温家宝致信中央 请求公开调查财产证清白

请看博讯热点：温家宝家族财富被曝光 
(博讯北京时间2012年10月30日 转载)     (明报) 一位接近中共高层的消息人士透露，温家宝已正式写信给中共高层，坚决要求「立即成立专门机构」，「对我的贪污传言，进行全面的、公开的调查」；「公开给人们一个交代」。
    
     　　一位不能公开自己身分的消息人士表示，近日，《纽约时报》刊登了有关温家宝家族贪污的文章，声称温家宝家族贪污27亿美元，一些媒体立即跟进，掀起了一场针对温家宝的前所未有的大讨伐。温家宝此次致函中共高层，就是对这种贪污传言的回应。 
     
    　　温家宝在这封信中特别要求，对他的贪污腐败传闻调查，「邀请中外媒体派代表参加」，而且他和他的亲属「将无条件地绝对配合这种公开的调查」。
    
     温家宝还表示，如果不能对他的这种贪污传言进行公开的调查，也可以组成专桉调查小组进行独立调查；如果不能进行调查，他则要求高层同意他立即公开自己的财产。
    
     　该消息人士还透露，温家宝在这两封正式递交给中共高层的信中还进一步表示，别说是媒体所传言的贪污27亿美元，「如果调查结果证明我或我的亲属有任何的贪污腐败行为，愿意接受党纪国法的任何惩罚」。温家宝甚至还要求，如果对他和他的所谓家族的公开调查结果证明，他和他的所谓家族有任何贪污腐败的行为，他「都愿意接受公审」和「接受党纪国法的最严厉的惩处」。
    
    该人士表示，这是温家宝第五次正式写信给中共高层要求对他进行独立调查。在此之前他已在政治局会议上多次要求，对他家族的贪污腐败传闻进行调查，并表示如有任何贪污腐败行为，他愿意立即辞职和接受党纪国法处理。温家宝还多次建议，应立即全面推行党政官员财产公开制度，而他愿首先公开自己的财产。
    
     　　而实际上，虽然中共高层实际上并未公开接受温家宝的这种要求，不过由某位高官主管的相关机构早就对温家宝家族的所谓贪污腐败行为，多次进行过非常严密调查，结果并没有发现任何贪污腐败的证据。
    
     　另据一位消息人士透露，曾经参与调查温家宝贪污调查的一位这位高官的亲信私下表示，关于温家宝家族贪污的线索实际上只有三个：一个是温家宝夫人张培莉在台湾买高价珠宝；二是温家宝家族与通过平安保险公司敛财；三是温家宝的儿子化名郑建源敛财。这次《纽约时报》声称温家宝家族贪污，主要根据也就是这三条。不过经过反覆调查，他们发现其实张培莉并未在台湾买过任何珠宝，而只是应邀鑑赏而已。在她鑑赏之后又有人「故意买了珠宝」送给张培莉，也被张培莉拒绝了。可是有关店家为了自己的生意故意宣称张培莉本人购买了高价珠宝，因此造成了所谓张培莉在台湾高价买珠宝的传言。至于平安保险，第一该公司运作完全合法，第二实际上温家宝家属与平安保险公司早就没有任何关系。因此，说温家宝家族通过平安保险公司敛财，实在难以成立。而说温家宝的儿子化名郑建源更是离谱，因为郑建源本人早就公开澄清他不是温云松，而且与温云松没有任何关系。
    
     分析人士指出，这次《纽约时报》等对温家宝的贪污腐败报道，其实并无新意，而只是重复了一些早已在网络上流传且已经被证实根本不成立的传言而已。
    
     　不过，在这个时候利用《纽约时报》对中国社会政治了解的局限来发动对温家宝的这种攻击，并不是偶然的，而是要在关键时刻打击中共内部的改革派。因为温家宝可以说是继胡耀邦、赵紫阳后中共的又一位改革重要推动者，而且他坚决反对薄熙来的唱红打黑，更是一直在力主改革派人物进入下一届政治局常委。现在中共高层正在为十八大政治局人选进行最后的激烈斗争，以贪污为借口对温家宝进行攻击，目的是非常显然的。
     
