February 2, 2005

Top news of the day
Protests and petitions
Many national-level petition offices closed after over 500 police raids petitioners’ accommodation in Beijing
北京500多名警察搜捕访民 关闭信访
Dajiyuan.com, February 1, 2005
After police raided petitioners’ accommodation in Beijing last Sunday, in which thousands of petitioners were taken away, petition offices of many government bureaus were suddenly closed.
http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/5/2/1/n800669.htm

Public health
2 migrants die, 11 are infected in Guangdong
SCMP, February 2, 2005
The outbreak of bacterial meningitis in China has raised public concerns of the spread when thousands of migrant workers are returning home for the New Year holiday. The anxiety heightened after all cases of meningitis infections were migrant workers.
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZA567HJ3E.html

Authorities defend timing of alert on meningitis outbreak
South China Morning Post, 2 February 2005
Hong Kong and mainland health authorities yesterday insisted an alert on bacterial meningitis had been sent out on time, as questions persisted about whether the vaunted post-Sars disease notification system had been bypassed.
http://english.big5.cqnews.net/system/2005/02/02/000440021.shtml

• Related news with top news:
  Beijing rejects claims of vaccine shortage
  SCMP, February 2, 2005
  http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZLO4BHJ3E.html

News
Children
Leaving kids in villages amongst rural migrant workers sparks off concerns on impacts of child development
中国农村父母外乡谋生 儿女寄放乡下现隐忧
Chinesenewsnet.com, February 2, 2005
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/SinoNews/Main
land/cna_2005_02_01_22_43_05_480.html

Abandoned babies and orphans may be given hukou in Beijing under new regulations
北京首次规范孤儿弃婴户口 孤儿弃婴可落户北京
EastDay.com, February 2, 2005
http://china.eastday.com/eastday/news/node37955/node37957/
node37979/node48915/userobject1ai842317.html

Children – abuse (trafficking)
Cover-up of cross-province and cross-country children trafficking in Fujian
福建跨省跨国拐卖70名儿童案黑幕
Chinesenewsnet.com, February 2, 2005
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/Forums/Back
Stage/2005_2_1_20_42_42_504.html

Death penalty
EU welcomes lifting of death sentence on Tibetan monk
Agence France Presse, 2 February 2005
BRUSSELS, Feb 2 (AFP) - The European Union welcomed Wednesday a Chinese court's decision to commute a death sentence against Tibetan monk Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche after an international outcry over his treatment in a fatal bombing case.
http://www.eubusiness.com/afp/050202101613.z0qb0yzw

Government – governance and accountability
Premier solicits views on govt work report
Xinhuanet.com, February 1, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-02/01/content_25363
61.htm

June 4th – arms ban
US House of Representatives plan to propose a bill to stop EU lifting arms embargo on China
美众议院拟提案阻欧盟解除对华武禁
Chinesenewsnet.com, February 2, 2005
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/NorthAmerica/
2005_2_1_20_2_25_401.html

Rice wary of EU plan on China arms
Reuters, Feb 2, 2005
Europe could send the wrong signal on human rights in China if it ends an arms embargo imposed after the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says.
http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=665025

June 4th – prisoners – Zhao Ziyang (趙紫陽)
Activist detained, beaten on way to Zhao's funeral
SCMP, February 2, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZB367HJ3E.html

Remembering Zhao Ziyang: Bao Tong's Essay
SCMP, February 2, 2005
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/politics/2005/02/01/china_15th/

Dissidents group sets to organize memorial activities for Zhao in every Chinese province
民运准备在中国各省设立分会纪念赵紫阳
Dajiyuan.com, February 1, 2005
http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/5/2/1/n800749.htm

Labor – employment market
Laid-offs, graduates key jobless priorities
Xinhuanet.com, February 2, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-02/02/content_2537
457.htm

Labor – safety and work conditions
Due concerns given to the rights of Guangdong migrant workers
广东民工权益日益受到关注
Radio Free Asia, February 1, 2005
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/xinwen/2005/02/01/mingong/

Law - legal reform
Lawmaker's resignation sparks debate on legislature reform in China
Xinhua News Agency, 2 February 2005
The resignation of provincial lawmaker Gao Minglun in east China's Anhui Province last week has sparked a hot debate on the reform of the country's legislatures.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-02/02/content_2541044.htm

Migrant workers
Feature: a rural worker's trip home
Xinhua News Agency, 2 February 2005
When Bai Guangqin stepped off the overcrowded train at 5:00 am, he had barely covered one third of his trip home.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-02/02/content_2540079.htm

