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, March 15, 2005

March 15, 2005

Top news of the day

Death Penalty
Place trust on the institutional arrangement
用制度保证死刑判决的慎重和公正
China Youth Online, March 15, 2005
Premier Wen emphasized that China would not abolish the death penalty but leaves room for discussion for reforms on more transparent institutional arrangements.
http://zqb.cyol.com/gb/zqb/2005-03/15/content_1048948.htm


News

Corruption
China vows to clean up corruption on land market
Xinhuanet.com, March 14, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-03/14/content_2696
491.htm

Food security – GM foods
Green group says GMO policies fail consumers
SCMP, March 15, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZ092F456E.html

Labour – industrial accidents
Mine blast traps 19 miners in northeast China
SCMP, March 15, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZ593F456E.html

Labour- Work Safety
Work safety watchdog to be given more power
Xinhuanet.com, March 14, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-03/14/content_2693
412.htm

The “price” of earning more: occupational death goes hand in hand with GDP increase
工傷死亡與GDP同步上升
MingPo.com, March 15, 2005
http://full.mingpaonews.com/20050315/t_cae1.htm

Labour- Employment market and income
Low wages and poor work conditions the reasons of labuor shortages in Guangdong, says senior governor
勞務大省析「民工荒」
Wenweipo.com, March 15, 2005
http://www.wenweipo.com/news.phtml?cat=001YO&news_id=
YO0503150010&PHPSESSID=16d4fc6e74677266b95e99e1aed1
a959&PHPSESSID=dadddad745ceee5ff754ba21a6e6340c

Law – court system
Discontent with reports by judiciary
SCMP, March 15, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZHIWD456E.html

Population – aging population
One-child rural families rewarded
Xinhuatnet.com, March 14, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-03/14/content_26962
20.htm

Police
Tighter rein on police, prosecutors urged
Xinhuanet.com, March 15, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-03/15/content_2698
370.htm

Religion
Experts comment on new regulations on religious affairs
专家评中国新实施的宗教事务条例
Voice of America, March 14, 2005
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/w2005-03-14-voa67.cfm

Rural issues - rural development
Tax reforms bring new hopes solve rural problems
稅費改革解決「三農」問題
WenWeiPo.com, March 15, 2005
http://www.wenweipo.com/news.phtml?news_id=CH05031500
27&cat=002CH

Xinjiang
China rules out terrorism in Muslim region blasts
Reuters via Latelinenews.com, March 13, 2005
http://latelinenews.com/ll/english/1353495.shtml

Monday, March 14, 2005

March 12-14, 2005

Top news of the day

Detention
Parliamentary sitting a magnet for nation's poor petitioning for justice
SCMP, March 12, 2005
Thousands people flocked to Beijing to address their grievances and hoping to get an answers from the officials.
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZKQQD456E.html


News
Bilaterals - US/China
White House Unhappy With New Chinese Law
Associated Press, March 14, 2005
The Bush administration said Monday that China's threat to use force to stop any Taiwanese move toward independence is an "unfortunate" development that could increase tensions in the region.
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050314/ap_
on_go_pr_wh/us_china

US 'deeply troubled' by China forcibly returning North Korean refugees
Agence France Presse, 11 March 2005
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/
136994/1/.html

Death Penalty
Chinese Premier says China not to abolish death penalty
People’s Daily Online, March 14 2005
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200503/14/eng20050314_17
6772.html

Premier: China Won't Abolish Death Penalty
Associated Press, 14 March 2005
China has no plans to abolish its death penalty but is carrying out reforms to ensure that it is used prudently, Premier Wen Jiabao said Monday.
http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/articles/2005/03/14/
premier_china_wont_abolish_death_penalty/

Education
CPPCC adviser urges reform of student financial aid scheme
政协委员呼吁完善助学体系
China Youth Daily, March 14 2005
http://zqb.cyol.com/gb/zqb/2005-03/14/content_1048356.htm

First Human Rights Course Debuts in China's University
Xinhua News Agency March 12, 2005
Family planning policy, death penalty, freedom of speech were all fiercely debated at a human rights course that began Wednesday in South China's Guangzhou University.
http://china.org.cn/english/China/122602.htm

Human rights – freedom of speech
Dissidents urges “release political dissidents as the first step to build a harmonious society” in open letter
李国涛等：释放异议人士，实现社会和谐──致中国两会公开信
Chinesenewsnet.com, March 14, 2005
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/Opinion/2005_3
_13_21_35_45_436.html

Human rights – education
First human right course debuts in China's university
People’s Daily, March 12, 2005
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200503/12/eng20050312_176
584.html

Human rights / UN
China: Human Rights Concerns for the 61st Session of the U.N. Commission
Human Rights Watch, March 10, 2005
http://hrw.org/english/docs/2005/03/10/china10296.htm

Human rights – bilateral ties
Human rights off China agenda
The Australian, March 14, 2005
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5
744,12538474%255E1702,00.html

June 4th - arms embargo
EU firm on ending China arms embargo-commissioner
Reuters News, 12 March 2005
The European Union is determined to lift its 15-year ban on arms sales to China and does not expect any retaliation from Washington when it does so, a top official said on Saturday.
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/i_latestdetail.asp?id=26941

Labour- industrial accident
Six workers trap in mining accident in Hunan
湖南宁乡县一煤矿发生突泥事故6人被困
LegalDaily.com, March 14 2005
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/xwzx/2005-03/14/content_1959
62.htm

Work Safety Watchdog to Be Given More Power
China Daily March 14, 2005
The State Council has decided to grant more power to the State Administration of Work Safety so that it can conduct inspections and supervise more effectively, especially in coal mines where at least 6,000 were killed last year, Huang Yi, spokesman for the administration, said.
http://china.org.cn/english/China/122821.htm

Guizhou Targets Mine Safety
Xinhua News Agency March 13, 2005
The families of dead miners face a hefty burden in dealing with colliery owners, a high-ranking official in charge of coal mine production in the southwestern Guizhou Province said in an exclusive Xinhua interview.
http://china.org.cn/english/China/122680.htm

Blood and coal: the human cost of cheap Chinese goods
The Guardian, March 14, 2005
http://www.guardian.co.uk/china/story/0,7369,1437055,00.html
?gusrc=rss

Legal reform / RTL
New law on “rectifying illegal activities” to replace re-education through labour system
违法行为矫治法列入今年立法计划 取代劳教制度
East Day.com, March 14, 2005
http://china.eastday.com/eastday/news/node37955/node37957/
node37979/node52970/userobject1ai933181.html

Media - censorship
BBCensored OBSERVER FROM BEIJING
Financial Times, 14 March 2005
Coinciding with the NPC has been another performance, this time staged by the BBC, whose compe`res, reporters and producers, seemingly also in their thousands, have been visiting as part of the broadcaster's China Week.
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/a29db658-942d-11d9-9d6e-00000e
2511c8.html

In China, Two Books but One Party
Officials Ban Party Veteran's Work, Endorse Biography by U.S. Businessman
Washington Post, Saturday, March 12, 2005
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A28236-2005
Mar11.html?nav=rss_world

Petitions and protests
China detains high-profile petitioners during parliament session
Agence France Presse, 13 March 2005
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/
137125/1/.html

Population
Population control main task, says Wen
SCMP, March 14, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZHHSD456E.html

Public Health-HIV Aids
China launches human trials of AIDS vaccine
YahooNews.com, March 13 2005
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1529&a
mp;amp;ncid =1529&e=6&u=/afp/20050313/wl_asia_afp/china
aidsvaccine_0 50313083317

