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.

Wednesday, March 07, 2007

March 7, 2007

Top News of the Day
Human Rights Defender – Takphel

China Releases Supporter of Jailed Tibetan Monk
Radio Free Asia, March 06, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/english/tibetan/2007/03/06/tibet_release/
Chinese authorities released Takphel from prison on February 26. He was sentenced to five years' imprisonment in 2003, allegedly for reading out the contents of an audio tape made by jailed monk Tenzin Delek Rinpoche to Radio Free Asia. Tenzin Delek was given life imprisonment in 2005 for an alleged bomb plot in Chengdu. Takphel remains under virtual house arrest in Tibet.

News
Bilateral Ties

Iran, Sudan and Nigeria Removed from China Incentive List
Sudan Tribune, March 02, 2007
http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article20538

Civil Society
China's NGOs Learn to Stand Alone
Los Angeles Times, March 07, 2007
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-gongo6mar06,1,5604273.story?coll=la-headlines-worldgongo6m
ar06,1,5604273.story?coll=la-headlines-world


湖北千民大会谈维权 用民主法制抗非法征地 (1,000 Hubei Villagers Hold Meeting to Discuss Protesting Illegal Land Grabs)
Radio Free Asia, March 07, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/03/06/hubei/

Government
More Women Elected as Village Heads
Xinhuanet, March 07, 2007
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-03/06/content_58064
06.htm


Human Rights
China Raps Japan over Sex Slaves
BBC, March 06, 2007
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6422091.stm

US Singles Out China, Myanmar on Human Rights
Agence France-Presse (via YahooNews), March 07, 2007
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070307/pl_afp/usrightsasia_0
70307021228;_ylt=AkEuqu
LxgzkVyRCCu7Hg58NPzWQA

Human Rights Defender – Fu Xiancai (付先财)
Paralysed China Activist Seeks Justice in Parliament
Reuters, March 06, 2007
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/PEK328174.htm

Related Information
HRIC Press Release: Fu Xiancai Appeals to National People's Congress
Human Rights in China, March 05, 2007
http://www.hrichina.org/public/contents/item?item_id=33975

Land Policy
一个拆迁户给吴敬琏的信 (Letter to the Editor: Economist's Analysis of Compensation for Evictees Ignores Legitimate Housing Concerns)
Nanfang City News, March 07, 2007
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/southnews/spqy/200703070541
.asp


Subsidies May Placate Rural Poor Who Lose Land
South China Morning Post, March 07, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZP1S5AWYE.html

Multilateral Relations
China Sends 5,000 Peacekeepers to UN Operations: FM
People's Daily, March 07, 2007
http://english.people.com.cn/200703/06/eng20070306_354823.h
tml


Olympics
Olympic Games' Security Guaranteed
Xinhuanet, March 06, 2007
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-03/06/content_5806
298.htm


Poverty
Poor Western Provinces Call for Special Economic Treatment
South China Morning Post, March 07, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZL1S5AWYE.html

Protests and Petitions
辽宁女工拼死上访 (Liaoning Women Petition in Beijing over Embezzlement of Retirement Funds, Other Labor Issues)
Ming Pao, March 07, 2007
http://www.mingpaonews.com/20070307/cab1.htm

两会期间访民遭严控 不同群体发出呼声 (Different Petitioning Groups Speak Out During NPC and CPPCC Sessions)
Radio Free Asia, March 06, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/03/06/liangh
ui/


大批上海访民被软禁 责两会是纸上谈兵 (Many Shanghai Petitioners Put Under House Arrest During NPC and CPPCC Sessions)
Radio Free Asia, March 06, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/03/06/shang
hai/


中国政治犯的家人要求当局改善犯人待遇 (Families Write Open Letter Demanding More Humane Treatment for 4 Political Prisoners)
Radio Free Asia, March 06, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/xinwen/2007/03/06/china_dissid
ent_abuse/


千名访民上书人大政协 要求废除信访等制度 (1,000 Petitioners Co-Sign Letter to NPC Delegates Demanding Reforms of Petitioning System)
Radio Free Asia, March 05, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/03/05/petiti
oner/


Public Health
Guangdong Ridicules H5N1 Claims
South China Morning Post, March 07, 2007
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZ7IM5AWYE.html

奥斯卡光环下的“颍州孩子” (Lives of the Kids Filmed in "The Blood of Yingzhou District" Still Full of Challenges)
Nanfang City News, March 07, 2007
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/southnews/jwxy/20070307000
8.asp


400毫升献血证可换80元 记者亲历:广州献血后找“血头”换钱 (Underground Blood Trade Thrives in Guangzhou: 400ml of Blood Sells for 80 Yuan)
Nanfang City News, March 07, 2007
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/southnews/jwxy/20070307002
2.asp