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 25, 2005

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
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Monday, January 24, 2005

January 22-24, 2005

Top news of the day

June 4th – prisoners – Zhao Ziyang (趙紫陽)
Organizers of march to mourn Zhao detained
多维追击：组织前往赵紫阳故居游行发起人遭羁押
Chinesenewsnet.com, January 23, 2005
The wife of former student leader Zhao Xin (趙昕) said her husband had been taken away by police for Zhao’s application for organizing a march in Beijing mourning Zhao Ziyang’s death.
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/SinoNews/Mainl
and/2005_1_23_3_24_38_795.html

Police – abuse / human rights
55 government officials investigated for human rights violations in Guangxi
广西查处侵犯人权犯罪案55件55人
People’s Daily, January 24, 2005
55 government officials, including police officers, are under investigation by the Guangxi procuratorate bureau for human rights violations such as arbitrary detention of farmers who fail to pay fines for violating one-child policy, and forced confession to suspects.
http://legal.people.com.cn/GB/42735/3139885.html



News

Corruption
Two BOC staff flee after 1b yuan goes missing
SCMP, January 24, 2005
At least two officials of the Bank of China are believed to have fled the country after being involved in the embezzlement of up to 1 billion yuan.
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZ0TG6HJ3E.html

Cadres' relatives in graft firing line
SCMP, January 22, 2005
Party members will be required to report the overseas travel and employment of their family members, revealing the government’s latest anti-corruption efforts.
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZMWMCHJ3E.html

Death penalty
Death sentences for nine Henan gangsters
SCMP, January 24, 2005
Nine members of one of the mainland’s biggest gangs were sentenced to death by a Hunan court for crimes ranging from murders to running triad organizations.
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZQWMCHJ3E.html

Fuzhou tycoon Chen Kai sentenced to death
福州首富陈凯组织卖淫获死刑
Chinesenewsnet.com, January 23, 2005
Chen Kai (陈凯), the wealthiest man in Fuzhou, and his triad gang were convicted of a range of organized criminal offences including fraud, abduction, drug trade, and etc. Chen was given a death penalty.
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/SinoNews/Mainl
and/2005_1_23_7_31_2_700.html

Disaster
Disaster forecasting system to be upgraded
Xinhuanet.com, January 22, 2005
China’s early warning system for weather disaster is to be upgraded this year, with efforts focusing on six major areas such as calamity monitoring, public broadcasting, disaster assessment and emergency response.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-01/22/content_249456
1.htm

Human rights – bilateral ties
With might comes rights: Canada PM
SCMP, January 22, 2005
Canada Prime Minister Paul Martin urges China to respect human rights as it is one of the new obligations for China’s rise in economic and political power in the international arena.
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZPVMCHJ3E.html

US says China's human rights record remains an issue to be dealt with
AFX via YahooNews.com, January 23, 2005
US urged China to improve its human rights record as human rights issue remains a stumbling block of Sino-US relations.
http://uk.biz.yahoo.com/050123/323/favid.html

June 4th – EU arms ban
Straw ties arms exports to rights
SCMP, January 22, 2005
British emphasizes code of conduct on arms exports, in particular to human rights, stability and security in the region, and the security of friendly and allied countries remain the key consideration for lifting EU arms ban on China.
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZUKDAHJ3E.html

June 4th – prisoners – Zhao Ziyang (趙紫陽)
Funeral plans for Zhao still in dispute
SCMP, January 24, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZAKW8HJ3E.html

Hundreds brave snow to pay tribute
SCMP, January 24, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZ6KW8HJ3E.html

Ceremony gives leaders perfect chance to show new colours
SCMP, January 24, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZ4DFAHJ3E.html

Mainlanders join mass memorial for Zhao
SCMP, January 22, 2005
http://www.scmp.com/topnews/ZZZEBU8HJ3E.html

Group of party elders urge leaders to grant proper funeral honours
SCMP, January 22, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZ6LDAHJ3E.html

Thousands in Hong Kong Mourn China's Zhao
香港万余市民烛光集会悼念赵紫阳
Voice of America, January 22, 2005
http://www1.voanews.com/Chinese/article.cfm?objectID=EE5EE6D7
-9AD3-43B5-9079B801CF100468&title=%CF%E3%B8%DB%CD%F2
%D3%E0%CA%D0%C3%F1%D6%F2%B9%E2%BC%AF%BB%E1%B5%
BF%C4%EE%D5%D4%D7%CF%D1%F4%2805%C4%EA1%D4%C222%
C8%D5%29&catOID=C283D8A3-4AB3-11D5-8EC2009027ACC5C2&c
ategoryname=National%20News

Labour – industrial accidents
19 died in three coal mine blasts
中国三起矿难死亡19人
Radio Free Asia, January 22, 2005
19 reported died in coal mine blasts in Liaoning, Gansu and Yunnan on January 20 and 21.
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/xinwen/2005/01/22/kuangnan/

Media - reform
More efforts urged to crack down on illegal publications in 2005
Xinhuanet.com, January 22, 2005
The crack down on pornography and illegal publications in 2005 is seen as the government’s prime task in advancing reform in the media.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-01/22/content_249588
9.htm

Natural resources and energies
Power shortage causes blackouts nationwide
Xinhuanet.com, January 22, 2005
21 Chinese provincial power grids oblige to impose blackouts since this January due to the surging demand for power caused by cold weather and rapid economic growth.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-01/22/content_249451
5.htm

Politics / Society
Excerpted article from Chinese News Week: public opinions slowly gaining influence in government policy-making?
中国新闻周刊：民意诉求开始悄悄影响政府决策？
Chinesenewsnet.com, January 24, 2005
Given the growing importance of public consultation meeting across China, it appears to show the increasing influence of public opinions in a modern style of policy-making in China.
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/SinoNews/Mainl
and/zxs_2005-01-24_532242.shtml

Religion – Falungong
Reformed Falun Gong followers renounce faith in jail
SCMP, January 24, 2005
Liu Yunfang, a devoted Falungong follower who had set himself on fire in the name of Falungong and now serving a life sentence, denounced the religious group and confessed the wrongdoing against the government, reported in an interview arranged by the authority.
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZYCFAHJ3E.html

Rural issues / Government – fiscal
Rural districts get big slice of budget
SCMP, January 24, 2005
Beijing will allocate half of the city government’s budget, or an increase of 67.4% from last year, on developing rural areas this year as a way to solve resource shortages in the poor rural areas.
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZR0PCHJ3E.html

Rural issues / land policy
40-50 million rural farmers now landless
中国失地农民约四千万至五千万人
Chinesenewnet.com, January 23, 2005
It is estimated that 40 to 50 million rural farmers are now landless, with the group believed to be increased 2 to 3 million annually.
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/SinoNews/Mainl
and/cna_2005_01_23_00_38_02_763.html

Xinjiang
Xinjiang bus blast that killed 11 was man-made, officials say
SCMP, January 22, 2005
Police confirmed the bus blast that killed 11 people in Xinjiang last Thursday a man-made incident.
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZ28E6HJ3E.html