Population – aging population
Mainland struggles to care for the aged
SCMP, February 2, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/cgi-bin/gx.cgi/AppLogic+FTContentServer?pagename=SCMP/Printacopy&aid=ZZZU7M9HJ3E

Public health
Hainan children queue for jabs
SCMP, February 2, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZ3567HJ3E.html

Drinking water safety top priority: minister
Xinhuanet.com, February 2, 2005
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200502/02/eng20050202_
172729.html

Social security
Coverage of China's social security up by big margins in 2004
People’s Daily, February 2, 2005
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200502/02/eng20050202_
172648.html

Social security / labour
Unemployment insurance covers more people
Xinhuanet.com, February 1, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-02/01/content_2536
284.htm

Women - rights
WOMEN'S FEDERATIONS TRYING TO HELP MEN
China Daily, 2 February 2005
GUANGZHOU: Women's federations have long protected the legal interests of women but in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong Province, the local federation has branched out.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-02/02/content_414173.htm

Tibet
China Pleased as Nepal Shuts Down Offices of Tibetan Exiles
Voice of America, February 1, 2005
http://www.voanews.com/english/China-Pleased-as-2005-02-01
-voa103.cfm

January 28, 2005

Top news of the day

June 4th – prisoners – Zhao Zi-yang (趙紫陽)
Hundreds to attend Zhao's funeral
SCMP, January 28, 2005
It is expected that hundreds of people would bid farewell to the former party leader Zhao Ziyang at a low-profile funer at the Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery tomorrow. However, the authority keeps silence on the presence of senior officials and cadres at the funeral.
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZ0HTAHJ3E.html

• Related news with top news:
  Dozens of mourners beaten and detained
  SCMP, January 28, 2005
  http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZZAU6HJ3E.html
  
  

Xinjiang – imprisoned dissident – Rebiya Kadeer
US to press case of sick, jailed dissident
SCMP, January 28, 2005
US will push harder for Beijing’s release of Rebiya Kadeer, a prominent advocate of women’s and minority rights who is now serving her remaining 12-month imprisonment in Xinjiang. Kadeer has been awarded the Norwegian Rafto Prize recently.
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZ21TAHJ3E.html


News

Border Issues - North Korea
UN Report on North Korean Human Rights Cites 'Egregious' Situation
Voice of America, 28 January 2005
The United Nations is circulating a draft of its first report on the human rights situation in North Korea. The draft includes sweeping recommendations for changes in North Korea, and in the way China treats refugees from that country.
http://www.voanews.com/english/2005-01-28-voa11.cfm

Border Issues- Taiwan
Anti-secession Law expected to promote cross-Straits relations
Xinhua News Agency, 28 January 2005
BEIJING, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- China's Anti-Secession Law, of which the legislation procedures has been recently set in motion, will uphold the basic policy of "peaceful reunification and one country, two systems" and the eight-point proposal ...
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-01/28/content_2521054.htm

Corruption
List of bribers helps anti-corruption battle
Xinhuanet.com, January 28, 2005
The Supreme People’s Procuratorate is examining a blacklist of bribers and considers for further actions against them as part of the government’s prevent drive against corrupt government officials and businessmen.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-01/28/content_251751
4.htm

Death Penalty
In possible nod to Europe, China says it may narrow use of death penalty
Agence France Presse, 28 January 2005
BEIJING, Jan 28 (AFP) - China may decide to narrow down the types of crimes for which the death penalty can be used, state media said Friday, in a move observers said was possibly designed to address European concerns.
http://www.afp.com/

Education – basic education / Rural issues
Rural education still ministry's top priority
SCMP, January 28, 2005
The Ministry of Education has given top priority to the promotion of 9-year compulsory basic education in rural areas in this year education agenda.
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZ8T3DHJ3E.html

Environment
Fighting plagues demands more funds, says expert
SCMP, January 28, 2005
Environmental expert calls for bigger budget on pest programs because the plagues of insects and rodents are rampant in many part of the country due to worsening global warming.
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZSCA9HJ3E.html

46 polluting thermal power plants blacklisted
Xinhuanet.com, January 28, 2005
After the halt of 30 large projects that failed to meet environmental standards, the environmental bureau blacklisted another 46 environmental-unfriendly thermal power plants due to the lack of desulfurization equipment in the plants.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-01/27/content_2516481.htm

Gender
Plan to bring back wet nurses opposed
SCMP, January 28, 2005
A re-employment initiative in Yangzhou, Jiangsu proince, aiming to provide ‘wet-nurses” services to young mothers who do not want to breastfeed their children, has drawn stiff opposition from local women’s groups who claim the service “a thing of the feudal past” and should not be promoted in the society.
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZFS3DHJ3E.html