Public health - other
School Children Reel from Lack of Sleep
China Daily March 12, 2005
The survey, conducted among 5,846 students in 10 major cities, including Beijing, Shanghai and Chongqing in the past two years, showed that 10.4 per cent of those under 12 years old slept less than eight hours a day.
http://china.org.cn/english/China/122604.htm

Resettlement
500,000 to be moved off "Beijing rim"
China Daily, March 12, 2005
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-03/12/conte
nt_424113.htm

Rural issues - poverty
China rejects complaints on currency; says poor will get priority in economic reforms
Associated Press Newswires, 14 March 2005
http://www.keralanext.com/news/indexread.asp?id=149017

State secrets / detention
Chinese dissenters face jail for 'state secrets' violations Vague, catchall term is used to punish activists
Baltimore Sun via China Digital News, March 13, 2005
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nationworld/bal-te.secrecy
13mar13,1,156684.story?coll=bal-nationworld-headlines&ctrack
=1&cset=true

Tibet
Conciliatory Dalai Lama expounds on winds of change
SCMP, March 14, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZLASD456E.html

Hong Kong – Basic Law
Democrats vow to fight Basic Law 'U-turn'
SCMP, March 12, 2005
http://hongkong.scmp.com/hknews/ZZZ8QQD456E.html

Taiwan
China Enacts Law to Stop Taiwan Secession
AP via YahooNews.com, M arch 14, 2005
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=516&a
mp;amp;amp;ncid=731&e=3&u=/ap/20050314/ap_on_re_as/ch
ina_legislature

Chen calls for 1m marchers
SCMP, March 12, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZUGWE456E.html

Top Legislature Adopts Anti-Secession Law
Xinhua News Agency March 14, 2005
http://china.org.cn/english/2005/Mar/122756.htm

Tibet
Tibetan Panchen Lama lashes out at military spending in rare comments
Agence France Presse, 14 March 2005
The teenage boy picked by Beijing to become the second-highest spiritual figure in Tibet has lashed out at countries spending vast sums of money on weapons in rare comments published Monday.
http://asia.news.designerz.com/beijing-appointed-tibetan-panch
en-lama-lashes-out-at-military-spending.html?d20050314

Xinjiang
China rules out terrorism in Muslim region blasts.
Reuters News, 13 March 2005
China has ruled out terrorism as a cause of two explosions in the Muslim-majority northwestern region of Xinjiang and the top government official there said on Sunday ethnic tension had eased.
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?storyID=7884486&
type=worldNews

Thursday, March 10, 2005

March 11, 2005

News

Corruption
Massive corruption in China banks, 50 bln dlrs missing
AP, Friday March 11, 2005
China's banking system is not only awash with debt but loopholes in its supervisory system have allowed 4,000 officials to flee with 50 billion dollars in cash.
http://story.chinanationalnews.com/p.x/ct/9/id/6732238b818b4f
73/cid/9366300fc9319e9b/

Death penalty
Drug Mailer Sentenced to Suspended Death
Shenzhen Daily, March 11, 2005
Chinese Australian Henry Chin, who attempted to mail drugs from Shenzhen to Australia, was given the death penalty with two years' suspension by the Shenzhen Intermediate People's Court on Thursday.
http://china.org.cn/english/China/122540.htm

Education
Equal opportunities to education: the issues
中国教育的公平之痒
Nanfang Weekend, March 10, 2005
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/zm/20050310/wh/whxw/2005
03100044.asp

Environment – water
Clean water needs urgent than ever
China Daily, March 11, 2005
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-03/11/content_
423784.htm

Gender – law / Domestic violence
Draft submission for the Anti-domestic violence law
关于制定《反家庭暴力法》的议案
People’s Daily, March 10, 2005
http://www.people.com.cn/GB/14576/28320/44535/44553/323
0996.html

Submission for the revision of the Regulation on the Protection of Women’s Rights
修改《妇女权益保障法》的议案
People’s Daily, March 10, 2005
http://www.people.com.cn/GB/14576/28320/44535/44553/323
3895.html

June 4th - EU arms ban
France Says EU Delegation Will Press China Embargo Issue in Washington
Voice of America, March 11, 2005
http://www.voanews.com/english/2005-03-11-voa4.cfm

Labour – industrial accidents
New mine tragedy amid safety pledges
SCMP, March 11, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZMOLJ456E.html

Land policy / NPC
Protection of farmers' land rights promised by ministers
SCMP, March 11, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZLZKJ456E.html

Law – legal reform / NPC
Draft submission for the revision of the Criminal Procedural Law
关于修改《刑事诉讼法》的议案
People’s Daily, March 10, 2005
http://www.people.com.cn/GB/14576/28320/44535/44553/3233
837.html

Draft submission for the revision of the Criminal Law
修改《刑法》的议案
People’s Daily, March 10, 2005
http://www.people.com.cn/GB/14576/28320/44535/44553/3233
916.html

Media - discussions
BBC Television's Question Time staged a ground-breaking political discussion programme in China
BBC, March 10, 2005
The audience in Shanghai were able to interact with a panel including a government spokesman as well as critical voices.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/question_time/433568
7.stm

Police – crime
Juvenile delinquency rate on the rise
Xinhuanet.com, March 10, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-03/10/content_26800
66.htm
‘
Population – one-child policy
One-child policy in focus as zero population growth approaches
SCMP, March 11, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZ3LLD456E.html

Poverty
Steps to narrow rich-poor gap needed
China Daily, March 11, 2005
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-03/11/content_
423789.htm

Public health
Medicare system called to cover all by 2010
Xinhuanet.com, March 10, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-03/10/content_26795
65.htm

Public health – HIV Aids / Law
Officials to be responsible for aids epidemic when regulations on HIV aids prevention announce this year
艾滋病防治条例今年将出台 官员防艾不力将问责
EastDay.com, March 11, 2005
http://china.eastday.com/eastday/news/node37955/node37957/
node37979/node52745/userobject1ai927301.html

CPPCC adviser suggests punishing people who discriminate aids victims
政协委员呼吁增设歧视艾滋病人罚则
China Youth Online, March 11, 2005
http://news.cyol.com/gb/news/2005-03/11/content_1047208.htm

Reforms - population control
Zero Rise Population Likely by 2040
Xinhua News Agency, March 11, 2005
The country's population is likely to stand at 1.5 billion and reach a zero growth by 2040, said a population expert in Beijing yesterday.
http://china.org.cn/english/China/122503.htm

Rural issues - poverty
Steps to Narrow Rich-poor Gap Urgently Needed
China Daily, March 11, 2005
"The time is right to harmonize the distorted income distribution system, which has aroused widespread resentment among people from all walks of life," Jing Tiankui told the 2,000-strong political advisers yesterday at a plenary meeting of the 10th National Committee of the CPPCC.
http://china.org.cn/english/China/122486.htm

Women
Advisor Says Mothers Needs Learning to Play Their Due Role
Xinhua News Agency, March 11, 2005
A member of China's top political advisory body Friday proposed mothers should
family education for their kids.
http://china.org.cn/english/China/122495.htm

Wednesday, March 09, 2005

March 10, 2005

News

Corruption
11 high-ranking officials investigated for criminal charges in 2004
Xinhuanet.com, March 9, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-03/09/content_267
2178.htm