Friday, January 21, 2005

January 21, 2005


Top news of the day

Corruption
Corruption claims lead to sacking
SCMP, January 21, 2005
Liu Tao (劉濤), vice chairman of the Shenzhen People’s Political Consultative Conference, is sacked over corruption charge.
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZVP9AHJ3E.html

Xinjiang
Two blasts kill 13, injure 18 in Xinjiang
SCMP, January 21, 2005
13 people were killed and 18 injured in two separate explosions in Xinjiang yesterday. Police speculates that the tragedies may be related to separatist attack.
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZN5JCHJ3E.html


News
Bilaterals-Canada/China
Martin gently chides China on rights
The Globe and Mail, 21 January 2005
China is making considerable strides in reducing abuses of human rights, Paul Martin said yesterday.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/

Gender – discrimination / Education
Education bureau may relax control over marriage and the giving birth of university students
教育部拟规定高校不干涉大学生婚育
China Youth Online, January 21, 2005
Education bureau considers lifting a ban that outlaws marriage and giving birth of female high school and university students. The move is believed to free women from making a choice between marriage and education.
http://news.cyol.com/gb/news/2005-01/21/content_1020991.htm

Gender – sexuality
Yes, gay men are at risk in China
International Herald Tribune, January 21, 2005
Although the government has taken note of the high risk of its 20 million gay population for contracting and transmitting HIV aids, measures in preventing the disease for this socially marginalized group are far from enough.
http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/01/20/opinion/edsettle.html

June 4th – EU arms ban
Tokyo fights push to lift arms ban
SCMP, January 21, 2005
Japan aired discontent over EU’s likely move to the lifting of arms embargo against China for fears of increasing tensions in the region.
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZ6UA6HJ3E.html


June 4th – prisoners – Zhao Ziyang
Home becomes a site of pilgrimage
SCMP, January 21, 2005
A steady stream people came to pay their respects to Zhao at his home in Wangfujing after the government had given green light to public mourning to the former leader.
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZIUA6HJ3E.html


Law
Contemporary criminal law and the protection to human rights
当代刑法与人权保障
Legal Daily, January 20, 2005
Legal experts emphasized that human rights protection is an inherent feature in contemporary criminal law and a foundation to the constitution.
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/bm/2005-01/20/content_180283.htm

Protests and Petitions
A Chinese Court Sentences Farmers Who Protested a Land Seizure
The New York Times, 21 January 2005
The Sanqin Metro Daily, a state-controlled newspaper in the provincial capital of Xian, reported this week that 6 of 27 arrested protesters were given long sentences, including 15 years for a protest leader, Gao Lading.
www.nytimes.com

Protesters scuffle with police as Shanghai ends government meeting
AP, 21 January 2005
The protest took place across the street from the Shanghai Exhibition Center on Nanjing West Road, where legislators were meeting in preparation for the annual meeting of China's parliament in March.
www.ap.org

Political dissidents – imprisonment – Yang Jiangli (楊建利)
Wife of Boston-Based Dissident Jailed
AP via YahooNews.com, January 21, 2005
The wife of jailed dissident Yang Jiangli (楊建利) plans to seek medical parole of his husband who has been convicted of spying and illegal entry in 2003.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=516&ncid=731
&e=10&u=/ap/20050120/ap_on_re_as/china_jailed_dissident

Political Dissidents-Detention Cases
South Korean missionary to sue China in US court over imprisonment: report
Agence France Presse, 21 January 2005
Kim Hee-Tae, a South Korean missionary who was detained for two years in a Chinese prison on charges of aiding North Korean defectors, plans to sue the Chinese government in a United States court, Yonhap news agency reported Friday.
www.afp.com

Poverty
Getting attention the key to get access to poverty funds
“扶贫托儿”
Nanfang Weekend, January 20, 2005
A rural villager earns the reputation to get 1 million poverty funds for the
village after he succeeded to get attention from the authority for persistence in “crying” out the plights of the village.
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/zm/20050120/xw/szxw2/2005
01200014.asp

Protests and petitions
Will the new regulations on petitions invite more petitioning activities in the future?
新信访条例会否带来新一轮信访洪峰
Nanfang Weekend, January 20, 2005
Experts say the new regulations on petitions give explicit reference to the right to protect petitioners and that may encourage a new wave of petitioning activities in the future.
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/zm/20050120/xw/szxw1/20050
1200007.asp

Thursday, January 20, 2005

January 20, 2005

Top news of the day

June 4th – Prisoners – Zhao Ziyang (趙紫陽)
China to hold funeral for deposed leader Zhao Ziyang
AFP via YahooNews.com, January 20, 2005
Beijing is to hold a funeral for the purged leader Zhao for opposing the Tiananmen crackdown in 1989, but it is yet to announce whether top officials would be allowed to attend.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/afp/20050120/
wl_asia_afp/chinatiananmenpolitics





News
Bilaterals-China/Canada
Canada and China agree to expand annual dialogues on human rights issues
By ALEXA OLESEN, AP, 20 January 2005
BEIJING (AP) - Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao agreed to expand their annual dialogues on human rights issues during talks Thursday which also included overseeing the signing of a broad energy cooperation pact.
China launches crackdown on power plant polluters.
www.ap.org

Children – abuse (trafficking)
The crackdown of child trafficking gangs in Yunnan
云南:艰难反击贩童黑帮
Nanfang Daily, January 20, 2005
Child trafficking gangs in Yunnan take all forms of tactics to kidnap children, which effectively undermines efforts in hunting down the gangs.
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/southnews/jwxy/200501200024
.asp

Corruption
Officials stand trial over 5.9m yuan corruption case
SCMP, January 20, 2005
Gong Jiquan, former deputy secretary-general of Chengdu, Sichuan, has been put on trial for corruption yesterday.
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZW076HJ3E.html

Death penalty
Murderer of nine students in Henan executed
汝州砍杀九学生案主犯伏法
BeijingNews.com, January 20, 2005
Yan Yanming, 21-year-old, has been executed in Henan for murderer charges of 9 high-school students in last November.
http://www.thebeijingnews.com/news/2005-1-20/200512054419.
html

Detention – Li Baiguang (李栢光)
Featured article: the setup of the detention of rights defender Li Baiguang
俞梅荪：维权博士李柏光被捕案的台前幕后
Chinesenewsnet.com, January 20, 2005
Rights defender Li Baiquang is detained for his persistence efforts in helping farmers defending their rights over government land deals.
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/Opinion/2005_1_
19_15_22_44_19.html

Education
35% of student unable to pay school fee, but poverty not the main reason
35％的学生欠交学费　贫困并非主要原因
People’s Daily, January 20, 2005
An investigation reveals that many high school students are unable to pay school fee due to many reasons, with poverty playing a small role.
http://society.people.com.cn/GB/1063/3132273.html

Environment
Watchdog faced huge pressure to allow dams
SCMP, January 20, 2005
Environment bureau has called for a halt to 30 large industrial projects despite strong oppositions.
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZ9FN8HJ3E.html


Government – governance and accountability
China to institute a responsibility system for major decision-making errors
People’s Daily, January 20, 2005
Beijing has stepped up effort in advancing efficiency of SOEs by institutionalizing a responsibility system for management’s wrongful decisions.
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200501/19/eng20050119_1711
74.html