    　　英国金融时报报导，代表大陆总理温家宝家庭的律师表示，「纽约时报一篇声称温家宝的亲属拥有27亿美元财产的报导不实；温家宝一家将保留追究纽约时报法律责任的权利」。另据加拿大华人网加国无忧报导，一位接近大陆中央高层的消息人士透露，温家宝已致函中央高层，要求对其贪污传言进行调查，并表示，「如果贪污，愿意接受公审。」
    
     中国大陆高层领导人公开批评外媒的报导并威胁采取法律行动是罕见的。对于着力打造「人民的总理」廉洁形象的温家宝来说，《纽约时报》报导的破坏力特别大。美国布鲁金斯学会(Brookings Institute)的中国政治专家李成表示，如此直接批评媒体报导的做法是空前的；他认为，「温家宝的做法与中国其他领导人有所不同。他的反应可能成为一个正面榜样」。
    
     　据报导，一位接近大陆中央高层的消息人士透露，温家宝已写信给大陆中央高层，坚决要求「立即成立专门机构」，「对我的贪污传言，进行全面的、公开的调查；公开给人们一个交代」。
    
     这位表示不能公开自己身份的消息人士表示，温家宝此次致函中央高层，就是对贪污传言的回应。温家宝在这封信中特别要求，对他的贪污腐败调查，「邀请中外媒体派代表参加」，而且他和他的亲属「将无条件地绝对配合这种公开的调查」。
    
     　温家宝还表示，如果不能对他的这种贪污传言进行公开的调查，也可以组成专桉调查小组进行独立调查；如果不能进行调查，他则要求高层同意他立即公开自己的财产。该消息人士还透露，温家宝甚至要求，如果对他和他的所谓家族的公开调查结果证明，他和他的所谓家族有任何贪污腐败的行为，他「都愿意接受公审」和「接受党纪国法的最严厉的惩处」。
    
     该消息人士表示，这是温家宝第五次正式写信给大陆高层要求对他进行独立调查。而实际上，虽然高层实际上并未公开接受温家宝的这种要求，不过由某位高官主管的相关机构早就对温家宝家族的所谓贪污腐败行为，多次进行过非常严密调查，结果并没有发现任何贪污的证据。

Bo Expelled From Legislature

2012-10-26

The fallen Chinese political star's trial could come soon, analysts say.

AFP

The ousted Bo Xilai (c) walks past Premier Wen Jiabao (l) and President Hu Jintao at the National People's Congress annual session in Beijing, March 9, 2012.

China's parliament announced on Friday it has expelled fallen Chinese political star Bo Xilai from its ranks following accusations of corruption and sexual misconduct, removing the former Chongqing ruling Chinese Community Party chief's parliamentary privilege and paving the way for a trial.

Bo, whose wife has been convicted of murder, was removed from his post "late last month" by the standing committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), the official Xinhua news agency reported.

"According to the law on deputies to the NPC and to local people's congresses, his post was terminated," the agency quoted the committee as saying.

"Investigations...showed Bo had abused his power, made severe mistakes and borne major responsibility in the [Wang Lijun] incident," Xinhua said, referring to former police chief Wang's Feb. 6 visit to the U.S. Consulate in the southwestern city of Chengdu, the first public sign that all was not well in Chongqing.

Wang was jailed for 15 years last month for "bending the law for selfish ends," "abuse of power," and "defection."

Xinhua on Friday repeated the official view that Bo was also judged to bear "major responsibility" in the murder of British businessman Neil Heywood, for which his wife Gu Kailai was handed a suspended death sentence on Aug. 20.

The announcement comes as China's ruling Communist Party gears up for a crucial leadership transition at the 18th Party Congress on Nov. 8, amid fallout from the worst political scandal to hit the leadership for more than 20 years.