Death penalty
China hints at death penalty reform
Xinhuanet.com, March 10, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-03/10/content_267
6138.htm

Death penalty / gender – domestic violence
Abused woman sentenced to death for killing husband
不 堪 毒 打 虐 待 　 婦 斬 夫 頭 分 屍 判 死
AppleDaily, March 10, 2005
http://appledaily.atnext.com/template/apple/art_main.cfm
sec_id=15335&showdate=20050310&art_id=4724720

Gender – law / sexual harassment
Sexual harassment legislation to protect working women, but not limited to man to womnn sexual harassment violations
性骚扰立法重在保护职场妇女 不只是男性对女性
People’s Daily, March 9, 2005
http://society.people.com.cn/GB/41158/3229592.html

Government – governance and accountability
Top leaders should set example and reveal their bank balances
SCMP, March 10, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZARNA585E.html

NGOs to Gain Greater Influence
Xinhua News Agency March 10, 2005
Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) member Wang Ming, who is also director of the Nongovernmental Organizations Research Institute of Tsinghua University, said on Thursday that China's NGOs can play a vital role in soothing the country's growing conflicts and discontent and in facilitating communications and understanding among people of various social strata.
http://china.org.cn/english/2005/Mar/122378.htm

Human rights – bilateral ties
Human rights top on agenda of Rice’s China visit
賴斯將出訪中國重點討論人權問題
Chinesenewsnet.com, March 10, 2005
http://www2.chinesenewsnet.com/MainNews/NorthAmerica/2005
_3_9_20_14_31_257.html

Labour – industrial accidents
Gas blast traps 29 Chinese miners
AFP via YahooNews.com, March 10, 2005
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&c
id=1530&ncid=731&e=4&u=/afp/20050310/wl_asia_afp/chinam
ineblast

Premier Pushes Shanxi on Coal Supply, Safety
Xinhua News Agency, March 10, 2005
Premier Wen Jiabao urged China's leading coal producer, the northern province of Shanxi, to increase production capacity to ensure a steady coal supply for the country while "resolutely preventing" the occurrence of any major accidents such as gas explosions.
http://china.org.cn/english/2005/Mar/122402.htm

Labour
Tianjin Center Benefits Laid-offs
Xinhua News Agency March 10, 2005
Li Yingguo, a 52-year-old woman in Tianjin, has an ambitious plan -- selling self-made frozen candied haws to neighboring Beijing and Hebei Province, even to faraway Shanghai.
http://china.org.cn/english/China/122379.htm

China's boom requires perspective
Newsday, 10 March 2005
Not so long ago, the big news about China was overpopulation. Times change. Now the news is overproduction. Everywhere one goes here, one sees cranes and construction.
http://www.newsday.com/news/columnists/ny-oppin104170226m
ar10,0,4100063.column?coll=ny-news-columnists

Foreign concern over China labour practices
Financial Times, 10 March 2005
China's increasing clout as a manufacturing hub is prompting some big foreign companies to take a closer look at its labour practices. Concerns about reputational risk have prompted some companies to increase their audits of Chinese ...
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/f0b1a0fe-910b-11d9-8bff-00000e251
1c8.html

Law – legal rights
Right of appeal emphasized
Xinhuanet.com, March 10, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-03/10/content_267
6673.htm

Media – internet
China tightens control on internet
中国互联网被管越来越严
Dajiyuan.com, March 10, 2005
http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/5/3/10/n843632.htm

China's tight rein on online growth
BBC.com, March 9, 2005
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4327067.stm

Media – press freedom
China bans BBC political program “Question Time”
中国停播BBC的政治讨论节目
Radio Free Asia, March 9, 2005
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/xinwen/2005/03/09/BBC/

Population – aging population
“421” population pyramid has big impacts on the future of China’s elderly
“421”家庭养得起老人吗？
Nanfang City News, March 10, 2005
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/southnews/dd/dsb/A07/20050
3100456.asp

Protests and petitions
China Continues Petitioner Round-up as Leaders Vow to Beat Graft
Radio Free Asia, March 9, 2005
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/2005/03/09/china_NPC/

Society
Government urged to play greater roles to curb housing price
Xinhua News Agency, 10 March 2005
Government departments at various levels should resort to their regulative power for curbing the on- going rising housing prices from hiking further, said people attending the sessions of the top advisory body ...
http://english.people.com.cn/200503/10/eng20050310_176319
.html

Taiwan
Top advisor calls for "successful completion" of legislation against Taiwan's secession
Xinhua News Agency, 10 March 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-03/10/content_268
0339.htm

March 9, 2005

Top news of the day

Detention – Li Baiquang (李栢光)
Rights activist Li Baiquang released from detention but not ‘free’
中国释放维权人士李柏光，但仍限制其行动
Radio Free Asia, March 8, 2005
Rights activist Li Baiquang was freed on January 21, 2005 since he was detained by the police last December on allegation of fraud. Yet, Li has been warned not to provide legal aid to workers and farmers and not to leave Beijing without notification the police.
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/xinwen/2005/03/08/libeguang/



News

Corruption
Fujian corruption fighter to face charges
SCMP, March 9, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZ3I2K985E.html

Officials targeted in revived crackdown
SCMP, March 9, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZXAKA585E.html

Death penalty
Death penalty to undergo stricter review
Xinhuanet.com, March 9, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-03/09/content_2671
706.htm

Detention Cases
China arrests 800,000 people in 2004
Agence France Presse, 9 March 2005
China arrested over 800,000 people last year for a variety of crimes including endangering state security and being involved in separatist and terrorist activities, a top official said Wednesday.
http://www.asianews.it/view.php?l=en&art=2731

Environment
NPC Deputy Seeks Rural Environment Legislation
China Daily, March 9, 2005
Lawmaker Jiang Deming wants to make sure that rural areas are not left behind when the country takes action to ensure people have clean water, fresh air and a better environment in which to live.
http://china.org.cn/english/2005/Mar/122251.htm

Gender
Ten Years After Beijing, Asian Women Have Far To Go
Radio Free Asia, March 7, 2005
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/social/2005/03/07/asia_
women/

Gender – law / sexual harassment
Sexual harassment should be clearly defined in law and punished, says Congressman
人大代表：必须从法律上界定和惩治“性骚扰”
People’s Daily, March 8, 2005
http://legal.people.com.cn/GB/42734/43193/3227231.html

Women representatives urge legislation on domestic violence
我国三成妇女遭受过家庭暴力 代表呼吁立法
People’s Daily, March 8, 2005
http://legal.people.com.cn/GB/42734/43193/3227192.html

Government – governance and accountability
Stricter official accountability system promised
Xinhuanet.com, March 9, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-03/09/content_2670
916.htm

Human rights
Crackdown intensifying, says rights watchdog
SCMP, March 9, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZ4Y9L985E.html

Bao Tong (Former secretary of CPPCC) petitions to NPC for condemning the government’s violation of human rights
鲍彤致信人大要求制裁党政侵权
Radio Free Asia, March 8, 2005
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/xinwen/2005/03/08/baotong/

Labour
Chinese Vendors Lose a Market They Built; Beijing's Silk Alley Is Gone; Sellers Cry Foul at Land Deal
The Washington Post, 9 March 2005
On a chilly morning last December, Zhu Dingya huddled with other merchants outside the Silk Alley market, one of the city's most prominent attractions, and inspected a notice tacked to the entrance.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A18479-2005
Mar8.html

Law
NPC to debate draft law on emergency
Xinhuanet.com, March 9, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-03/09/content_2671
573.htm