Gender – status
Women in politics – a bumpy road
盘点中国女性高官从政之路
Nanfang Weekend, January 28, 2005
The appointment of Song Xiuyan(宋秀岩) to be the mayor of Qinghai province draws attention on the rising power of women in politics; however, statistics show that women holding senior official position remains far too small in a male-dominated Chinese political system.
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/zm/20050127/xw/szxw2/2005
01270024.asp

June 4th – prisoners – Zhao Ziyang (趙紫陽)
Zhao Death Shows Limits of China's Media Freedom
Reuters via YahooNews.com, January 27, 2005
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20050127/lf_n
m/media_china_dc_1

Featured article from Liu Xiaobo: political reforms can delay no more – commemorate the death of Zhao
刘晓波：中国政治改革刻不容缓──再祭紫阳
Chinesenewsnet.com, January 28, 2005
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/Opinion/2005_
1_27_15_1_46_829.html

China Bars Dissidents From Memorial For Zhao Ziyang
Dow Jones International News, 28 January 2005
China will bar dissidents from a weekend memorial for Zhao Ziyang, a former Communist Party leader ousted in 1989 after sympathizing with Tiananmen Square pro-democracy protesters, but will allow some 2,000 other mourners.
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/world/10758951.htm?1c

Hukou
Beijing police might scrap permit system
SCMP, January 28, 2005
Beijing may drop temporary residency permit, one of the most discriminatory treatment to migrant residents for many years, if a recent proposal on abolishing restrictions on migrant residents are adopted and smoothly carried out in the city.
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZRY3DHJ3E.html

Law – legal reforms
Direction of the revision of the Administrative Procedure Law
《行政诉讼法》的修改方向
Legal Daily, January 28, 2005
According to a legal expert, the revision of the Administrative Procedure Law should be focused on directions of the content for revision, rather than specific articles for revision.
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/bm/2005-01/27/content_183193.htm

Examining the reform of Chinese release-on-bail system with the bail models in the west
从西方保释制度看我国取保候审制度的改革
Legal Daily, January 28, 2005
Amid a wide discussion of reforming China’s release-on-bail system (取保候審), some legal experts advocate to replace the system with a Western bail model that is based on the basic legal principle of “suspect are innocent before trial”.
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/bm/2005-01/27/content_183202.htm

Multilaterals - World Economic Forum
China's huge shadow at economic forum A growing influence of Asian power
International Herald Tribune, 27 January 2005
DAVOS, Switzerland: High-profile diplomacy with the European Union, trade accords in Latin America, oil deals in Africa and a string of corporate acquisitions all over the world: China is on an offensive to take its economic miracle.
http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/01/26/news/yuan.html

Police – administrative detention (Re-education through labour)
300,000 RTL inmates in China
中国有30多万劳教人员
Voice of America via Dajiyuan.com, January 28, 2005
It is estimated that there are about 300,000 “re-education through labour (RTL)’ inmates in China. Scholars claimed the role of RTL in relieving limited capacity of Chinese prisons, while former RTL inmates accused the system encourage abuse and arbitrary detention of the police.
http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/5/1/28/n795785.htm

Population
China to overhaul sperm banks
Xinhuanet.com, January 28, 2005
China is to monitor closely on institutions offering assisted reproductive techniques and human sperm banks in the country.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-01/28/content_25180
61.htm

Population – one-child policy
Fertility pills blamed for increase in twin births
SCMP, January 28, 2005
The Guangzhou authority has raised concerns to the high incidence of twin births in several hospitals, suspecting that couples might be resorting to fertility pills to exploit a grey area of the one-child policy.
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZGAU6HJ3E.html

Hands up who hasn't got a girlfriend
SCMP, January 28, 2005
The consequence of the one-child policy surfaces in light of worsening sex-ratio imbalances. The high proportion of boy students in primary school is common in many Chinese rural villages, and has placed great concerns over the society’s future.
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZNYSAHJ3E.html

Illegal sex identification and abortion in the lens of China’s Criminal Law
从刑法角度看非法鉴定胎儿性别和人工终止妊娠
Legal Daily, January 28, 2005
Legal experts said that the Criminal Law should be revised to specify the illegal nature of sex identification and illegal abortion to close the gap of vague references to these harmful practices in the society.
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/bm/2005-01/27/content_183194.htm

Public health – HIV aids
河南两会代表建议立法防治艾滋病 实行强制检测
EastDay.com, January 28, 2005
In a combined conference of NPC and Politico Bureau of Henan province, legislators and party officials propose to draft law for prevent the spread of aids in the province and adopt compulsory aids test on drug addicts, pregnant women and hospitalized patients.
http://china.eastday.com/eastday/news/node37955/node37957/
node37979/node48397/userobject1ai831465.html

