213531_RTRU
KOC_0_US-CHINA-LAND.xml


Bold Activists Hold Beijing to Account
Financial Times, December 26, 2007
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/e1b2faf0-b3de-11dc-a6df-000
0779fd2ac,dwp_uuid=9c33700c-4c86-11da-89df-0000779e
2340.html


Land Policy
Official: China Won't Privatize Rural Farmland
Xinhuanet, December 26, 2007
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-12/26/content_
7318687.htm


Law
China Pays 170 Mln Yuan of State Compensation to Citizens over 5 years, Court Says
Xinhuanet, December 26, 2007
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-12/26/content_
7318962.htm


Media
Dog Owner Takes On China's Web Censors
Washington Post, December 26, 2007
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007
/12/25/AR2007122501150.html


Beijing Clamps Down on Text Messages
Associated Press (via YahooNews), December 24, 2007
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071224/ap_on_re_as/china
_text_messages_1;_ylt=AkXH
bcrLjC.X3tYaL9VbpABPzWQA

Migrant Workers
Chinese Governments Recover 43.32 Bln Yuan for Migrant Workers' Unpaid Wages
Xinhuanet, December 26, 2007
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-12/26/content_
7318887.htm


Olympics
Breaking the Habit
South China Morning Post, December 26, 2007
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ec
b329d3d7733492d9253a0a0
a0/?vgnextoid=21399906c91
17110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD&ss=China&s=News


The Challenge to Beijingoism
The Economist, December 26, 2007
http://www.economist.com/displayStory.cfm?story_id=
10230215&fsrc=RSS


Police
基层民警揭制度腐败:罚款创收成考核标准 拉赞助形同黑社会保护费 (Low Ranking Police Speak of Systemic Corruption; Fines Collected Determines Officers' Performances)
Radio Free Asia, December 25, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/12/25/
minjing/


Protests and Petitions
Up to 2,000 Police Guarding Key Pylon in Dongzhou
Radio Free Asia, December 26, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/2007/12/26/china_
template/


Public Health
China Outlines Medical Reform Plan, Highlighting Gov't Responsibility
Xinhuanet, December 26, 2007
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-12/26/content_
7318261.htm


Religion
当局将张明选收养的孤儿赶出学校 (Hebei Authorities Expel Orphans from Protestant Leader's School)
Radio Free Asia, December 26, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/xinwen/2007/12/26/china_
religion_church/


四川甘孜政府加强控制藏人寺庙 (Sichuan Authorities Strengthen Controls on Tibetan Temples)
Radio Free Asia, December 25, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/xinwen/2007/12/25/china_
tibetan/