June 4th – arms ban
EU policy on China set to create tensions with US
Financial Times, January 20, 2005
EU’s plans to life the arms embargo on China would create tensions with the US.
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/fef3cde4-698e-11d9-81e7-00000e2511
c8.html

Don't Let China Off The Hook
The Washington Post, 20 January 2005
The European Union should pause in its determined march to lift the arms embargo that it imposed against China for the Tiananmen Square killings of 1989. Europe is set to prove the wrong guys right about the world's willingness to put aside outrage over human rights atrocities when business beckons.
www.washingtonpost.com

Japan urges Britain not to lift EU arms embargo on China
AP, 20 January 2005
TOKYO (AP) - British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw faced opposition from Tokyo Thursday to lifting the European Union's arms embargo on China as he headed for a visit to discuss the matter with officials in Beijing.
www.ap.org


June 4th – prisoners – Zhao Ziyang
HK media monitored lest it set off unrest
SCMP, January 20, 2005
http://hongkong.scmp.com/hknews/ZZZPEN8HJ3E.html

With heavy heart, hundreds in HK remember Zhao Ziyang
SCMP, January 20, 2005
http://hongkong.scmp.com/hknews/ZZZLOFCHJ3E.html

Featured article: mourning of the death of Zhao a violation of the Basic Law?
汤家骅：悼念赵紫阳违《基本法》？
Chinesenewsnet.com, January 20, 2005
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/Opinion/2005_1_
19_16_5_59_727.html

Featured article: Zhao and the ruling of the Chinese Constitutions
趙紫陽問題和依憲治國
Asia Times Online, January 19, 2005
http://www.atchinese.com/2005/01/0119rep.htm

June 4th dissidents closely monitored
北京严密监控六四异议人士
Voice of America, January 19, 2005
http://www1.voanews.com/Chinese/article.cfm?objectID=43AE7E4
A-2D85-4535-87E109FBF5173543&title=%B1%B1%BE%A9%D1%C
F%C3%DC%BC%E0%BF%D8%C1%F9%CB%C4%D2%EC%D2%E9%
C8%CB%CA%BF%2805%C4%EA1%D4%C219%C8%D5%29&catOID
=C283D8A3-4AB3-11D5-8EC2009027ACC5C2&categoryname=Nat
ional%20News

Dissident among few allowed to pay respects
SCMP, January 20, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZ8076HJ3E.html

Labour – industrial accidents / Government – governance and accountability
High-ranking provincial official penalized for grim coal mine blast
People’s Daily, January 20, 2005
Shi Jichun, deputy governor of Henan Province, was given an administrative warning for his mishandling in a cola mine blast last October, which caused 148 death.
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200501/20/eng20050120_17
1219.html

Law-Legal Reform
China disciplines 719 lawyers, vows stricter rules on law firms
Xinhua's China Economic Information Service, 20 January 2005
BEIJING, January 20 (CEIS) -- China disciplined 719 lawyers in 2004 and vowed to enforce stricter rules on law firms to head off malpractice in 2005, according to the Ministry of Justice.
www.factiva.com

Political dissidents – imprisonment - Yang Jiangli (楊建利)
US senators urge Beijing to release Yang Jiangli
美议员吁北京放杨建利
Voice of America, January 19, 2005
US Senators calls for the release of Yang Jiangli on his 1000th day of arrest.
http://www1.voanews.com/Chinese/article.cfm?objectID=910D65A0
-B2C3-49D4-9117BBC712A5BEC5&title=%C3%C0%D2%E9%D4%B1
%D3%F5%B1%B1%BE%A9%B7%C5%D1%EE%BD%A8%C0%FB%280
5%C4%EA1%D4%C219%C8%D5%29

Wife of Boston-based dissident jailed in China allowed to see him for first time since arrest
AP, 20 January 2005
Associated Press Newswires
BEIJING (AP) - The wife of a Boston-based democracy activist (Yang Jianli)
jailed in China said on Thursday she plans to seek medical parole for her husband after seeing him for the first time since he was detained in 2002.
www.ap.org

Public health – HIV aids
School fee exemption for young aids patients in Guangdong
青少年艾滋病感染者可免学费
People’s Daily, January 20, 2005
Guangdong government announced that young aids patients and children of HIV patients are entitled to school fee exemption and dismissals of aids student from schools are illegal.
http://society.people.com.cn/GB/1062/3132432.html

Rural issues
Villager beat to death after suggesting public accounting in village meeting
村民一建议竟遭村官雇凶当街打死
Dajiyuan.com, January 20, 2005
A villager in Shunyang is beaten to death by a group of people employed by the village officials after he had suggested the disclosure of village accounts in a village meeting.
http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/5/1/20/n786629.htm

Wednesday, January 19, 2005

January 19, 2005

Top news of the day

June 4th – prisoners – Zhao Ziyang (趙紫陽)
Mourning of Zhao’s death blocked in Shanghai and Beijing
哀悼赵紫阳 北京拦截 上海抓捕
Dajiyuan.com, January 19, 2005
Human Rights in China (HRIC) revealed that public was blocked paying respect to Zhao in Beijing and Shanghai.
http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/5/1/19/n785648.htm

Beijing Speaks Ill of Fallen Chief, but Private Mourning Is Allowed
New York Times, 19 January 2005 (JOSEPH KAHN)
Private services were held at Zhao Ziyang’s residence. Plainclothes police officers surrounded the site and occupied intersections of nearby thoroughfares, but a steady stream of well-wishers were allowed to visit.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/19/international/asia/19zhao.html

(For more news, refer the updated Special News Brief on Zhao Ziyang’s death)


News

Border Issues-North Korea
N. Korean Abduction Squad Roams Freely Through China
Chosun Ilbo, 19 January 2005
North Korea's State Safety and Security Agency operates an abduction squad in China to kidnap North Korean defectors and South Koreans helping them there. The abduction squad can commit such atrocities on Chinese soil because China looks the other way.
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200501/20050119
0043.html

Corruption
Former vice-governor arrested for corruption
SCMP, January 19, 2005
Li Dachang, former governor of Sichuan, has been arrested for embezzling public funds amounted to 100 million yuan.
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZ9S2AHJ3E.html

Huge haul of bogus invoices
SCMP, January 19, 2005
Heifang government has uncovered fake invoices totaling 700 million yuan in a large scale investigation over local government finances.
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZSLK8HJ3E.html

Death penalty
Shaanxi Chief Procurator Chen Peng (陳平) sentenced to death for corruption
咸阳秦都区检察院原检察长涉嫌受贿被判死刑
EastDay.com, January 19, 2005
Chief Procurator Chen Peng of Xianyang Country, Shaanxi is sentenced to death for corruption and intended murder.
http://china.eastday.com/eastday/news/node37955/node37957/node
37979/node47309/userobject1ai809810.html

Killer of nine students in central China executed
Xinhua News Agency, 20 January 2005
Yan Yanming, a 21-year-old man who killed nine senior high school students and injured four others, was executed Tuesday in Pingdingshan City in central China's Henan province.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-01/20/content_2483786.htm