Resettlement – forceful eviction (Petitions)
Housing protester petitions to the Chinese leaders for a probe into the corruption of senior Shanghai government officials and business tycoon on redevelopment project
中国人权：沈婷投书胡温要求调查周正毅案官商勾结黑幕
Chinesenewsnet.com, January 28, 2005
Shu Ting (沈婷), a Hong Kong resident who has been protesting against forceful eviction in a Shanghai re-development project, sent a petition letter to the Chinese leaders in calling for an investigation of corruption of senior government official and the business tycoon Zhou Zhengyi (周正毅).
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/SinoNews/Main
land/2005_1_27_15_40_55_61.html

Tibet – imprisoned dissident –Tenzin Delek Rinpoche
Tibetan Monk's Family Insist on His Innocence
Radio Free Asia, January 27, 2005
After the death sentence of the Tibetan monk Tenzin Delek Rinpoche was commuted yesterday, relatives and supporters of the monk stressed his innocence of the charge and called for greater international pressures on Beijing for his release.
http://origin.rfaweb.org/english/news/social/2005/01/27/tibetan
_monk/

• Related news:
  Tibetan lama dodges Chinese bullet
  Asia Times Online, January 27, 2005
  http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/GA28Ad05.html

January 27, 2005

Top News of the Day

June 4th – prisoners - Zhao Ziyang (趙紫陽)
China to Hold Funeral for Zhao on Saturday
Reuters via YahooNews.com, January 27, 2005
Beijing has made an official announcement on holding funeral for former communist leader Zhao Ziyang on this Saturday.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=574&ncid=731&e=8&u=/nm/20050127/wl_nm/china_zhao_dc

• Related news with top news:
  China rounds up, beats mourners for deposed leader Zhao: witnesses
  AFP via YahooNews.com, January 27, 2005
  http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1530&ncid=731&e=9&u=/afp/20050127/wl
  _asia_afp/chinatiananmenpoliticspetitioners
  

Labour – protest
China Labour Watch: labour petitioners detained and may face severe charges
中国劳工观察：烟台工人上访被关押，面临判刑厄运
Chinesenewsnet.com, January 27, 2005
Lay-off workers of Yantai (煙台), Shandong have been detained by police when they made a petition at the district office. Li Xintao (李信濤), leader of the petition, has yet to be released and may face severe charges.
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/SinoNews/Main
land/2005_1_26_19_5_41_802.html

Tibet
China Commutes Tibetan Monk's Death Sentence
Voice of America, January 26, 2005
The Chinese authorities have commuted the death sentenced given to Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche, a Tibetan spiritual leader who was convicted of involvement in fatal bombings and inciting separatist activities, to a life imprisonment.
http://www.voanews.com/english/2005-01-26-voa12.cfm

News

Corruption
Battle against official graft nets 459 in Shanghai last year
SCMP, January 27, 2005
According to an annual report of the Shanghai prosecutor’s office, it stated that 402 corruption cases involving 459 people had been filed for corruption last year in Shanghai.
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZMQPAHJ3E.html

Detention - cases

US to push China to release Uighur minority leader Rebiya Kadeer
Agence France Presse, 27 January 2005
The United States said it would push Beijing to release a prominent advocate of women's and minority rights ailing in a Chinese prison.
www.afp.org

Death penalty
China questions death penalty
People’s Daily, January 27, 2005
In a conference on the topic of death penalty, a group of legal experts voiced their favorable support to a probably abolishment of death penalty in China, citing with powerful ground of China’s commitment in observing human rights in accordance with international standards.
http://english1.peopledaily.com.cn/200501/27/eng20050127_172
139.html

Gender – abuse (domestic violence)
Legislator urges the drafting of law to prevent domestic violence
人大代表呼吁立法防止家庭暴力 问责司法不作为
Chinesenewsnet.com, January 27, 2005
NPC representative of Guangdong province urges the government to draft law to redress the rising domestic violence cases in the province.
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/SinoNews/Main
land/zxs_2005-01-27_533877.shtml

Government – elections
Civil Affairs bureau regulates corruption practice in elections as village elections in 18 provinces underway
中国18省份村委会换届选举 民政部界定贿选行为
Chinesenewsnet.com, January 27, 2005
Ministry of Civil Affairs issued a notice in regulating corruption practice of village elections, aiming to deter intentional and unintentional corruption acts during upcoming village election in 18 provinces this year.
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/SinoNews/Main
land/zxs_2005-01-27_533769.shtml