Law – legal professions
Lawyer-judge relations under fire at legislature annual session
People’s Daily.com, March 8, 2005
http://english1.peopledaily.com.cn/200503/08/eng20050308_
176082.html

Politics
China's Other Political Parties Powerless
AP via YahooNews.com, March 8, 2005
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=516&am
p;amp;amp;ncid=731&e=10&u=/ap/20050308/ap_on_re_as/chin
a_the_other_ parties

Politics – NPC & CPPCC
NPC adopts new voting method to ensure "full democracy"
People’s Daily, March 8, 2005
http://english1.peopledaily.com.cn/200503/08/eng20050308
_176080.html

China's legislature to strengthen law-enforcement inspection on major issues
Xinhua News Agency, 9 March 2005
China's top legislature would strengthen law-enforcement inspection on major issues having a bearing on the country's reform, opening up and stability this year, top legislator Wu Bangguo said here Wednesday.
http://english.people.com.cn/200503/09/eng20050309_17617
4.html

Ethnic Minority CPPCC Members Panel
China Daily, March 9, 2005
About 100 ethnic minority members of the 10th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the top advisory body, held a joint panel discussion meeting on March 7 about the 2004 work report of the State Council, China's cabinet.
http://china.org.cn/english/2005/Mar/122294.htm

Poverty
Beijing to Renovate 'Villages Within Cities'
China Daily March 9, 2005
Beijing plans to renovate nearly 100 "villages within cities" -- former suburban areas that have been swallowed up by urban sprawl -- by the end of the year. It is the most intense effort yet to tackle the city's chronic enclaves of poverty.
http://china.org.cn/english/2005/Mar/122254.htm

Protests and petitions
Increasing number of petitions reported in 2004
Xinhuanet.com, March 9, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-03/09/content_26
71719.htm

Migrant workers – children
Rising concerns over migrant children education, congressmen say government should take charge to ensure equal education opportunities
外来工子弟就学引关注 代表建议由中央埋单
EastDay.com, March 9, 2005
http://china.eastday.com/eastday/news/node37955/node37957/
node37979/node52490/userobject1ai921381.html

Hong Kong
Hong Kong courts have no power to consider successor's tenure, says scholar
SCMP, March 9, 2005
http://hongkong.scmp.com/hknews/ZZZYMMA585E.html

Beijing may interpret Basic Law again when necessary
北京称如有必要人大将再次释法
Voice of America, March 8, 2005
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/w2005-03-08-voa68.cfm

Monday, March 07, 2005

March 8, 2005


News

Corruption
Deputy calls for anti-corruption law, independent authorities
Xinhuanet.com, March 7, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-03/07/content_26611
55.htm

Gender
Domestic violence and labour disputes top on 10 major women’ rights cases in Beijing
北京妇女维权十大案例:家庭暴力劳动争议居首位
EastDay.com, March 8, 2005
http://china.eastday.com/eastday/news/node37955/node37957/
node37979/node52410/userobject1ai918678.html

Gender - discrimination
Women should have the right to choose whether to retire earlier for the family
女性有权选择是否提前“回家”
Nanfang Daily, March 8, 2005
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/southnews/dd/nfrb/A01/2005
03080024.asp

Gender – women trafficking
1,837 women saved from trafficking in Anhui in 2004
安徽：解救被拐妇女儿童1837名
Chinese Youth Online, March 7, 2005
http://news.cyol.com/gb/news/2005-03/07/content_1043719.htm

Domestic violence cases on the rise in Beijing
北京：家庭暴力案件呈增长趋势
China Youth Daily, March 8, 2005
http://zqb.cyol.com/gb/zqb/2005-03/08/content_1043979.htm

Gender – law / sexual harassment
New sexual harassment law will be toothless, say critics
SCMP, March 8, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZU8ZJ985E.html

CPPCC adviser suggests criminalizing same-sex sexual offences
刘白驹委员建议：将同性性侵犯行为列为犯罪
Legal Daily, March 8, 2005
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/bm/2005-03/08/content_1936
24.htm

Government – governance and accountability
Excerpted article: the implications of taking public opinions
瞭望东方周刊：广纳贤言的背后
Xinhuanet.com, March 8, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2005-03/08/content_2
666414.htm

Human rights – freedom of speech / Media – internet
Featured article: from anonymous letters to internet discussion forums
杜奔放来稿：从匿名来信到网上论坛
Chinesenewsnet.com, March 7, 2005
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/Opinion/2005_
3_7_8_49_49_783.html

Human rights – human rights defenders
Dissident Wei Jingsheng nominated for Nobel Peace Price 2005
魏京生再次被提名为2005年诺贝尔和平奖候选人
Chinesenewsnet.com, March 8, 2005
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/Topics/2005_3
_6_23_47_50_541.html

Land policy
Curbs on land use to be tightened
The Standard, March 8, 2005
http://www.thestandard.com.hk/stdn/std/China/GC08Ad01.html

Media – press freedom
China's censorship begins to relax
Financial Times, March 7, 2005
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/e91eb580-8f34-11d9-a70f-00000e25
11c8.html

Natural resources and energies
Authorities mull energy crisis plan
SCMP, March 8, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitech/ZZZOVXJ985E.html

Politics - NPC & CPPCC
China’s Wen spells out action to beat inequality
Financial Times, March 8, 2005
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/738ec89a-8ecc-11d9-bb12-00000e2511c8.html

'Teflon politician' perfect fit for fifth generation
SCMP, March 8, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZOHKA585E.html

Jiang Zemin's career ends as China's parliament accepts final resignation
Reuters via YahooNews.com, March 8, 2005
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1530&ncid=7
31&e=1&u=/afp/20050308/wl_asia_afp/chinanpcpoliticsmilitary
jiang

Protests and petitions
Police take away 20 sit-in protestors
20名静坐抗议上访人士被警方带走
Radio Free Asia, March 8, 2005
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/xinwen/2005/03/07/kangyi/

Rural issues – taxation
The important symbolic meanings of scrapping agricultural tax, says scholar
学者：中国取消农业税象征色彩重
Voice of America, March 8, 2005
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/w2005-03-07-voa35.cfm

Taiwan
China Says Aggression Against Taiwan a Last Resort
Reuters via YahooNews.com, March 8, 2005
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=574&ncid=7
31&e=2&u=/nm/20050308/wl_nm/china_parliament_taiwan_dc


March 5-7, 2005

Top news of the day

Human rights – human rights defenders
Year-long work ban for activist lawyer Guo Guoting
SCMP, March 5, 2005
Shanghai authority plans to suspect the licence of activist lawyer Guo Guoting (郭國汀) for one year after Guo admitted positing essays on China and overseas websites in a judicial hearing.
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZ851L985E.html


NGOs
NGOs to keep links to official agencies
SCMP, March 7, 2005
New regulations governing the registration of NGOs will be announced in the next few months; however, officials ruled out the speculation that “dual management system” would be scrapped under the new regulations
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZW6DA585E.html



News
Education
Minister of Education reveals universal education to senior secondary in 2020
教育部部长周济透露 二0二0年前普及高中教育
Xinhuanet.com, March 6, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2005-03/06/content_26
57171.htm

China to give aid to poor students
Big News Network, 6th March, 2005 (UPI)
China's premier has said the country will provide students from poor families in rural areas with free textbooks and exempt them from paying miscellaneous fees.
http://story.chinanationalnews.com/p.x/ct/9/id/fcc373aea548154e
/cid/9366300fc9319e9b/