June 4th-Arms Sales
EU will have to 'manage' tensions with US over China arms sales: Straw
AFP, 19 January 2005
LONDON (AFP) - Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said the European Union would have to work to ease tensions with the United States over the likely lifting of an embargo on arms sales to China, a move opposed by Washington.
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1538&u=/afp/20050119/wl_uk_afp/euchinabritain
arms&printer=1

Law – legal profession
Beijing takes tough measures to law firms on bribery practices and ambiguous fee charges
司法部严惩律师行贿法官行为和乱收费现象
People’s Daily, January 19, 2005
Ministry of Justice vows to be tough on law firms over bribery and misappropriate fee charges after revealing that 719 lawyers and 213 law firms had been punished on disciplinary charges in 2004.
http://legal.people.com.cn/GB/42735/3128537.html

Media – internet
Internet survey reveals 94 million internet users in China with average usage of 13.2 hours per week
CNNIC:中国网民总数达9400万 每周上网13.2小时
EastDay.com, January 19, 2005
According to a report published by the China National Network Information Center, there are over 94 million internet users in China, or 8% increase as compared with last year.
http://china.eastday.com/eastday/news/node37955/node37957/node
37979/node47309/userobject1ai809669.html

Media – press freedom
China condemned over Canadian PM visa row
SCMP, January 19, 2005
Reporters Without Borders condemns China for barring two Toronto-based Chinese journalist to enter China for a press assignment.
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZEW46HJ3E.html

Politics – CPC
Party launches education campaign to consolidate ruling status
Xinhuanet.com, January 19, 2005
China Communist Party launched a meeting to educate members for advancing party ruling status in the country.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-01/19/content_2481108.htm

Religion
China recognizes relgion as a right
Reuters, December 20, 2004
Officially atheist China, has announced new rules enshrining religious belief as a basic human right. The set of comprehensive administrative rules "specify that the legitimate rights of religious groups, religious sites and the religious people are protected," it said.
http://www.iht.com/bin/print_ipub.php?file=/articles/2004/12/19/
news/china-4661925.html

Tuesday, January 18, 2005

January 18, 2005


Top news of the day

June 4th – prisoners – Zhao Ziyang (趙紫陽)
State media ignores reformist's death
SCMP, January 18, 2005
Beijing released a brief statement on Zhao’s death, but silenced discussion of the topic on internet.
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZMF06HJ3E.html

China defends 1989 crackdown, dismissal of sympathetic party leader
AP, 18 January 2005 (JOE McDONALD)
China on Tuesday defended its 1989 decision to depose former Communist Party leader Zhao Ziyang, indicating there were no plans to honor him in death.
http://www.ap.org


(Please also see Special News Brief on Zhao’s death)


Protests and petitions
Petitioners can lead to criminal charge for outrages behavior
过激信访构成犯罪将究刑责
People’s Daily, January 18, 2005
The new petition regulations reserve the right to put petitioners on criminal charge for outranges acts.
http://politics.people.com.cn/GB/1026/3126582.html


News

Death penalty
Complete abolishment of death penalty still hard in today's China
People’s Daily, January 17, 2005
China may gradually reduce application of death penalty, but a complete abolishment remains difficult in China.
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200501/17/eng20050117_17087
9.html

Education
Education in rural areas should meet their practical needs
乡村需要适应实际生活的“活教育”
China Youth Daily, January 18, 2005
Experts said the realization of 9-year compulsory education is important, but the realization should not be bound by the time, but the flexible and practical content.
http://zqb.cyol.com/gb/zqb/2005-01/18/content_1017647.htm

Environment
Water diverted into Pearl River system to ease salinity problem
SCMP, January 18, 2005
Guangdong authorities began to diverting 900 million cubic meters water into the Pearl River Delta System attempting to ease a water salinity problem in neighboring cities.
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZFYY9HJ3E.html

Food security
China to tighten control on grain production
Xinhuanet.com, January 18, 2005
Although grain production increased in 2004, government would continue to tighten control on grain production through macro-economic policy.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-01/18/content_2474404.htm

Government – governance and accountability (law)
Draft regulations on disclosing public information to submit to State Council
政府信息公开条例完成草案起草 并上报到国务院
Chinesenewsnet.com, January 18, 2005
Draft regulations on public information disclosure will be submitted to the State Council for study.
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/SinoNews/Mainland/
zxs_2005-01-18_529567.shtml

Human rights – education
People's Daily launches special column to boost human rights education
People’s Daily, January 17, 2005
People’s Daily, a state newspaper, starts to run a column focusing on human rights education since mid January to increase public awareness on human rights issues in China.
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200501/17/eng20050117_170886.html

Labour – work safety and conditions
Watchdog vows to cut workplace fatalities
Xinhuanet.com, January 18, 2005
Work Safety bureau targets dangerous occupations and sectors such as mining and road traffic to improve work safety conditions and reduce fatal accidents.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-01/18/content_2474376.htm

Political Dissidents

Dissidents under surveillance after death of ousted Chinese leader Zhao
AFP, 18 January 2005
Dissidents and civil rights campaigners said Tuesday the government is watching them more closely after the death of deposed Chinese leader Zhao Ziyang, preventing them from holding commemorative activities.
www.afp.com

Help China's prisoners of conscience
SCMP, 18 January 2005
Tomorrow, Chinese pro-democracy activist and US permanent resident Yang Jianli will be spending his 1,000th day in detention in a Beijing prison.
www.scmp.com

Uighur writer in China arrested for a short story advocating independence
AFP, 18 January 2005
Nurmehemmet Yasin was detained by state security agents in November after he published in the review "Literature in Kashgar", a short story entitled "The Blue Pigeon" advocating independence for Uighurs.
www.afp.com

Public health
Beijing attempts to draft nutrition law as anxiety grows on Chinese’s nutrition conditions
我国居民营养问题日益突出 政府酝酿营养立法
EastDay.com, January 18, 2005
The government considers promulgating regulation on nutrition to ease the worsening nutrition conditions of the general public
http://china.eastday.com/eastday/news/node37955/node37957/node
37979/node47160/userobject1ai804356.html

Resettlement – protests
Police detain housing protesters
SCMP, January 18, 2005
Shanghai police detailed dozens of protesting over housing compensation outside the city’s legislative building yesterday.
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZ8LH8HJ3E.html


Special News Brief on Zhao Ziyang's Death

Mourning of Zhao’s death blocked in Shanghai and Beijing
哀悼赵紫阳 北京拦截 上海抓捕
Dajiyuan.com, January 19, 2005
http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/5/1/19/n785648.htm

News agency says Liu Xiaobo forced to stay home
合众社：刘晓波已被禁止离开家门
Chinesenewsnet.com, January 19, 2005
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/SinoNews/Mainland/
2005_1_18_23_12_1_936.html

Interview with Wang Dan speaking about Zhao, June 4th and the Communist Party
【专访】王丹谈赵紫阳、六四与中共
Dajiyuan.com, January 19, 2005
http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/5/1/19/n785015.htm

Aide barred from paying respects
SCMP, January 19, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZJL36HJ3E.html