Government – governance and accountability
Auditors inspect int'l aid projects
Xinhuanet.com, January 27, 2005
International aid projects are to be subject for stringent supervision and auditing, highlighting the latest battleground of the China’s “auditing storm”.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-01/27/content_251309
6.htm

Audit results publicized helps supervision of government
Xinhuanet.com, January 27, 2005
State Auditing Administration will make auditing reports of government organs public to show the government’s persistent efforts in curbing economic crimes and corruption of government officials.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-01/27/content_251325
6.htm

Hukou
Beijing sets to reform hukou system, rural migrant workers may turn to be city industrial workers
国务院拟改革户籍制度 将民工转为城市产业工人
EastDay.com, January 27, 2005
According to a study conducted by the Development Research Centre of the State Council, it suggests to change the registration status of rural migrant labour to city industrial workers, a key area for reforming the hukou system.
http://china.eastday.com/eastday/news/node37955/node37957/
node37979/node48257/userobject1ai830330.html

Capital acts to scrap law on migrant restrictions
SCMP, January 27, 2005
Beijing’s municipal government considers abandoning restrictions on migrant residents, which have long been considered discriminatory in nature and unable to meet the development needs of the city.
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZFKZCHJ3E.html

Human Rights-reforms

China rejects US prod on democracy and human rights
Agence France Presse, 27 January 2005
China on Thursday rejected the United States' call for it to speed up democratic reforms and improve human rights, insisting great improvements have already been made at its own pace. www.afp.org

. . . But Don't Forget Democracy
The Asian Wall Street Journal, 27 January 2005 (Hu Ping)
U.S. President George W. Bush declared war on tyranny last week, and Condoleezza Rice branded six countries as "outposts of tyranny." But missing from this list was China. www.wsj.com

June 4th - EU arms embargo
Arming China, and Not
The Wall Street Journal, 27 January 2005
We thought the West had decided that the best way to deal with China is to increase commerce to encourage economic and political liberalization, while discouraging nationalist forces that would threaten such a peaceful evolution. www.wsj.com

June 4th – prisoners – Zhao Ziyang (趙紫陽) / Media – press freedom
Zhao’s death and its implications on Beijing’s control on the media
从赵紫阳去世看政府对媒体控制
Voice of America, January 27, 2005
Beijing’s shut down on news coverage on Zhao’s death well reflected the lack of independency of Chinese media.
http://www1.voanews.com/Chinese/article.cfm?objectID=115000
26-CFC6-423A-AE69CB9EF70D39F2&title=%B4%D3%D5%D4%D 7%CF%D1%F4%C8%A5%CA%C0%BF%B4%D5%FE%B8%AE%B6%
D4%C3%BD%CC%E5%BF%D8%D6%C6%2805%C4%EA1%D4%C22
6%C8%D5%29&catOID=C283D8A3-4AB3-11D5-8EC2009027A
CC5C2&categoryname=National%20News

Labour – industrial accidents
Firework blast in Guangxi leads to 18 death and injuries
广西一爆竹厂爆炸，死伤18人
Radio Free Asia, January 26, 2005
4 died and 14 injured in an illegal firework factory in Guangxi, with most of the victims women workers in the factory.
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/xinwen/2005/01/26/baozha/

Law- legal rights
Some good news out of China
South China Morning Post, 27 January 2005
The Communist Party has traditionally intruded deep into people's personal lives. But now, we are told, there is draft legislation, entitled, Law for personal information protection of the People's Republic of China. www.scmp.com

Migrant workers- law
XIN ZHIMING
China Daily, 27 January 2005
It was astonishing to hear a Beijing policy adviser proposing an "access system" for the inflow of labourers from other parts of the country into the capital. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/home/index.html

Public health / Environment
Waste trade a far bigger threat than ants, say villagers
SCMP, January 27, 2005
Villagers in Wuchuan, Guangdong blamed the booming waste trade in the province lead to outbreak of red-ants infestation in villages and that caused substantial harms to the villagers.
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZUJQ6HJ3E.html

Public health
Regulations on nutrition to be drafted the first time in China
居民营养令人忧 我国拟制定首部营养条例
Xinhuanet.com, January 27, 2005
China attempts to make the first set of regulations on nutrition in response to growing attentions on poor nutrition conditions in the society.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/food/2005-01/27/content_2512873.htm

January 26, 2005

Top news of the day
June 4th – prisoners – Zhao Ziyang (趙紫陽)
Beijing pressures Zhao’s family to accept arrangement for Zhao’s funeral
中国政府向赵紫阳亲属施压，要求接受官方条件
Radio Free Asia, January 25, 2005
It is reported that Beijing has put substantial pressures on the Zhao family in acceptin the conditions and arrangement for Zhao’s funeral, although the Zhao family remains disapprove official commentary on Zhao’s contribution to China.
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/xinwen/2005/01/25/zhaoziyang/