Legal processes

Beijing-based rights lawyer Liu Xiaoyuan said the authorities in the Chinese capital are currently undertaking legal processes to prepare for the trial of Bo Xilai.

"According to the law on [NPC] delegates, in order to take forcible measures against any delegate above county level, for example, criminal detention or formal arrest, this has to be approved by the NPC standing committee," Liu said.

"This is all part of the legal process."

Liu said there is still plenty of time for a court to hold Bo's trial ahead of the Party Congress on the 18th.

But he added that he personally believes that a trial after the Congress now seems more likely.

"I don't think they would try him during the 18th Party Congress," he said.

Quick trial seen

Hong Kong-based political commentator Zhou Bin said he thinks the move means that a pre-Congress trial for Bo now looks more likely.

"I think they will want to wrap up this affair before the...Congress," Zhou said.

"[That way], they won't have to pass on this burden to the new generation of leaders."

"All the decisions about how to handle this have been made by the incumbent administration, and it might run into some obstacles if it were left to the next leadership to handle," he said.

"I don't think the new administration would want to see that."

The Communist Party last month expelled Bo from the Party for bribery and sexual misconduct, saying criminal proceedings against him would follow, and that he was "responsible" for Heywood's murder last November in Chongqing.

Bo's expulsion from the NPC removes the last formal barrier to a trial, although analysts expect this to be held some months after the next generation of Chinese leaders takes over from outgoing president Hu Jintao and premier Wen Jiabao.

The court that eventually tries Bo is likely to come down heavily on one of China's former political stars, the "princeling" son of revolutionary veteran Bo Yibo, who has rocked the highest echelons of leadership with the biggest political scandal in two decades.

Scripted trials

Political analysts say that the trials of Bo's wife, Gu Kailai, and former right-hand man and police chief Wang Lijun, were both heavily scripted, while a top forensic expert called official evidence against Gu into question.

"Bo was accused of taking advantage of his position to seek profits for others and received huge bribes personally or through his family,"
Xinhua said on Friday, in a report that was substantively similar to previous dispatches about Bo.

"His position was utilized by his wife to seek profits for others, and the Bo family accepted a huge amount of money and property from others," it said, adding: "He was also found to have violated organizational and personnel disciplines and made erroneous decisions in certain promotion cases, resulting in serious consequences."

But Bo's fall hasn't gone entirely uncontested by China's political elite.

In the first high-profile and public support of Bo since his expulsion from the Party, more than 300 left-wing Party members penned an open letter to the NPC this week, calling for a fair trial and more information about criminal proceedings against Bo.

Meanwhile, a prominent criminal lawyer surnamed Li appointed to defend Bo by his family has said in media interviews that he hasn't been able to meet with his client, who is currently being held in Beijing's high-profile Qincheng prison, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday.

He told the paper: "I think the trial shouldn't start before the Congress, as time is too tight, so the rumors that it will start in the next few days are incorrect."

The 300-strong Party Central Committee will start its last meeting of the current 17th Party Congress on Nov. 1, to make way for the new generation of leaders who will be announced at the 18th Congress a few days later.

Reported by Wei Ling for RFA's Cantonese service, and by Xin Yu for the Mandarin service. Translated and written in English by Luisetta Mudie.

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Wen Report May Influence Politics

2012-10-29

The Chinese premier's lawyers dispute a New York Times report that his family has amassed vast wealth.

AFP

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao speaks at the opening session of the National People's Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 5, 2012.

Top Beijing lawyers acting on behalf of outgoing Chinese premier Wen Jiabao's family have rejected a news report alleging the family holds at least U.S.$2.7 billion in hidden assets, but some believe the report would have an impact on local politics.

The lawyers—from two separate Beijing-based law firms—jointly issued a statement to Hong Kong's South China Morning Post newspaper dismissing as “untrue” an Oct. 25 New York Times story that Wen's family has amassed "hidden riches" of billions of dollars.