Why Premier Wan did not visit former boss?
为甚么温家宝不去探望赵紫阳
Dajiyuan.com, January 19, 2005
http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/5/1/19/n785618.htm

Outspoken professor raps official response to Zhao death
SCMP, January 19, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZD9CCHJ3E.html

We were right to banish Zhao in 1989, says Beijing
SCMP, January 19, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZXXCCHJ3E.html

Media curbs reflect fear of dissent
SCMP, January 19, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZTS2AHJ3E.html

Public mourning of Zhao’s death banned on internet
多维追击：官方禁公开悼念「网上灵堂」祭亡魂
Chinesenewsnet.com, January 19, 2005 http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/Forums/BackStage/
2005_1_18_20_53_16_376.html

Beijing Speaks Ill of Fallen Chief, but Private Mourning Is Allowed
New York Times, January 19, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/19/international/asia/19zhao.
html?oref=login

State media ignores reformist's death
SCMP, January 18, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZMF06HJ3E.html

The reformist premier who ended his life as a prisoner
SCMP, January 18, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZVYY9HJ3E.html

A need to address a raw political wound
SCMP, January 18, 2005
http://www.scmp.com/topnews/ZZZFXY9HJ3E.html

In death, Zhao Ziyang is 'finally free'
SCMP, January 18, 2005
http://www.scmp.com/topnews/ZZZKTG8HJ3E.html

His legacy of reform will live on, say analysts
SCMP, January 18, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZNYY9HJ3E.html

History will favour man who opposed crackdown
SCMP, January 18, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZRL8CHJ3E.html

In his words
SCMP, January 18, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZ7M8CHJ3E.html

Wang Dan: it is unfair to ignoring Zhao’s contribution to economic and political reforms
王丹：忽略赵紫阳经改贡献并不公平
Chinesenewsnet.com, January 18, 2005
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/SinoNews/Mainland
/2005_1_17_14_2_8_942.html

Tiananmen Mothers: we are saddened with the death of Zhao Ziyang
丁子霖等天安门母亲：痛悼赵紫阳先生
Chinesenewsnet.com, January 17, 2005
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/Opinion/2005_1_17
_11_48_50_958.html

Hong Kong politicians and public opinion in favour of a review of June 4th
多维追击：香港政坛及民间促平反六四
Chinesenewsnet.com, January 18, 2005
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/SinoNews/Hongkong/
2005_1_17_18_1_49_28.html

Security tight in Beijing after death of purged Chinese leader Zhao
AFP via YahooNews, January 18, 2005
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1530&
amp;ncid=731&e=4&u=/afp/20050118/wl_asia_afp/chinatiananmen
politics

Zhao's Death Presents Dilemma for China
AP via YahooNews, January 18, 2005
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=516&am
p;ncid=731&e=10&u=/ap/20050117/ap_on_re_as/china_political_ti
ghtrope

Family of China's Zhao Forgoes State Funeral: Source
Reuters via YahooNews, January 18, 2005
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20050118/
wl_nm/china_zhao_funeral_dc_1

Vice president visits Zhao at hospital to calm public opinion
領導人探趙 緩民情爭民心
MingPao, January 18, 2005
http://full.mingpaonews.com/20050118/gaa2r.htm

Chinese warily mourn purged leader Zhao
Guardian, January 18, 2005
http://www.guardian.co.uk/china/story/0,7369,1392809,00.html?g
usrc=rss

Aide to Late Chinese Party Boss Lashes Out at Regime
Radio Free Asia, January 17, 2005
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/2005/01/17/china_baotong/

Liu Qing: Zhao was like given a life imprisonment
刘青：政府等于判赵紫阳无期徒刑
Voice of America, January 17, 2005
http://www1.voanews.com/Chinese/article.cfm?objectID=8EAE22F
2-B1F7-482D-AF890B4AE43740A3&title=%C1%F5%C7%E0%A3%
BA%D5%FE%B8%AE%B5%C8%D3%DA%C5%D0%D5%D4%D7%CF
%D1%F4%CE%DE%C6%DA%CD%BD%D0%CC%2805%C4%EA1%D4
%C217%C8%D5%29&catOID=C283D8A3-4AB3-11D5-8EC2009027
ACC5C2&categoryname=National%20News#

Zhao Ziyang and China’s political and economic reforms
赵紫阳与中国政经改革
Voice of America, January 17, 2005
http://www1.voanews.com/Chinese/article.cfm?objectID=9F42707A-
6F51-4D7A-BFE7831BD4BD9004&title=%D5%D4%D7%
CF%D1%F4%D3%EB%D6%D0%B9%FA%D5%FE%BE%AD%B8%C4%B8
%EF%2805%C4%EA1%D4%C217%C8%D5%29&catOID=C283D8A3-4A
B3-11D5-8EC2009027ACC5C2&categoryname=National%20News

香港民主界学界对赵紫阳逝世反应
Voice of America, January 17, 2005
http://www1.voanews.com/Chinese/article.cfm?objectID=F4060C02-
41C1-46EF-AEAFAB5B4FB56845&Title=%CF%E3%B8%DB%C3%F1%
D6%F7%BD%E7%D1%A7%BD%E7%B6%D4%D5%D4%D7%CF%D1%F4
%CA%C5%CA%C0%B7%B4%D3%A6%2805%C4%EA1%D4%C217%C8%
D5%29&db=current&CatOID=C283D8A3-4AB3-11D5-8
EC2009027ACC5C2&Categoryname=National%20News

Analysis: the legacy of Zhao to China’s politics
分析：赵紫阳留宝贵政治遗产
Voice of America, January 17, 2005
http://www1.voanews.com/Chinese/article.cfm?objectID=F9474D6
2-6CC9-4638-8C825F981AA4D53C&Title=%B7%D6%CE%F6%A3%
BA%D5%D4%D7%CF%D1%F4%C1%F4%B1%A6%B9%F3%D5%FE%
D6%CE%D2%C5%B2%FA%2805%C4%EA1%D4%C217%C8%D5%29&db=current&CatOID=C283D8A3-4AB3-11D5-8EC
2009027ACC5C2&Categoryname=National%20News

Taiwan’s reaction to Zhao’s death
台湾对赵紫阳逝世反应
Voice of America, January 17, 2005
http://www1.voanews.com/Chinese/article.cfm?objectID=3C7EFD0
0-03F1-4720-B6C60877B4915D44&title=%CC%A8%
CD%E5%B6%D4%D5%D4%D7%CF%D1%F4%CA%C5%CA%C0%B7%
B4%D3%A6%2805%C4%EA1%D4%C217%C8%D5%29&catOID=C2
83D8A3-4AB3-11D5-8EC2009027ACC5C2&categoryname=Na
tional%20News

Beijing’s comment on Zhao a test to the political wisdom of leadership
趙紫陽評價: 考驗胡溫政治智慧
Asia Times Online, January 17, 2005
http://www.atchinese.com/2005/01/0117rep2.htm

Public opinion on internet over Zhao’s death in low profile
趙紫陽逝世 大陸網民低調
Asia Times Online, January 17, 2005
http://www.atchinese.com/2005/01/0117rep5.htm