Related news:
Beijing tightens control over mourning activities
北京加緊控制悼念趙紫陽活動
BBCChinese.com, January 25, 2004
http://news.bbc.co.uk/chinese/trad/hi/newsid_4200000/newsid_4205700/4205773.stm

News
Corruption
China monitors officials' kin to curb corruption
Xinhuanet.com, January 26, 2005
Communist Party’s Central Commission for Discipline Inspection vows at a recent party meeting in keep running the initiatives that checking possible corruption of government officials and SOE senior management’s kin for curbing corruption.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-01/26/content_250925
7.htm

Death Penalty
China Spares the Life of Tibetan Monk
AP, 26 January 2005
A Chinese court on Wednesday spared the life of a Tibetan monk, Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche, 54, convicted in a series of fatal bombings, commuting his death sentence to life in prison. He was convicted in December 2002 and given a death sentence with a two-year reprieve, which expired Wednesday.
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=516&u=/ap/20050126/ap_on_re_as/china_tibetan_monk&printer=1

Environment
Hazardous trade is still thriving
SCMP, January 26, 2005
Environmentalists warn that the continue increase of waste trade in China has worsened environmental and health problems.
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZ93WCHJ3E.html

Gender Issues - Abuse
DNA testing in China: eroding wedlock?
Xinhua News Agency, 26 January 2005
In the world of DNA testing, a casual remark about "a handsome child of a homely father" may come as a bad omen in a happy marriage. Noticeable differences between children and their parents, particularly their fathers, sometimes cause suspicion that can escalate into arguments, violence or divorce.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-01/18/content_2475408.htm

Government – governance and accountability
Tightened legislature supervision shapes transparent govt
Xinhuanet.com, January 26, 2005
The government is set to strengthen NPC supervision over provincial government budget to increase accountability and transparency of provincial government.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-01/26/content_250932
7.htm

June 4th – EU arms ban
Beijing Presses Europe to Lift Arms Ban
AP via YahooNews.com, January 26, 2005
Beijing stresses again the arms embargo a “political discrimination” to China, putting pressures on EU to lift its 15-year-old arms band in the midst of US strong opposition.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=516&ncid=7
31&e=10&u=/ap/20050125/ap_on_re_as/china_arms_embargo

Keep the arms embargo against China
The Independent, 26 January 2005
Tony Blair’s claims to a moral arms policy are being drowned out by sad, cynical laughter. Whatever happened to the Labour government’s lofty words on arms policy? Tony Blair declared unequivocally a few years ago: "We don’t sell arms that could be used in human rights abuses.”
http://www.independent.co.uk/

June 4th
China's students changed by Tiananmen
BBC News, 26 January 2005
"Give me democracy or give me death!" read a banner waved by the students who occupied Tiananmen Square, China's political heart, 15 years ago.
Now the campuses are calm and some are empty - their students gone home for Chinese New Year holidays, conveniently out of the way when one of the heroes of the pro-democracy movement, Zhao Ziyang, died in a Beijing hospital on Monday.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4191129.stm

Law – legal profession
Zhuhai abandons life-time employment of judges to encourage competition and efficiency
率先在全国打破法官终身制 珠海法官要竞争上岗
People’s Daily, January 26, 2005
Zhuhai Intermediate People’s Court is set to open over half of judge position for competition to strive for better quality and efficiency of judges, indicating the abandon of life-time employment of judges for the first time in China.
http://legal.people.com.cn/GB/42735/3144248.html

Law- reform
Fifty electronic games banned in China
Xinhua, 26 January 2005
China has banned 50 illegal electronic games in a recent government probe into the electronic publication and software market as part of the effort to protect intellectual property rights and create a good environment for Chinese youth.
http://search.xinhuanet.com/search/xhse.jsp

Migrants - law
Migrants' Rights: Opening Up the System; Fearing unrest among the work force, Beijing is moving to loosen some of the most despise...
Newsweek International, 31 January 2005
Thanks to economic reforms that began in Zhao Ziyang's time, an estimated 140 million rural-born migrants now live and work in Chinese cities, lending energy and cheap labor to China's economic boom. But their right to live in the city is still bedeviled by the rigid Maoist-era registration, or hukou, system that categorizes them as rural residents.
http://www.newsweek.com/