"The so-called ‘hidden riches’ of the of Wen Jiabao’s family members in the New York Times’ report does not exist," Wang Weidong, Beijing managing partner of Grandall Law firm, and Bai Tao, a corporate and disputes resolution partner at Jun He Law Offices, said in the statement.

They said some family members had engaged in business activities but had not acted illegally in any way.

But the implications of the New York Times article go well beyond simply another story about the ability of another Chinese leader’s family to profit from political connections, said Elizabeth  Economy, director for Asia Studies at the New York-based Council on Foreign Relations.

She said that the piece has the potential to "influence significantly" the broader near-term Chinese political landscape, adding that political reformers have taken a serious hit as Wen has been the torchbearer for political reform within the current leadership.

"Unless Wen steps forward publicly to declare his family’s financial holdings, open their books to the public, and indicate the willingness of his family to face up to the legal consequences of any financial improprieties, his legacy will be tainted and the opportunity for him to shape future political events severely constrained," she said in a report.

Even more devastating, she said, the fall of Wen could harm the political prospects of up-and-coming reformers such as Li Yuanchao and Wang Yang.

Economy said that Wen's hiring of a law firm to fight back against the article’s claims may help preserve his public face, "but it won’t prevent the longer term political fallout within top political circles."

Allegation denied

Wang and Bai, both prominent corporate lawyers who frequently advise multinationals on doing business in China, specifically denied the allegation that Wen’s mother had an investment in her name worth at least $120 million five years ago.

"We will continue to make clarifications regarding untrue reports by the New York Times, and reserve the right to hold it legally responsible," the statement said.

Eileen Murphy, a spokeswoman for the Times, said the newspaper was confident that it had got the facts right, however. "We are standing by our story, which we are incredibly proud of and which is an example of the quality investigative journalism The Times is known for," Murphy said.

According to the testing site GreatFire.org, access to English and Chinese versions of the article "Family of Wen Jiabao Hold a Hidden Fortune in China" was blocked to computers in mainland China on Friday, while Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei accused the paper of "smearing" China with the report.

Censors were also at work on China's hugely popular Twitter-like sites, blocking keyword searches for "Wen Jiabao," and "New York Times," in English and Chinese.

The article said that many of Wen's relatives, including his son, daughter, younger brother and brother-in-law, had become extraordinarily wealthy during his leadership.

After reviewing numerous corporate and regulatory records, the paper said records showed that the prime minister’s relatives, including his wife, had controlled assets worth at least U.S.$2.7 billion.

Many of them "have a knack for aggressive deal-making," it said, adding that their names had been hidden behind "layers of partnerships and investment vehicles involving friends, work colleagues and
business partners."

The article came after a lengthy investigation untangled the family's financial holdings.

"The Times found that Mr. Wen’s relatives accumulated shares in banks, jewelers, tourist resorts, telecommunications companies and infrastructure projects, sometimes by using offshore entities," the paper said.

Cautious politician

Jason Z. Yin, a professor of strategy management and international business at Seton Hall University, said Wen came across as a cautious politician.

"It's not just a question of caution, though; he still has his own ethics," he said.

Economist Zhuyuan Zheng, of Indiana's Ball State University, said he believed that it was inevitable that Wen's family would be in business.

"It's unavoidable that people connected to him would be involved in commercial activity," Zheng said. "But what we don't know is, did they use his power [for their own profit]?"

The business connections and personal wealth of Chinese officials has long been a sensitive topic for the ruling Chinese Communist Party.

But analysts say the Party is under additional pressure following the fall of former Chongqing Party chief Bo Xilai, and ahead of the 18th Party Congress on Nov. 8, when a new generation of Chinese leaders will be announced.

Earlier this month, authorities in the southwestern province of Yunnan destroyed hundreds of thousands of copies of a local newspaper after it reported on an official’s taste for luxury accessories.