Zhao Ziyang passes away at 85
Xinhuanet.com, January 17, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-01/17/content_2469618.htm

China Gives Zhao's Death Scant Notice
New York Times, January 18, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/18/international/asia/18zhao.html?ex=1263704400&en=5af638704a244a34&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt

Beijing warns on Zhao reaction
CNN, January 18, 2005
http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/01/17/china.zhao.willy
lam/index.html

Zhao: Symbol of shattered hopes
CNN, January 18, 2005
http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/01/17/zhao.obit.ap/in
dex.html

The Prisoner of Conscience: Zhao Ziyang, 1919-2005
Times Magazine, January 18, 2005
http://www.time.com/time/asia/news/article/0,9754,1018129,00.ht
ml?cnn=yes

Ex-Chinese Communist Leader Zhao Dies
AP via YahooNews.com, January 17, 2005
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=516&am
p;ncid=731&e=2&u=/ap/20050117/ap_on_re_as/obit_zhao_ziyang

Beijing on high alert after the death of Zhao
赵紫阳逝世 北京料将高度戒备
Chinesenewsnet.com, January 17, 2005
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/SinoNews/Mainl
and/cna_2005_01_16_22_38_02_084.html

China Confirms Death of Zhao Ziyang
Reuters via YahooNews.com, January 17, 2005
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20050117/wl_n
m/china_zhao_dc_6

Rights group persists in the appeal for getting Zhao Ziyang Nobel Peace Prize
人权组织继续为赵紫阳争取诺贝尔和平奖
Chinesenewsnet.com, January 14, 2005
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/Forums/BackStage
/2005_1_13_19_41_49_318.html

No coverage on ex-communist chief Zhao’s health conditions in Chinese media
中国媒体没有报道前中共总书记赵紫阳的近况
Radio Free Asia, January 13, 2005
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/xinwen/2005/01/12/zhaoziyang/

Silence on Zhao broken - to deny he has died
SCMP, January 12, 1005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZGQI9HJ3E.html

Deposed Chinese Leader Alive but Ill
AP via YahooNews, January 12, 2005
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=516&am
p;ncid=731&e=10&u=/ap/20050111/ap_on_re_as/china_deposed_leader

Activist: Deposed China Leader in Hospital
AP, January 11, 2005
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=516&ncid=731&e=4&u
=/ap/20050111/ap_on_re_as/china_ousted_leader

China Times: Zhao died? Rumors over cover-ups of Zhao’s death
中国时报：赵紫阳病逝?传死讯遭封锁
Chinesenewsnet.com, January 11, 2005
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/SinoNews/Mainland
/2005_1_10_20_17_53_348.html


Monday, January 17, 2005

January 15-17, 2005

Top news of the day

Detention – Huang Jinquo (黃金高)
Former party chief sacked for anti-corruption efforts
福建反腐书记黄金高被免职
Chinesenewsnet.com, January 17, 2005
Huang Jinquo, former party chief in Fujian province who was also known for his anti-corruption efforts, was formally sacked by the CPC for corruption allegation.
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/Opinion/2005_1_16_
12_17_31_601.html

June 4th – prisoners – Zhao Ziyang (趙紫陽)
Ex-Chinese Communist Leader Zhao Dies
AP via YahooNews.com, January 17, 2005
Former Chinese Communist Party leader Zhao Ziyang died early Monday morning at a Beijing hospital after being put under house arrest for over 15 years.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=516&ncid=731&e=
2&u=/ap/20050117/ap_on_re_as/obit_zhao_ziyang





News

Corruption
CPC Central Committee issues outline for anti-corruption work
Xinhuanet.com, January 17, 2005
Party committee issued an outline for the establishment of an anti-corruption work mechanism that serves to punish and prevent corrupt activities by cadres.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-01/16/content_2468661.htm

Excerpted article: Anti-corruption strategy in 2005
《瞭望东方周刊》:2005,中国反腐战略转折
EastDay.com, January 17, 2005
Anti-corruption efforts in 2004 provided useful insights to the government in advancing anti-corruption strategies and measures in the government and party structure.
http://china.eastday.com/eastday/news/node37955/node37957/node
37979/node47079/userobject1ai802871.html

Death penalty
Death sentence prisoners allowed seeing family before execution
北京准许死刑犯临刑会见家属
Xinhuanet.com, January 17, 2005
Beijing courts allow prisoners on death penalty seeing their family before execution in order to humanizing the image of the court.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/legal/2005-01/17/content_2468818.htm

Disaster
Officials urged to modernise disaster warning system
SCMP, January 17, 2005
Civil affairs officials urge the government to modernize existing disaster warning system and step up efforts in information sharing with neighboring countries after the disastrous tsunami struck the region.
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZ9AV7HJ3E.html

Education / Human rights - right to education
Many rural pupils cheated of their right to schooling
SCMP, January 15, 2005
A survey revealed that a large number of students in rural areas had failed to achieve 9-year compulsory education, leaving overall dropout rate to have reached as high as 10 % in some areas.
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZSM1CHJ3E.html

Human rights / corruption
Reforms foiled by corruption, says rights watchdog
SCMP, January 15, 2005
Human rights report said the progress of legal and political reform last year were undermined by official corruption, medial censorship and enduring restrictions on freedom of speech on the Mainland.
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZY33CHJ3E.html

Labour – industrial accidents
Coal mine accidents claim 6,027 lives last year
Xinhuanet.com, January 17, 2005
Official statistics recorded a death toll of 6,027 people in coal mine accidents in 2004, or 6 % lower than the fatalities recorded in 2003.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-01/17/content_2470139.htm

Politics – CPC
68m cadres kept on the straight and narrow
SCMP, January 17, 2005
CPC unveiled the launch of a three phase-ideological program for the 68 million members to improve cadres’ “progressiveness”.
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZHOKBHJ3E.html

Poverty
"Go-west" speeds up in next five years
Xinhuanet.com, January 17, 2005
The government commits to invest more in the western region in the next five years, focusing on building up domestic infrastructure and improving ecological environment.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-01/17/content_2469451.htm

Public health
Chinese pay more for medical services
Xinhuanet.com, January 17, 2005
Latest statistics from the Ministry of Health revealed that the rising cost of medicine and medical treatment led to people’s increasing medical expenditure over the past few years.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-01/17/content_2469272.htm

Public health – HIV aids
Father of private Aids orphanages dies in Beijing
SCMP, January 15, 2005
Zhu Jinzhong, one of the pioneers of private Aids orphanages on the mainland, died of pneumonia last Thursday.
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZGDB8HJ3E.html

Resettlement – protests
Shannxi rural villager protesters jailed for defending the right to land
陕西农民因抵制征地被判重刑
Radio Free Asia, January 16, 2005
27 villagers in Shannxi were given 3 to 15 years of jail terms for protesting against land deal with government.
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/xinwen/2005/01/16/dizhizhengdi/

Rural issues – taxation
Agricultural tax exempted in 22 provinces
中国22省份宣布免征农业税 全面取消将提前实现
People’s Daily, January 17, 2005
Agricultural tax is now exempted in 22 provinces, well ahead schedule stated in Premier Wen’s 5-year plan.
http://politics.people.com.cn/GB/1026/3124700.html

SOEs / Corruption
Firms rapped for inept accounting
SCMP, January 17, 2005
Beijing gets serious in correcting a culture of inept auditing at state-owned companies, starting with a probe into the most recent audits of the mainland’s biggest 181 SOEs.
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZZPKBHJ3E.html

Society / poverty
Low income group under pressure as price level increases
物价上涨使低收入人群感到压力
China Youth Daily, January 17, 2005
A survey revealed low income groups found more difficult to take up increasing price level as compared to last year.