Political Dissidents - detention cases
Tibetan monk 'broken' by China
BBC, 26 January 2005
A Tibetan monk imprisoned by China for nearly three years can no longer walk or speak clearly, according to US-based Human Rights Watch. Tashi Phuntsog, who was released earlier this month, worked with a prominent lama, Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche, whom China has branded a "terrorist".
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4207989.stm

Politics – political reform
Slow, cautious approach to political reform favoured
SCMP, January 26, 2005
A political expert that the leadership would tend to take a gradual and cautious approach to reforming China’s political system, rather than making a drastic change in the governing system.
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZOIMAHJ3E.html

Population – one-child policy
Legislators and experts suggest amending Criminal Law to redress illegal sex identification
人大代表、法学家建议改刑法打击非法性别鉴定
People’s Daily, January 26, 2005
In a meeting, NPC representatives and law experts show their support in outlawing illegal sex identification to redress growing sex ratio imbalances in China.
http://legal.people.com.cn/GB/42731/3145029.html

Public health
More disabled kids after compulsory pre-marital check-up cancelled
强制婚检取消 广东缺陷儿激增
BeijingNews.com, January 26, 2005
Guangdong health officials propose free pre-marital check-up to reduce the birth rate of disabled kids. This is a response to the rising number of disabled kids at birth after compulsory pre-martial check-up was abandoned in the province.
http://www.thebeijingnews.com/news/2005-1-26/20051261480
7.html

Hong Kong – politics
HK free but not so fair, poll finds
SCMP, January 26, 2005
A study conducted by the University of Hong Kong revealed that Hong Kong people seem content about overall enjoyment of freedom, public order, honesty and judicial impartially since the handover, but are unhappy about the growing "unfairness" in the society.
http://hongkong.scmp.com/hknews/ZZZ0Y39HJ3E.html

Tibet
Tibetans forced to back Beijing’s choice of new Panchen (班禪), report says
据报中国要藏民支持北京挑选班禅
Voice of America, January 25, 2005
Chinese officials demands Tibetan officials to follow Beijing’s policy in choosing Tibetan’s next Panchen lama.
http://www1.voanews.com/Chinese/article.cfm?ObjectID=44048
DA1-2C5B-4D77-886FEE74D15DCCF2

North Korea
China demands Beijing Japanese school handover 8 North Koreans
中国要求北京日本学校交出8名朝鲜人
Radio Free Asia, January 25, 2005
Beijing has officially demanded the Beijing Japanese school, where 8 North Koreans takes refuge for seeking asylum from the Japanese government on Monday, to handover the intruders.
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/xinwen/2005/01/25/chaoxian/

January 25, 2005

Top news of the day

Detention – Yang Tianshui (楊天水)
Freelance writer Yang Tianshui releases on bail with the help of lawyer
郭国汀援手 杨天水取保候审获释
Dajiyuan.com, January 25, 2005
Yang Tinshui, a freelance writer and PEN member, has been released on bail after he had been taken away by the police on December 24, 2004 for subversion allegation.
http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/5/1/25/n791985.htm

Resettlement – protest
China hands stiff sentences to 27 Farmers over land seizure protest
Voice of America, January 25, 2005
27 farmers from Sanchawan village in Shaanxi were given stiff jailed terms for protesting against the confiscation of their land with meager compensation.
http://www.voanews.com/english/2005-01-24-voa22.cfm
(Chinese version of the article also available at:
http://www1.voanews.com/Chinese/article.cfm?ObjectID=72AA96D
5-86CD-4BF1-BDA0C914415C3C10 )


News
Death penalty
Two Chinese overseas studies students sentenced to death and life imprisonment for murder in Japan
留学日本杀人 一死刑一无期
BeijingNews.com, January 25, 2005
Yang Ning (楊寧) and Wang Liang (王亮), Chinese students who had studied in Japan, were convicted of murdering a Japanese family. Yang was given a death penalty and Wang was sentenced for life imprisonment.
http://www.thebeijingnews.com/news/2005-1-25/20051251201
1.html

Education-compulsory
China bans beauty contests in schools
AFP, 25 January 2005
China has ordered education authorities and schools across the country to ban beauty contests in schools, state media reported Tuesday.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1214200,00050004.htm

Gender
Cities set up coordinating institutions for protecting women’s rights
大部分地市建立妇女维权协调机构
Legal Daily, January 25, 2005
Institutions for coordinating initiatives for the protection of women’s rights have been setup in 29 provinces, with 2,603 such institution in place at county level.
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/bm/2005-01/25/content_182116.htm

June 4th – EU arms ban
Britain's Straw, Rice Differ on China Arms
AP via YahooNews.com, January 24, 2005
British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw affirmed EU’s intentions to life arms ban on China to the US, despite US’s discontent over the move.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=516&ncid=73
1&e=10&u=/ap/20050124/ap_on_re_as/us_china_europe