University Loses Lawsuit Against Student in Exam Cheat Case
Xinhua News Agency March 6, 2005
A local court in Zhengzhou, capital of central China's Henan Province, ruled Thursday that Zhengzhou University should withdraw its decision to expel one of its students
(surname Dong), who was found cheating on an exam.
http://china.org.cn/english/China/121945.htm

Food Security
Food security 'is assured' as farms meet 95pc of mainland's grain needs
SCMP, March 7, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZ7L2L985E.html

China Says More Support Needed for Farmers
AP, Mar 6, 2005
China has more than enough grain reserves to cover its immediate needs, but farmers need more help if the country is to ensure future food supplies, officials said Sunday.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/ap/20050306/ap_on_re_as/china_food_security

Government – Civil Services
Premier needs to tackle the bloated government payroll
SCMP, March 7, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZOO2L985E.html

Now hiring: haughty officials with bad attitude
SCMP, March 7, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZY7DA585E.html

26:1 an unprecedented citizen-to-government official ratio in history
史无前例：中国26个百姓养1个官
Chinesenewsnet.com, March 6, 2005
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/SinoNews/
Mainland/2005_3_6_2_12_31_917.html

Human rights – bilateral ties
Top adviser urges state to stay out of rights row with US
SCMP, March 7, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZS6DA585E.html

June 4th – EU arms ban
Arms embargo 'is political discrimination against China'
SCMP, March 7, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZDNGA585E.html

China rebuffs arms ban fears
FT, March 6, 2005
China on Sunday dismissed suggestions that the lifting of the European Union's arms embargo would prompt a surge in weapons purchases, saying it did not have the money to buy “expensive and useless” equipment from the EU.
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/4124f10e-8e3b-11d9-8aae-00000e25
11c8,_i_rssPage=9d5b9ebe-c8bc-11d7-81c6-0820abe49a01.html

Labour
Minimum wage raised to fix labour shortage
SCMP, March 5, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZTPEA585E.html

Labour – employment market
China expects higher urban unemployment rate
Xinhuanet.com, March 6, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-03/06/content_2657
935.htm

Law – judicial system
Advisors underline judicial justice in harmonious society
People’s Daily, March 6, 2005
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200503/06/eng20050306_
175763.html

Media – press freedom / Politics – NPC
Party propaganda department bans media “over” coverage of mine accidents as meetings of NPC and CPPCC in progress
“两会” 中宣部：媒体禁止炒作矿难
Dajiyuan.com, March 6, 2005
http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/5/3/6/n838286.htm

Political dissidents - petitions and protests
China parliament protesters held
BBC, 2005/03/07
Up to 20 people have staged a protest in Beijing's Tiananmen Square, outside the building hosting China's annual parliamentary session.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/asia-pacific/4324821.stm

Politics – political reform
Political reform a pre-requisite of the buildup of harmonious society
新政构建和谐社会　先要改革政治体制
Chinesenewsnet.com, March 6, 2005
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/Forums/BackSt
age/2005_3_5_16_1_21_152.html

Politics – NPC & CPPCC
Jiang submits final resignation
SCMP, March 5, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZZ11L985E.html

Population
China to continue keeping birth rate low
Xinhuanet.com, March 7, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-03/07/content_266117
2.htm

China ponders gender ID law
Big News Network, 7th March, 2005 (UPI)
A Chinese legislator is calling for tighter regulations on the use of ultrasound machines to identify the sex of fetuses, a report said Monday.
http://story.chinanationalnews.com/p.x/ct/9/id/4dfcc74c6759588
f/cid/9366300fc9319e9b/

Public health / Politics – NPC & CPPCC
Medical monitoring, price reforms to help poor and tackle graft
SCMP, March 7, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZBJ2L985E.html

Public health - AIDS
China plans better AIDS treatment in 2005
Big News Network, 6th March, 2005 (UPI)
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao promised Saturday to accelerate reform and development of health care in 2005, including disease prevention and emergency systems.
http://story.chinanationalnews.com/p.x/ct/9/id/a14c8ba74fd72f
7a/cid/9366300fc9319e9b/

Reform - social development
China to Beef up Weak Links in Social Development
Xinhua News Agency March 6, 2005
China will spend 13.78 percent more on beefing up weak links in social development.
http://china.org.cn/english/China/121913.htm

China to Help More Street Children
Xinhua News Agency March 7, 2005
China is taking steps to deal with its increasing number of homeless children, said Zhang Shifeng, deputy director of the Ministry Civil Affairs' social welfare office.
http://china.org.cn/english/2005/Mar/121989.htm

Rural issues - poverty
China's Wen spells out action to beat inequality
FT, March 7 2005
Wen Jiabao, China's premier, laid out his government's agenda for the next year at the start of the annual National People's Congress with a speech stressing action to address economic inequalities, inefficiencies and imbalances.
http://story.chinanationalnews.com/p.x/ct/9/id/7d34f19c0553bb
75/cid/9366300fc9319e9b

State secrets
Sensitive archives 'have not been doctored'
SCMP, March 7, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZ9MGA585E.html

Women - employment
Job Fair for Women Attracts a Crowd
Shanghai Daily March 7, 2005
The Shanghai Women's Federation organized a job fair exclusively for women yesterday, in response to a survey suggesting a growing number of young women can't find work in the city.
http://china.org.cn/english/China/121994.htm

Taiwan
China: Keep Taiwan Out of Alliance
AP, Mar 6, 2005
China's foreign minister warned Japan and the United States on Sunday not to include Taiwan within the scope of their military alliance, saying Beijing would not permit interference in what it considers an internal matter.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/ap/20050306/ap_on_re_as/china_us_taiwan

Friday, March 04, 2005

March 4, 2005

Top news of the day

Media – press freedom / NPC
US photographer beat up by Beijing police
美国摄影记者在北京遭警察殴打
Radio Free Asia, March 3, 2005
A US photographer working for AFP was surrounded and had his camera taken away by Beijing police when he was taking pictures at State Bureau for letters and calls (國家信訪局), where he saw officials pushing petitioners.
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/xinwen/2005/03/03/afp/

Religion
At least 10 foreign church leaders expelled from China
中国驱逐至少十名外国教会领袖
Chinesenewsnet.com, March 4, 2005
More than 10 foreign church leaders in China, 8 of which were US citizens, were expelled by the authority in February, while 140 Chinese family church leaders had been detained for interrogation.
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/SinoNews/Main
land/cna_2005_03_03_19_38_03_401.html




News


Death penalty
Regional offices to vet death penalties
SCMP, March 4, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZ1VPJ985E.html

Supreme Court to review top penalty
Xinhuanet.com, March 4, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-03/04/content_2647
119.htm

Disaster / labour – industrial accidents
Blast next to school leaves students dead
SCMP, March 4, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZ1XPJ985E.html

Economic Development
China's development plans to draw on CPPCC's ideas: Jia Qinglin
People’s Daily, March 4, 2005
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200503/03/eng20050303_175
436.html

Education
China experiences rising school dropout rate
China Daily, March 4, 2005
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-03/04/content_
421520.htm

Environment
6,500 polluters punished
Xinhuanet.com, March 4, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-03/04/content_2647
514.htm

Government – taxation
Income tax threshold expected to rise
Xinhuanet.com, March 4, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-03/04/content_2647
281.htm