The destroyed edition of Dushi Shibao, or Metropolitan Times, carried a story describing Li Dejin, the head of communications of southeastern China’s Fujian provincial office, as flaunting a 50,000
yuan (U.S.$8,000) diamond watch and a 13,000 yuan (U.S.$2,000) leather belt.

The move came after the Chinese government instituted a new “frugal working style” rule for civil servants in July that barred officials from spending public money on lavish banquets or fancy cars and from accepting expensive gifts.

Also in July, a newspaper in the northern Chinese province of Shaanxi suspended a journalist who wrote about local officials' use of luxury cigarettes, while the country's Internet censors blocked access to Bloomberg's website following the agency's expose of overseas wealth linked to the family of vice-president Xi Jinping.

Dozens Detained as Protests Ebb

2012-10-30

Chinese authorities round up participants in mass protests against a plant that would produce toxic chemicals.

AFP

Chinese residents gather outside the city government offices in Ningbo, Oct. 29, 2012.

Authorities in the eastern Chinese city of Ningbo are holding more than 50 people under criminal detention, as protests against the expansion of a petrochemical plant subsided amid renewed pledges from the government that it wouldn't go ahead, residents said on Tuesday.

City officials said 51 people were detained by police, mostly in connection with attacks—or the prevention of attacks—on police officers and damage to police vehicles during protests in Zhenhai township, the planned location of the paraxylene (PX) plant.

Of the 51 people detained, 13 had already been placed under criminal detention, a city spokesman told a news conference late on Monday.

Some protesters were also briefly held for "education" after they refused to obey orders to leave Ningbo's Tianyi Square during protests there on Saturday, but were subsequently released, he said.

Residents said the protests appeared to have ended for the time being.

"It's pretty quiet here today, and there hasn't been much activity on Weibo," said a resident of Zhenhai surnamed Cai.

A second resident, who declined to be named, said the city had "stabilized."

"It was reported [that the project would be canceled] on the Ningbo television news program this afternoon at 2:00 p.m.," she said. "We will believe the leaders, and we will see what happens."

"Even if we don't believe them, we can't go on like this every day."

Planned investment

Downstream petrochemical giant Sinopec had planned to invest U.S. $8.9 billion in expanding its plant in Ningbo, which already produces 500,000 tons of PX a year.

The proposed expansion would have increased oil-refining capacity by 15 million metric tons and annual ethylene production capacity by 1.2 million tons, in a district where residents already complain of acrid-smelling air from existing plants.

Ningbo's vice-mayor Chen Zhongchao told the news conference on Monday that the government had planned to conduct an environmental impact assessment, survey public opinion and hold a public hearing on the project, but that the public had "expressed its concerns before these procedures could be implemented," the official China Daily newspaper reported.

Now, the government says that preliminary work on the Sinopec project has been suspended pending "further scientific evaluation," the paper said.

Ningbo-based democracy activist Xu Xionglong said he believed that most of those detained had been involved in smashing property.

"Things got pretty riotous in Zhenhai these past few days," Xu said. "Some people were smashing police vehicles and attacking police stations."

"I'm guessing that some of those people who have been detained won't be getting out any time soon."

Xu said he had been at the demonstrations in Ningbo throughout the week against the plant, which locals fear will poison the environment and affect their health.

"The people who were detained in Ningbo were held awhile, given a lecture, made to sign a guarantee of good behavior and released," he said.

Weekend clashes

Protests against the PX plant entered a third day on Monday, with many still skeptical of promises by local officials that work on the U.S. $8.9 billion project would halt.

Tens of thousands of city residents took to the streets over the weekend, sparking clashes with police as the week-long environmental protest against the plant expansion reached its peak.

Unconfirmed online reports said the Ningbo government only agreed to back down on the project following intervention from China's outgoing premier Wen Jiabao, who was said to be staying at the Zhaobao Hotel in the city.

However, an employee who answered the phone at the hotel denied Wen had stayed there.

"No, he didn't come here," she said, while Xu quoted police sources as saying they had never received notification of a visit by Wen.