China urges EU to end arms ban amid U.S. opposition
Associated Press, 25 January 2005
China criticized Tuesday a 15-year-old European arms embargo as a handicap to normal diplomatic relations, a day after British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said Europe plans to lift the ban despite U.S. opposition.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2005/01/25/international0723EST0490.DTL

June 4th – prisoners – Zhao Ziyang
Zhao's funeral still delayed by wrangle
SCMP, January 25, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZ7CK6HJ3E.html

Media curbs reflect fear of dissent
SCMP, January 25, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chifeatures/ZZZW8LCHJ3E.html

Police detain or arrest dissidents to stop them from paying respect to Zhao
警方用拘捕和软禁制止异议人士前往悼念赵紫阳
Radio Free Asia, January 24, 2005
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2005/01/24/yiyi/

Zhao's Family Resists Beijing Over Funeral
Washington Post Foreign Service, January 25, 2005
The family of Zhao Ziyang is resisting government demands that it surrender control of his funeral and insisting on changes in an official obituary drafted by the party, family friends said Monday.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A32960-2005Jan24?language=printer

Law – legal reform
Information legislation: a response to the quest of harmonious society values
信息立法：回应和谐社会的价值诉求
Legal Daily, January 25, 2005
Legislations on the privacy of personal information and public information disclosure would facilitate a better environment for the protection to individual rights and strengthen government accountability to the citizens.
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/bm/2005-01/25/content_182137.htm

Labor – work safety and conditions
Revision of law to upgrade coal mines
Xinhuanet.com, January 25, 2005
Beijing is prepared to revise a 9-year-old coal mining law, aiming to incorporating more safety standards and efficiency requirements of coal mining in the new legislations.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-01/25/content_2503475.htm

China to revise coal mining law to improve safety
AFP, 25 January 2005
China is to revise its nine-year-old coal mining law to try to improve safety in its notoriously dangerous pits, state media reported Tuesday.
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/theworld/2005/January/theworld_January608.xml&section=theworld&col=

Police – abuse / Law
7 police put on trial for torturing innocent suspect for evidence and setup murder charge
涉嫌刑讯逼供制造冤案 唐山7民警受审
Legal Daily, January 25, 2005
7 police from Tangshan in Hebei province have been put on trial for a wrongful murder charge on an innocent suspect, who was later given a death penalty.
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/bm/2005-01/25/content_182086.htm

Politics – CPC
CPC to strengthen multi-party cooperation
Xinhuanet.com, January 25, 2005
The Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee discusses policy and initiatives in strengthening multi-party-cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of CPC.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-01/25/content_250325
7.htm

Protests and petition / Labour – protests
System No Help to China's Laid-Off Workers
WashingtonPost.com, January 24, 2005
An unemployed worker found no ways to air his plight and discontent over government policy but pleaded with the Chinese President. However, the petitioning system does not seem making public grievances to be heard at the top.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A31138-2005
Jan23.html

Public health
190,000 died of taking wrong medicine
誤用藥喪命 每年19萬
MingPao, January 25, 2005
A survey reveals that 12-25% of patients were found inappropriate use of medicine and over 190,000 were died after taking wrong medicine.
http://full.mingpaonews.com/20050125/t_ccd1.htm

Public health – HIV aids
Doctors refused to treat a suspected aids patient
內地醫院趕走愛滋病人
MingPao, January 25, 2005
Doctors at a Heilongjiang hospital refused to conduct operation of a patient as they suspected the patient carried HIV aids.
http://full.mingpaonews.com/20050125/t_cca1.htm

Social security
Deputies call on gov't to step up social security
China Daily, January 25, 2005
Beijing Legislators called for a rise of social security payment, demonstrating government’s commitments in improving conditions for poverty-stricken retired workers, farmers and farmer-turned workers.
http://www2.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-01/25/content_
411847.htm

Tibet
Tibetan Monk's Followers Hope for his Release
Radio Free Asia, January 24, 2005
Supporters of a jailed Tibetan monk, Tenzin Delek Rimpoche, urge the Chinese government to rescind his death penalty, after one of the monk’s disciples has been freed recently.
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/social/2005/01/24/tibetan_monk/

Xinjiang
Xinjiang bus blast blamed on disgruntled coal miner
SCMP, January 25, 2005
Police has confirmed that the bus blast that killed 11 last Thursday had nothing to do with Muslims separatist attacks, but was set off by a man dissatisfied with compensation for a work-related injury.
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZVYIAHJ3E.html