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, January 29, 2008

January 29, 2008

Top News of the Day
Media
甘肃宁夏推行版主实名制 ("Real Name Registration" Required for Online Forum Operators in Gansu and Ningxia)
Nanfang City News, January 28, 2008
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/southnews/djjz/200801280554.asp
Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and Gansu Province are reportedly requiring online forums, bulletin board systems (BBS), chat rooms, and other similar services to report their operations. All these online services must have operators, who have to submit their personal information and be available by phone 24 hours a day. The Ningxia and Gansu authorities are reportedly using this policy to implement the central authorities’ decision to crack down on online pornography.

News
Civil Society
People's Voices Will Be Heard, Says Mayor
South China Morning Post, January 25, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=83042f7bf1ca7110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Death Penalty
恶魔兄弟公安局旁奸杀少女 民警接警不出被判刑 (Brothers Rape and Murder Girl Next to Police Station; Policeman Sentenced for Ignoring Citizen's Report on the Case)
Xinhuanet, January 29, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/legal/2008-01/29/content_7516281.htm

河南农民十年冤狱终得清白 (Henan Migrant Worker Released After 10 Years of Wrongful Imprisonment)
People's Daily, January 26, 2008
http://www.hnsc.com.cn/news/2008/01/26/259560.html

Disasters
Wen Acts as Cold Spell Brings Chaos
South China Morning Post, January 28, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62
ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=6d24c5d96bbb7
110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD&ss=China&s=News


Environment
Chengdu Officials Reject Baitiao River Hydropower Plan
South China Morning Post, January 29, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=3f4e4f8a4d0c7110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Human Rights Defenders – Yang Chunlin (杨春林), Wang Guilin (王桂林)
杨春林案将延迟开庭 王桂林案将于星期二开庭审理 (Yang Chunlin's Trial Postponed; Wang Guilin to Stand Trial on Tuesday)
Radio Free Asia, January 28, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/01/28/yang-wang/

Human Rights Defender - Zheng Enchong (郑恩宠)
郑恩宠第十八次被传唤 (Zheng Enchong Summoned for the 18th Time)
Radio Free Asia, January 28, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/01/28/zheng_enchong/

Law
新修订《律师法》会和《刑诉法》打架吗 (Are Criminal Procedure Law and the Newly Amended Lawyers' Law Incompatible?)
China Youth Daily, January 29, 2008
http://zqb.cyol.com/content/2008-01/29/content_2050041.htm

Legal Team Helps Win Back Wages for Workers
China Daily (available at Xinhua), January 29, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-01/29/content_7515686.htm

民生呼声将渗入新修法规 (Regulations to Be Amended to Incorporate Public Concerns)
Legal Daily, January 29, 2008
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/bm/2008-01/29/content_789525.htm

Media
Foreign News Organizations in China Total 374 by End of 2007
Xinhuanet, January 25, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-01/25/content_7498166.htm

Olympics
Officials Acknowledge 6 Deaths at Games Sites
South China Morning Post, January 29, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=313e4f8a4d0c7110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Olympic Watercube Swimming Venue Opens
Associated Press (available at YahooNews), January 28, 2008
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080128/ap_on_re_as/oly_beijing_watercube_4

英国王储查尔斯将不出席北京奥运 (U.K.'s Prince Charles Will Not Attend Beijing Olympics)
Radio Free Asia, January 28, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/01/28/charles/

Politics
Migrant Worker Moves - to NPC
China Daily, January 25, 2008
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-01/25/content_6419836.htm

Public Health
China Reiterates Regulations on Medical Care Costs
Xinhuanet, January 28, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-01/28/content_7513539.htm

Three Gorges
Pact May Ease Impact of Three Gorges Dam
Wall Street Journal, January 29, 2008
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120154424362122751.html