Human rights – bilateral ties
Senator McCain urges China to review human rights conditions
麦凯恩参议员促中国检讨人权状况
Voice of America, March 3, 2005
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/w2005-03-03-voa86.cfm

Human rights – human rights defender / Law – law profession
Focus: Current conditions of Chinese lawyers
專訪：中國律師處境現狀
BBC News, March 3, 2005
http://news.bbc.co.uk/chinese/trad/hi/newsid_4310000/newsid
_4316800/4316835.stm

Labour
NPC deputy proposes law against employment discrimination
Xinhuanet.com, March 4, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-03/04/content_2648
145.htm

Media – internet
Chinese Censors and Web Users Match Wits
New York Times, March 4, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/04/international/asia/04cen
sor.html

Natural resources / Energy
Stop building illegal power plants: Wen
SCMP, March 4, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZN08A585E.html

Politics – NPC & CPPCC
Beijing Clamps Down as Parliament Delegates Gather
Reuters via YahooNew.com, March 4, 2005
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=574&ncid=
731&e=2&u=/nm/20050304/wl_nm/china_parliament_dc

Dissidents watched closely by the authority during meeting times
北京两会丁子霖，蒋彦永，刘晓波等受监视
Boxun.com, March 3, 2005
http://www.peacehall.com/news/gb/china/2005/03/2005030
30023.shtml

Population – urbanization
China's urban areas to be home to 1.1 billion people in 2050
AFP via YahooNews.com, March 4, 2005
http://au.news.yahoo.com/050304/19/tcez.html

Poverty
China Worries About Economic Surge That Skips the Poor
New York Times, March 4, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/04/international/asia/04
china.html

Prison – re-education through labour
Reforming the system of re-reduction through labour (RTL): two ways to go
劳教制度改革的两种路径选择
China Youth Daily, March 4, 2005
http://zqb.cyol.com/gb/zqb/2005-03/04/content_1042369.htm

Rural – agricultural development
$24 bln govt fund to support farmers
Xinhuanet.com, March 4, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-03/04/content_2647
217.htm

Society
Unbearable burden of housing
Xinhuanet.com, March 4, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-03/04/content_2648
164.htm

Wednesday, March 02, 2005

March 3, 2005


Top news of the day

Children – child labour
Hebei textile factory owner covers up child labour death with the help of police
河北老板将童工活着送去火葬闷死，警察庇护凶嫌
Boxun.com, March 3, 2005
Human rights group reported that an owner of a textile factory in a rural village in Hebei covered-up the death of 5 female child labour aged from 14 to 17 who inhaled charcoal fumes in the factory.
http://www.peacehall.com/news/gb/yuanqing/2005/03/2005
03031134.shtml



Death penalty
Death penalty review to return to Supreme Court next year
最高人民法院有望明年收回死刑复核权
EastDay.com, March 3, 2005
Sources close to the People’s Supreme Court revealed that death penalty review would likely to return to the Supreme Court next year, marking a crucial move in the death penalty reform.
http://china.eastday.com/eastday/news/node37955/node37957/
node37979/node51950/userobject1ai905641.html

Disaster / Labour - industrial accidents
20 children killed in China blast
Reuters via YahooNews.com, March 3, 2005
A cache of explosives at the home of a coal mine manager blew up in a town in Shanxi, killing him and at least 20 children at a nearby grade school.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/nm/2005
0303/wl_nm/china_explosion_dc



News

Bilaterals - US/China
China fires back at U.S. rights criticisms, accuses Washington of violations
AP, Thursday March 3, 2005
http://asia.news.yahoo.com/050303/ap/d88jcr8o0.html

Gender
Gender equality hits mainstream
China Daily, March 3, 2005
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-03/03/content
_421158.htm

Gender – marriage
Marriage Law most familiar among women
Xinhuanet.com, March 3, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-03/03/content_26417
97.htm

Hukou
New law to guarantee free migration
Xinhuanet.com, March 3, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-03/03/content_26427
93.htm

June 4th – EU arms ban
EU may be penalised over plan to lift arms sales ban
SCMP, March 3, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZSHMJ985E.html

Labour – industrial accidents
Guangdong senior officials required to resign for industrial accidents killing more than 50 people, according new regulation
广东规定事故一次死亡50人以上地市领导须辞职
EastDay.com, March 3, 2005
http://china.eastday.com/eastday/news/node37955/node37957/
node37979/node51950/userobject1ai906053.html

Resources rolled out to prevent mining disasters
SCMP, March 3, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZU45A585E.html

Owners forced to fund mine safety upgrading
Xinhuanet.com, March 3, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-03/03/content_264
1565.htm

Law – legal reform / re-education through labour
NPC set to discard re-education through labour (RTL)
中国人大今年将立法废除劳教
Dajiyuan.com, March 3, 2005
http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/5/3/3/n834008.htm

Migrant workers
China offers more jobs to migrant millions
Xinhuanet.com, March 3, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-03/03/content_2642
200.htm

South China Feels Acute Labor Shortage
Xinhua News Agency March 3, 2005
Thousands of local enterprises in Guangdong report a combined need for at least 2 million workers if they want to operate at full capacity, according to an official with the provincial government.
http://china.org.cn/english/2005/Mar/121578.htm

Politics – NPC
NPC progress in processing bills
Xinhuanet.com, March 3, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-03/03/content_2642
537.htm

Politics - Political reforms / NPC
Hopes for political reform dashed as party cements power
SCMP, March 3, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZIA7A585E.html

Population – one-child policy / Law
Criminalized illegal sex-identification to revive sex-ratio
我国男女性别比例失衡 非法鉴定胎儿性别应负刑责
Legal Daily, March 3, 2005
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/bm/2005-03/03/content_191
922.htm

Protests and petitions
Thousands of Petitioners Converge on Beijing Ahead of NPC, Hundreds Detained
Radio Free Asia, March 2, 2005
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/politics/2005/03/02/china_
NPC_petitioners/

Resettlement – forceful eviction
Displaced villagers to miss out on profits from land auction
SCMP, March 3, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZ1IMJ985E.html

Religion
Rights group announces UN judgment on China’s arbitrary detention of church leader Zhang Yinan (張義南)
对华援助协会公布联合国就张义南被任意拘禁作出的裁定
Boxun.com, March 2, 2005
http://www.peacehall.com/news/gb/religion/2005/03/20050
3020722.shtml

Rural issues / NPC
Problems lurk behind contented farmers
SCMP, March 3, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZOJUK985E.html

China to Subsidize Farmers with 5.5b Yuan
Xinhua News Agency March 3, 2005
http://china.org.cn/english/China/121660.htm#

Hong Kong – Basic Law
HK deputies may revive move to review Basic Law
SCMP, March 3, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZXHMJ985E.html

Taiwan
China Plans to Pass Anti-Secession Law
AP, Mar 3, 2005
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/ap/20050303/ap_on_re_as/china_tough_on_taiwan

Tibet
"White Paper of distorted facts and figures"
TYC, March 03, 2005
http://www.phayul.com/news/article.aspx?article=%22White+Paper+of+distorted+facts+and+figures%22+TYC&id=9150

March 2, 2005

Top news of the day

Law - Legal profession
Guo Guoting demands public hearing over unreasonable treatments of the authority
郭国汀律师要求举行听证会
Dajiyuan.com, March 2, 2005
Guo Guoting (郭國汀), a renowned lawyer for defending cases of political dissidents, demanded a public hearing over maltreatment by the Shanghai authority, who took away his computer and lawyer license and threatened of giving him administrative punishment.
http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/5/3/2/n832952.htm


