Lu Guoping, Chief of Staff of China Ministry of Land and Resources has been under disciplinary investigation for corruption, Xinhua reported. Apparently he was removed from his position because Xinhua used “former Chief of Staff” to identify his position. Lu made his last appearance on October 12 as Chief of Staff at an official function.
Source: Xinhua, October 31, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2008-10/31/content_10283412_1.htm
On October 30, 2008, Nan Fang Daily published an article by Du Guang, a retied party official. The title is “Why do they slander democracy and freedom?” The author criticized an article “Democracy in the Fists” in “Beijing Evening” on October 22, 2008. The latter article cited recent incidents in Taiwan and Thailand to ridicule democracy and freedom in other countries. This is an old tactic used by the Communist party since Mao’s era to belittle western values. What’s usually about Du Guang’s article is his strong defense of universal values such as democracy, freedom, equality and human rights. When talking about the role of Chinese media, he wrote: “What common understanding (among medias) should be achieved? Is it maintaining a complete agreement with the Party and be the Party’s tamed tool, or forming a common understanding on universal values?”
Source: Nan Fang Daily, October 30, 2008
http://www.nfdaily.cn/opinion/opinionlist/content/2008-10/30/content_4678061.htm
Huang Songyou, a judge of the China’s highest court, was removed from position and now under investigation for connection with corruption, reported Dong Fang Morning News. On October 28, 2008 the 5th session of the 11th Standing Committee announced the removal of Huang Songyou from the position of Vice President of Supreme People’s Court. It was reported that he was led away by Communist Party disciplinary staff in earlier in October and has not been home since. His family indicated that Huang has been assisting in the investigation of a top level official at the High Court of Guangdong Province for suspected illegal activities in connection with the auction of a piece of real property. Huang is considered the highest-ranking official in China’s judiciary system that has been disciplined since 1949.
Source: The Supreme People’s Court of China, October 29, 2008 http://www.court.gov.cn/news/bulletin/release/200810290004.htm Dong Fang Morning News, October 29, 2008 http://epaper.dfdaily.com/dfzb/html/2008-10/29/content_91392.htm
4,525 county-and-above-level government officials were convicted from 2003 to 2008, said by Wang Shengjun, the Supreme Court’s chief justice, in a report to the Standing Committee of National People’s Congress on October 26. The figure is 77.52% higher than five years before. The courts trialed 1.2 million criminal cases that seriously harm the social security, including crimes endangering national security, terrorist, gang crimes, murder, kidnap, robbery, and drug abuse. 1.6 million people were put in jail.
Source: Xinhua, October 26, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2008-10/26/content_10254667.htm
Jiangxi Province found rampant funding irregularities in its agriculture subsidy programs, reported Xinhua on October 23, 2008. An inspection earlier this year show funding violations in the amount of 796,950,000 yuan, of which 658,960,000 yuan were erroneously delayed, 4,150,000 were arbitrarily retained, 26,300,000 yuan were misappropriated, 1,130,000 yuan were embezzled and 106,410,000 yuan were in other violations. There were 254 cases under investigation. 175 individuals were administratively disciplined. 25 of them have been charged in courts.
Source: Xinhua, October 23, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/legal/2008-10/23/content_10239890.htm
Municipal Communist Party Committee of Wenzhou has dispatched officials to France to seek the return of a high-ranking Party official, Xinhua reported. On September 19, Mr. Yang, a member of Wenzhou Standing Committee started a 12-day official visit to Europe leading a government delegation. While in France, Yang called one of the Wenzhou Communist leaders and submitted his resignation citing health reasons. The Wenzhou City explicitly asked Yang not to resign and ordered him to return to China. October 22, a group of three officials departed for France to meet with Yang.
Source: Xinhua, October 23, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/legal/2008-10/23/content_10240091.htm
China State Administration of Radio, Film & Television and State Administration for Industry & Commerce carried out a campaign in the first half of this year, attacking “illegal sale” of satellite receiving apparatuses. In the past half year, more than 50,000 satellite receiving apparatuses were seized in the name of “illegal sale,” more than 110,000 satellite dishes were dismantled in the name of “illegal installation.” The above organizations held a special conference issuing award for the activity on 17, 2008 in Guangxi. Chinese government only allows hotels accommodating foreign guests to apply installation of satellite receiving apparatus, receiving government sanctioned oversea programs. Residential satellite dish is prohibited.
Source: Radio Free Asia, October 17，2008 http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/weixing-10172008155805.html?searchterm=None
Over 50 errors appeared in Hong Kong “Open Magazine” October issue unexpectedly. The articles were intentionally altered and unreadable. The magazine posted a notice to its readers on its home page apologizing for the errors. Cai Yongmei, the Chief Editor of the magazine said that the incident, the first time in 20 years, was serious. Cai is calling the Hong Kong special region government to investigate the incident and protect magazine’s rights to freedom of speech.
“Open Magazine” is a monthly magazine published in Hong Kong and known for disclosing inside secrets of the mainland Chinese government.
Source: Open Magazine, October 2008
http://www.open.com.hk/0810news.html