Trafficking
Police in Yunnan detain 30 would-be illegal immigrants
SCMP, January 17, 2004
Border police in Yunnan nabbed a group of Chinese to be smuggled to Japan or Britain via Myanmar.
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZTWB9HJ3E.html

Other - Hong Kong – human rights
Concern over 'erosion of rights' in HK
SCMP, January 15, 2005
Human Rights Watch raised concerns over HK’s human rights condition after universal suffrage for HK had been ruled out by the NPC.
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZ17T9HJ3E.html


Friday, January 14, 2005

January 14, 2005

Top news of the day

Law – legal reform / legal rights
Lawyers can accompany clients in interrogations
检察官询问疑犯律师可在场
BeijingNews.com, January 14, 2005
A prominent legal professor Chen Ruihua (陳瑞華) revealed that suspects’ legal right to have their lawyers' presence when interogate by procurators would very likely be written into the revised Criminal Procedural law.
http://www.thebeijingnews.com/news/2005-1-14/200511412049.html


News

Death penalty
Billionaire sentenced to death for murder
北京亿万富翁雇凶杀人被判死刑
Dajiyuan.com, January 14, 2005
A typhoon in Beijing Yuan Baojing (袁宝璟) was given capital punishment by a Liaoning court for intended murder.
http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/5/1/14/n780131.htm

Government – governance and accountability
95% public opinion incorporated in Nanjing Government Work Report
95％民意写入《政府工作报告》
China Youth Daily, January 14, 2005
Nanjing city government highlighted the important role of public opinion collected in a series of public discussion and consultation in the written up of this year’s Government Work Report, which greatly reflects public concerns on social issues such as traffic jam, rising price level, and etc.
http://zqb.cyol.com/gb/zqb/2005-01/14/content_1015913.htm

Human Rights
Group Criticizes China for Rights Abuses in 2004
Reuters, Jan 14, 2005
Human Rights Watch criticized China as a "highly repressive state" where the government routinely violates basic freedoms
www.reuters.com

June 4th – Arms ban
Straw to discuss arms embargo
SCMP, January 14, 2005
British Foreign Secretary will visit China next week to discuss the possible lifting of the EU arms ban and the recognition of China’s full market economy status.
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZM7P9HJ3E.html

UK pushes for tighter EU arms code
Michael White and Tania Branigan, Guardian, January 14, 2005
Britain is campaigning to tighten the EU's code of conduct on arms sales to authoritarian regimes in return for endorsing the Franco-German drive to lift the European embargo on weapons exports to China.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/print/0,3858,5103251-103690,00.html

June 4th – prisoners – Zhao Ziyang (趙紫陽)
Rights group persists in the appeal for getting Zhao Ziyang Nobel Peace Prize
人权组织继续为赵紫阳争取诺贝尔和平奖
Chinesenewsnet.com, January 14, 2005
Human rights groups and right activities continue their efforts in appealing the Nobel Prize committee in reconsidering Zhao for the Nobel Peace Prize after last year failure.
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/Forums/BackStage/
2005_1_13_19_41_49_318.html

Labour – union
US labour union urges China to allow labour form independent labour union
美国劳工组织呼吁中国允许工人成立独立工会
Radio Free Asia, January 13, 2005
The largest labour union in the US criticized China’s strict control over labour union activities in China and urges for China’s effort in approving labour rights in forming independent labour union.
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2005/01/13/laogong/

Union can play an important role in preventing coal mine tragedy
遏止矿难，工会可发挥作用
Nanfang Weekend, January 14, 2005
Labour union can play an important role in preventing coal mine accident through actively involving in monitoring safety conditions and measure in coal mine working areas. Nevertheless, the government and social support, together with cooperation of coal mine management are also important.
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/zm/20050113/xw/sd/200501130
033.asp

Law – legal profession
Ten outstanding young legal experts in China
中国评出十大杰出青年法学家
BeijingNews.com, January 14, 2005
The China Law Society (中國法學會) announced 10 most outstanding young legal experts in China. They are prominent professors and researchers from top Chinese universities.
http://www.thebeijingnews.com/news/2005-1-14/200511412024.html

Migrant workers - abuse
The plight of migrant rural workers
一个打工农民的死亡样本
Nanfang Weekend, January 13, 2005
A migrant rural worker found dead in the quarter after negotiation for delayed work payment with the worker leader. His death revealed the plight of migrant rural workers.
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/zm/20050113/xw/tb/2005011300
01.asp

8 years, the fight in getting back delayed payment of a migrant rural worker
农民工八年讨薪路
Nanfang Weekend, January 13, 2005
A group of migrant rural workers in Chongqing had been fighting for their delayed work payment in the past 8 years, without success. This leads one to hope for the effectiveness effectiveness of recent laws in regulating delay payment to migrant workers, which may ease the unfair treatment of migrant workers in the future.
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/zm/20050113/xw/xz/2005011300
36.asp

Population – one-child policy
The controversy of criminalizing out-law family planning practice
计生政策“上刑”引发争议
Nanfang Weekend, January 13, 2005
Criminalization of out-law family planning practice may be seen as a way to ease the pressure of increasing sex-ratio in the country, experts point out the side-issues should not be overlooked, whose implication can be far-reaching.
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/zm/20050113/xw/szxw1/2005011
30007.asp

Poverty – rural poverty
Xiao Kang (小康) in Guangdong rural villages ranked 5 in the nation
粤农村全面小康居全国第五
Nanfang Daily, January 14, 2005
Survey showed China had realized 16.9% of its goal to achieve Xiao Kang condition in all rural Chinese villages in 2003. At the provincial level, Guangdong ranked 5, followed Shanghai, Beijing, Tianjing and Zhejiang.
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/southnews/dd/nfrb/A03/2005011
40090.asp

A tale of two toilets
Mark Baker, Guardian Weekly, 14 January 2005
This is a tale of two toilets, and two Chinas. A few months ago I used the facilities of the swanky Kerry Centre, a 31-storey business centre in Beijing. I began to doubt China was a developing country.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/guardianweekly/outlook/story/0,,1389668,00.html

Protests and petitions
An alternative to the controversial revision of petition regulations
信访条例修改欲走“第三条路”
Nanfang Weekend, January 13, 2005
The government would focus on seeking consensus on the scope and framework of the draft amendments of the petition regulations, rather than continuing the discussion of the controversial content of the amendments, seeing as a lead way to achieve progress of petition reform.
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/zm/20050113/xw/szxw1/2005011
30006.asp