Politics - NPC
Petitioners taken away as Beijing tightens security for NPC meetings
北京加强戒备 大客车带走上访者
Radio Free Asia, March 1, 2005
Witnesses reported that at least 100 petitioners in Beijing, most of whom women, were taken away by police early this week as the government tightened security for the NPC and CPPCC meetings.
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/xinwen/2005/03/01/shangfangzhe/




News

Corruption
Communist Party Leaders Struggle to Contain Rising Corruption in China
Voice of America, March 1, 2005
http://www.voanews.com/english/2005-03-01-voa7.cfm

Education - compulsory
Education Ministry Reports Progress in 2004
Xinhua News Agency March 2, 2005
By the end of 2004, 93.6 percent of children were enrolled in the nation's nine-year compulsory education program, said the Ministry of Education's Han Jin at a press conference on Tuesday.
http://china.org.cn/english/2005/Mar/121511.htm

Human rights – bilateral ties
US attacks China's record on civil rights
SCMP, March 2, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZP6RK985E.html

Asian Nations Respond Angrily to Annual US Human Rights Report
VOA, 01 March 2005
Leading the criticism was China, which accused the United States of implementing a double standard on human rights, and interfering in its internal affairs.
http://www.voanews.com/english/2005-03-01-voa9.cfm

China to issue human rights record of the United States
People's Daily, March 2, 2005
The Information Office of the State Council will issue on March 3 the Human Rights Record of the United States in 2004.
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200503/02/eng20050302_175
185.html

June 4th – prisoners – Zhao Ziyang
Rehabilitate Zhao, urge Tiananmen relatives
SCMP, March 2, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZALJJ985E.html

June 4th – EU arms ban
Rights group urges EU not to lift arms ban
人权组织吁欧盟勿解除军售禁令
Voice of America, March 1, 2005
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/W2005-03-01-voa75.cfm

Taiwan raps EU over plans to lift China arms ban
SCMP, March 2, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZC0SK985E.html

China's Tiananmen families seek parliament redress
Reuters, March 1, 2005
http://www.deepikaglobal.com/ENG4_sub.asp?ccode=ENG4&new
scode=94358

Law – legal profession
Lawyers take high risk in defending social justice
中国律师维护社会正义风险大
Voice of America, March 1, 2005
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/2005-03-01-voa62.cfm

Media - internet
Internet curbs tightened
SCMP, March 2, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitech/ZZZGG0A585E.html

Featured article: commercialization and freedom of speech of internet media in China
萧强：中国网络媒体高度商业化与言论自由
Chinesenewsnet.com, March 2, 2005
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/Opinion/2005_
3_1_20_10_35_7.html

Police – crime
China Confronts Rising Crime in a Fast-track Economy
Voice of America, February 28, 2005
http://www.voanews.com/english/2005-02-28-voa9.cfm

Politics
Small reforms could change whole society
Xinhuanet.com, March 1, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-03/02/content_263
6918.htm

Politics – NPC
Walking the nationalist tightrope
SCMP, March 2, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZ842A585E.html

China tightens Internet security during imminent plenary NPC meeting
People’s Daily, March 2, 2005
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200503/01/eng20050301_
175140.html

Protests and petitions
China to reshuffle petition system to meet new regulation
Xinhuanet.com, March 1, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-03/01/content_263
5625.htm

Public health
Over 65% Chinese people not covered by medical insurance and a quarter do not take medical treatment when they are sick
中国65.7%居民无医疗保险 1/4的人有病不去就医
EastDay.com, March 2, 2005
http://china.eastday.com/eastday/news/node37955/node37957/
node37979/node51862/userobject1ai904456.html

Public health - HIV/AIDS
China detects 539 HIV positive cases in border check-up in 2004:
World News, March 1, 2005
http://story.chinanationalnews.com/p.x/ct/9/id/3cf018ff74df23
a7/cid/9366300fc9319e9b/

Chinese HIV sufferers must tell spouses
Big News Network, 1st March, 2005 (UPI)
Anyone from Southwest China's Yunnan Province who tests positive for HIV must inform their spouse, the official China Daily said Monday.
http://story.chinanationalnews.com/p.x/ct/9/id/48abfcd4046f89
e1/cid/9366300fc9319e9b/

Society - divorce
China tries to stem soaring divorce rate
The Guardian, March 2, 2005
Chinese authorities are sending "think again" letters to couples applying for divorce after the number of people ending their marriages surged by 21% last year.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/china/story/0,7369,1428224,00.html
?gusrc=rss

Hong Kong
Reports: Hong Kong's Leader Plans to Quit
AP via YahooNews.com, March 2, 2005
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=516&a
mp;amp;ncid= 731&e=10&u=/ap/20050302/ap_on_re_as/hong
_kong_politics

Democracy death-knell: Martin Lee
The Standard, March 2, 2005
http://www.thestandard.com.hk/stdn/std/Front_Page/GC02
Aa02.html

Tuesday, March 01, 2005

March 1, 2005


Top news of the day

Human Rights – bilateral ties
China Gets Tough Marks in U.S. Rights Report
Reuters via YahooNews.com, February 28, 2005
In the latest report on human rights published by the US State Department, China is highlighted for the government’s poor human rights record and is criticized for persistent human rights abuses on religion and the political dissidents.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=615&ncid=
731&e=9&u=/nm/20050228/pl_nm/rights_asia_dc


June 4th
Families of June 4th victims urge to review June 4th massacre in Open Letter
六四难属公开致函两会代表，呼吁讨论审议八九六四事件
Radio Free Asia, February 28, 2005
Ding Zilin and more than 100 other family members of people killed or injured in the 1989 crackdown in Tiananmen Square wrote an open letter to the National People’s Congress and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference urging for reviewing the incident.
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/xinwen/2005/02/28/dingzilin/

News

Education
Extra investment in education urged
SCMP, March 1, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZJKY9585E.html

Environment
GDP ecological costs closely calculated
Xinhuanet.com, March 1, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-03/01/content_263
1851.htm

Gender – marriage
Divorce rate surges 20pc in one year
SCMP, March 1, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZUJFJ985E.html

Gender – sex workers
Featured article: Aids epidemic in China provides insights for legalizing sex work?
京虎子来稿：艾滋病推动中国“妓女合法化”？
Chinesenewsnet.com, February 28, 2005
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/Opinion/2005
_2_28_10_9_7_688.html

Government – governance and accountability
Excerpted article: What have China achieved in the past two years under the leadership of Hu and Wen?
明报：「胡温新政」两年成绩单
Chinesenewsnet.com, March 1, 2005
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/SinoNews/Main
land/2005_2_28_17_4_17_974.html

Top legislature to conduct law enforcement inspections
People’s Daily, March 1, 2005
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200503/01/eng20050301_
175031.html

Who audit the Audit Department?
谁来审计审计部门
China Youth Daily, March 1, 2005
http://zqb.cyol.com/gb/zqb/2005-03/01/content_1039382.htm

Hukou
Freedom of mobility: the ultimate goal of the Hukou legislation
迁徙自由：户籍立法的终极目标
China Youth Daily, March 1, 2005
http://zqb.cyol.com/gb/zqb/2005-03/01/content_1039372.htm

Labour – protests
4 labour activists arrested after participating in a Shenzhen labour protest
深圳工潮四工人被拘捕
Radio Free Asia, February 27, 2005
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/xinwen/2005/02/27/gongchao/

Law – legal profession
An unfortunate day for dissidents’ lawyer Guo Guoting (郭國汀): computer and lawyer license taken away by the authority
郭国汀律师遭遇黑色元宵节
Boxun News, February 28, 2005
http://www.peacehall.com/news/gb/china/2005/02/20050228
1849.shtml

Politics
New call for crackdown on 'hostile forces'
The Standard, March 1, 2005
http://www.thestandard.com.hk/stdn/std/China/GC01Ad08.html

CPPCC leader calls for democracy, unity for coming annual session
People’s Daily, March 1, 2005
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200503/01/eng20050301_
175030.html

Politics – NPC
Chinese top legislature publicizes annual legislation plan with 31 drafts
People’s Daily, March 1, 2005
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200503/01/eng20050301_
175028.html

Political dissidents (imprisonment)
Dissident jailed and exploited the right to work for involving in the setup of new political party
参与组建新党 被中共监禁并剥夺工作权
Dajiyuan.com, March 1, 2005
http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/5/3/1/n830921.htm

Protests and petitions / Public health
Sars victims blast officials for ignoring their plight
SCMP, March 1, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZRKY9585E.html

Public health – HIV aids
In her own words: Aids orphan accuses her adopted father of embezzling her donated funds
捐款疑遭“養父”吞佔 艾滋孤兒的血淚自白
Asia Times Online, February 28, 2005
http://www.atchinese.com/2005/02/0228rep.htm

Religion
China Enacting New Regulations on Religion
AP via YahooNews.com, February 28, 2005
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=516&ncid
=731&e=10&u=/ap/20050228/ap_on_re_as/china_religion

Rural issues
Disenfranchised farmers are paying the price
SCMP, March 1, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZIJFJ985E.html

Society – ethnic minority
Minorities to receive more funding
SCMP, March 1, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZLF0A585E.html

North Korea
U.S. Slams China's Repatriation of North Koreans
Radio Free Asia, February 25, 2005
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/2005/02/25/us_nkorea/

Sunday, February 27, 2005

February 26-28, 2005

Top news of the day

Detention – Chen Xiaoming (陳小明)
Shanghai rights activist Chen Xiaoming detained before US Consulate visit
上海一维权者(陳小明)在见美领事前被截
Voice of America, February 26, 2005
Shanghai resident, Chen Xiaoming (陳小明), is reported taken away by the police on his way to an appointment at the U.S. Consulate to speak with a consular official about the case of detained petitioner Mao Hengfeng (毛恒鳯).
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/w2005-02-26-voa41.cfm




News

Corruption
Wen in new salvo against corruption
SCMP, February 28, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZH8KK985E.html

International anti-corruption group Transparency International talks about corruption in China
国际反腐组织谈中外腐败
Voice of America, February 27, 2005
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/w2005-02-27-voa33.cfm

Environment - disasters
Yellow River Ice Thaw a Threat
China Daily, February 28, 2005
http://china.org.cn/english/China/121368.htm#

Human rights
China, Egypt, Sudan among countries cited for human rights abuses
Associated Press Newswires, 28 February 2005
The U.S. State Department in its annual report on human rights found systematic torture in Syria, serious abuses in China and the killing of civilians by government-backed militia in Sudan's troubled Darfur province.
http://www3.cjad.com/content/cp_article.asp?id=/global_feeds/CanadianPress/WorldNews/w022835A.htm

Labour – employment market
Officials refuse to admit labour crisis
SCMP, February 26, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZ1KIK985E.html

'We just can't find suitable candidates'
SCMP, February 26, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZXJIK985E.html

Labour – industrial accidents
Coal mine accident kills 4 in Shaan'xi
Xinhuanet.com, February 26, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-02/26/content_262
2083.htm

Law
12 new laws to take effect on March 1
从3月1日起12项新法律法规新春添暖意
Xinhuanet.com, February 28, 2005
http://politics.people.com.cn/GB/1026/3206118.html

Criminal Law Amended to Curb Credit Card Crimes
Xinhua News Agency, February 26, 2005
http://china.org.cn/english/government/121244.htm

Law – judicial system
UN hits out at China's judicial system for political and arbitrary bias
AFP via YahooNews.com, February 25, 2005
http://au.news.yahoo.com/050225/19/t8mn.html

Expert Witness System to Be Changed
Xinhua News Agency February 26, 2005
China's expert witnesses, who are currently employed by judicial or other public departments, will soon be independent civil agents, according to a draft decision on appraisal of justice submitted to China's top legislature Friday.
http://china.org.cn/english/government/121247.htm

Natural resources and energy
Seasonal blackouts expected instead of major power cuts
SCMP, February 26, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZJTS9585E.html

Police – administrative detention (labour camp)
UN urges China to review labour camps system
ABC via YahooNews.com, February 26, 2005
http://au.news.yahoo.com/050226/21/t8ya.html

Politics
Jiang's departure will complete transition of power
SCMP, February 28, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZW3X9585E.html

Population – one-child policy
Tougher line sought on aborting girl fetuses
SCMP, February 28, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZ0TU9585E.html

Political dissidents – Hada (哈達)
US congressman urges China to release Mogol dissident Hada
美议员促胡锦涛释放蒙古族异议人士哈达
Chinesenewsnet.com, February 25, 2005
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/SinoNews/Main
land/2005_2_25_18_26_31_422.html

Protests and petitions – UN
Full text of an open petition letter to UN submitted by 106 Chinese dissidents
附件：中国106人致联合国公开信
Voice of America, February 26, 2005
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/w2005-02-26-voa7.cfm

Public health
New Henan Health Checks Prove Controversial
China Daily, February 26, 2005
When compulsory HIV/AIDS and venereal disease testing became a must for all public entertainment employees in Henan Province four days ago, officials were not banking on the public debate which followed.
http://china.org.cn/english/China/121254.htm

Reform - population control
Criminal Penalties Mulled for Gender-based Abortions
China Daily, February 28, 2005
Members of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) called on Saturday for a new criminal law prohibiting gender-based abortion and fetal gender identification for non-medical purposes.
http://china.org.cn/english/2005/Feb/121283.htm

Rewards Give Impetus to One-child Policy
Xinhua News Agency February 27, 2005
Zhang Jianli and Wang Shulian, an old couple in a village of Chengde in north China's Hebei Province, recently received 1,200 yuan (US$144) in rewards from the local government for sticking to the government's one-child policy.
http://china.org.cn/english/China/121371.htm

Religion
China to enact new regulations on religious freedom
Associated Press Newswires, 28 February 2005
China is implementing new religious regulations that the government says will protect freedom of faith. Critics complain that the broad guidelines could instead be used to persecute religious groups.
www.ap.org

Society
Seeking a modern role for ancient values
SCMP, February 26, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZAM9J985E.html

Society – ethnicity
China publishes white paper on regional autonomy for ethnic minorities
Xinhuanet.com, February 28, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-02/28/content_262
7889.htm

Hong Kong – the Basic Law
Think-tank to study HK-Beijing ties
SCMP, February 28, 2005
http://hongkong.scmp.com/hknews/ZZZ98KK985E.html

Tibet
China says minority separatists still active
Associated Press Newswires, 28 February 2005
China condemned alleged ethnic minority separatists Monday, saying they're backing independence for Tibet and the country's far western Muslim region.
www.ap.org
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