Public health
Experiment of urban public health system reform to be launched to centralize social resources
城市医疗卫生体制改革试点启动 重点吸引社会资源
YNET.com, January 14, 2005
Ministry of Health announced that urban public health system reform would be launched this year in 3 to 5 designated experiment sites.
http://china.ynet.com/view.jsp?oid=4481200

Religion
Spreading the word
Catherine Armitage, The Australian, 15 January 2005
Modernity has not brought religious freedom to Chinese Christians.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/

Thursday, January 13, 2005

January 13, 2005

Top news of the day

June 4th – arms ban
Arms ban may be lifted, says Jack Straw
SCMP, January 13, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZMEL9HJ3E.html

Portugal Backs Removal of EU Arms Embargo
SCMP, 13 January 2005
Portugal is in favour of lifting a European Union arms embargo on China
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/index.html

News

Corruption / education
Director held over theft of school funds
SCMP, January 13, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZT8VBHJ3E.html

Death Penalty
Three drug traffickers executed in SW China province
Xinhua News Agency, 13 January 2005
Chen Minggang, Sun Shuangli, and Liu Fagang were executed Wednesday in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-01/13/content_2455340.htm

Education
Excerpted article from Oriental Daily: tensions in university campuses due to poverty gap amongst students
东方日报：中国大学生贫富悬殊冲击校园
Chinesenewsnet.com, January 13, 2005
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/Opinion/
2005_1_12_17_11_0_32.html

Environment
Mainland greens mourn crusader who tried to save the Yangtze
SCMP, January 13, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZBV38HJ3E.html

Pipeline starts in Aug to feed gas-starved Beijing
Reuters News, 13 January 2005
PetroChina is set to start up a major pipeline to supply gas to Beijing in August
http://www.reuters.com

Government – governance and accountability
Hotlines set up to report gambling officials
SCMP, January 13, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZN9N5HJ3E.html

June 4th – prisoners – Zhao Ziyang (趙紫陽)
No coverage on ex-communist chief Zhao’s health conditions in Chinese media
中国媒体没有报道前中共总书记赵紫阳的近况
Radio Free Asia, January 13, 2005
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/xinwen/2005/01/12/zhaoziyang/

China tightens Tiananmen security
By Louisa Lim, BBC, 13 January 2005
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4171825.stm
New rules to prevent protests amid worries over the health of Zhao Ziyang

Media – censorship
Featured article from Wang Dan: public incidents and missing follow-up stories
王丹：不知下落的公众事件
Chinesenewsnet.com, January 13, 2005
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/Opinion/2005
_1_12_19_19_39_649.html

Law – legal profession
The predicament of Chinese judges
法官的困境
Legal Daily, January 13, 2005
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/bm/2005-01/13/content_177741.htm

Law – legal reform (juvenile justice)
Suggested amendments to Article 17 of the Criminal Law
对刑法第十七条的修改建议
Legal Daily, January 13, 2005
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/bm/2005-01/13/content_177731.htm

Labour- disasters
Ten miners killed in central China coal mine accident
AFP, 13 January 2005
BEIJING, Jan 13 (AFP) - Ten miners have been killed and 17 more injured in Qiaoyan coal mine in Chengguan township on Wednesday in China's Henan province
www.afp.com

Labour – employment market
Guangdong to suspend migrant hiring ban
SCMP, January 13, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZWAN5HJ3E.html

North Korea
Police pull plug on Koreans' conference
SCMP, January 13, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZFV38HJ3E.html

Hong Kong – society
War on want to benefit children and elderly
SCMP, January 13, 2005
http://hongkong.scmp.com/hknews/ZZZDY38HJ3E.html

Hong Kong – politics
Promises, promises: the past seven years
SCMP, January 13, 2005
http://hongkong.scmp.com/hknews/ZZZ19VBHJ3E.html

Wednesday, January 12, 2005

January 12, 2005


Top news of the day

Labour – industrial accidents
25 Killed in China Fireworks Factory Blast
AP via YahooNews, January 12, 2005
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=516&ncid
=731&e=6&u=/ap/20050112/ap_on_re_as/china_firecracker_deaths

Population – one-child policy
China intends to redress sex ratio imbalance by amending Criminal Law
People’ Daily via ChinaNationalNews, January 12, 2005
http://story.chinanationalnews.com/p.x/ct/9/id/d86316326e53c5b3/cid/93663
00fc9319e9b/

Tibet – religion / political persecution
Tibetan Monk Arrested, Security Tightened After Blaze
Radio Free Asia, January 12, 2005
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/2005/01/11/tibet_fire/


News

Corruption
Suspended death sentence for ex-Qingdao vice-mayor
SCMP, January 12, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZI9I9HJ3E.html

Education – policy
Three areas of concerns over China’s education
关注中国教育的三个问题
Nanfang Weekend, January 6, 2005
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/zm/20050106/xw/sd/200501060057.asp

Gender – marriage
Divorce website shows the secrecy of China’s divorce couples
中国离婚网，这里的离婚静悄悄
Chinesenewsnet.com, January 12, 2005
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/EntDigest/Life/2005_1_
11_20_3_41_866.html

Government – governance and accountability / Corruption
Hu fires a warning to corrupt officials
SCMP, January 12, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZ1XRBHJ3E.html

June 4th – EU arms ban
EU could lift arms embargo on China
Guardian, January 12, 2005
http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,1388070,00.html?gusrc=rss

June 4th – prisoners Zhao Ziyang (趙紫陽)
Silence on Zhao broken - to deny he has died
SCMP, January 12, 1005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZGQI9HJ3E.html

Deposed Chinese Leader Alive but Ill
AP via YahooNews, January 12, 2005
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=516&ncid=731&e=10&u=/ap/
20050111/ap_on_re_as/china_deposed_leader

Labour – employment market
New unemployment group comes in the spotlight
中国“新失业群体”浮出水面
Nanfang Weekend, January 6, 2005
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/zm/20050106/xw/szxw1/200501060199.asp

Land policy
Unsettled land dispute for 12 years
一块纠缠了12年的地皮
Nanfang Weekend, January 6, 2005
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/zm/20050106/xw/dcgc/200501060190.asp

Media / public health
Beijing reporters feeling tired: survey
Xinhuanet.com, January 11, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-01/11/content_2445475.htm

Population
Population to grow 60m in five years
SCMP, January 12, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZO9K5HJ3E.html

Poverty – rural poverty (poverty gap)
Gap between the haves and the have-nots widens, survey shows
SCMP, January 12, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZRH08HJ3E.html

Public health – health education
Sex education provided in coffee shop in Shenzhen
深圳一咖啡屋提供性教育服务
Voice of America, January 11, 2005
http://www1.voanews.com/Chinese/article.cfm?ObjectID=65B56DFD-A7
38-4629-9905E921BCA4F035

Public health – health policy
Five key tasks identified for national health care work
People’s Daily, January 12, 2005
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200501/12/eng20050112_170392.html

Public health – HIV aids
Children dying for lack of Aids drug cocktails
SCMP, January 12, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZC9K5HJ3E.html

Religion
Devil is in the detail of new rules on religion, say analysts
SCMP, January 12, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZWWRBHJ3E.html


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