News of the Ningbo protests was censored on China's popular Sina Weibo microblogging service, according to Beijing-based rights lawyer Liu Xiaoyuan.

"They told me the Internet surveillance departments were censoring it," Liu said after he inquired about his own tweet featuring photos of the Ningbo protests, which was deleted.

"I think this is ridiculous," he said. "It's a covert form of news censorship."

Dalian plant

Meanwhile, reports emerged in the Hong Kong media that PX production had increased at an existing plant in the northeastern port city of Dalian, in spite of pledges by the local government to remove the plant following protests by more than 10,000 people in August 2011.

Production at the Dalian plant had increased from 700,000 metric tons annually, to 1.4 million metric tons, the Eastern Daily Newsreported.

The article was unavailable on the popular Chinese Internet search engine Sohu on Tuesday, however.

An employee who answered the phone at the Dalian Fujia Dahua Petrochemical Co. denied the report.

"There's no PX here; this is the wrong number," the employee said. "I don't know about this."

An official who answered the phone at the Dalian municipal environmental protection bureau declined to comment on the report.

"On this matter, you should go through the correct official channels," the official said. "We don't really understand the situation with them over there."

Reported by Grace Kei Lai-see for RFA's Cantonese service, and by Fang Yuan for the Mandarin service. Translated and written in English by Luisetta Mudie.

温家宝妻子张蓓莉的“珠宝人生”

请看博讯热点：温家宝家族财富被曝光 
(博讯北京时间2012年10月29日 转载)     （明鏡網）确切来说，温家宝妻子的珠宝人生应称之为“珠宝鉴定人生”。它始于张蓓莉的大学时代，那时张蓓莉所学习的专业即为岩矿鉴定。大学毕业之后，她成了甘肃某地质大队负责岩矿鉴定的工程师。和她的丈夫一样，在条件极其艰苦的西北地区开始了长达六年的野外考察工作，经她手鉴定过的岩样近万片。
    
     1983年，温家宝奉调进京担任地矿部政策研究室主任。为避免两地分离之苦，张只得放弃自己的工作，随夫进京，在中国地质博物馆就职。 而当时能与岩矿鉴定专业最对口的业务发展方向，似乎只有一个了，那就是宝玉石鉴定，并一手筹建了博物馆的宝玉石陈列室和宝石矿物研究室。 
    上世纪八十年代末，中国经济进入高速发展的阶段，珠宝玉石消费才开始进入中国人的生活。伴随着市场繁荣，合成宝石甚至玻璃冒充天然宝石的情况层出不穷，以次充好的现象也频频发生。当时，地质博物馆的宝石矿物研究室门口，几乎每天都有登门求助的人。
    
    正是在这样的大背景之下，奉上级指示，张蓓莉筹建的宝石矿物研究室开始面向社会开展珠宝鉴定和咨询服务，并于1997年重组了国有的中宝戴梦得股份有限公司。
    
    但作为部里指派的负责人，张蓓莉很快意识到同属于一个部门的两块业务，珠宝的销售和鉴定存在关联，于是建议将从事珠宝连锁销售的“中宝戴梦得”的资产合法合规地转让给以管理层为主的个人们，在产权上和国家珠宝玉石质量监督检验中心区别开来，其本人之后专职于国检中心的主任。
    
    而私营化后的戴梦得虽然在市场上抢得先机，但由于没有足够的资本实力和营销网点，其在日后的经营中已远落后于来自香港的周大福和境内的后起之秀周大生，再次证明了珠宝行业充分市场化的格局，根本没有文中所说的政府控制市场、准入批准，戴梦得受益于张蓓莉支持的现象。
    据熟悉张蓓莉的人透露，她为人爽直、乐于助人，从不对物质生活刻意追求，周围的朋友和同事都以“张工”或“老太太”来称呼她。熟悉她的人都知道，她2006年在珠宝展上购买价值200万元的高档翡翠的传闻完全是谣言，更何况当事人早就承认自己说了谎言。

难逃钱色 十七大后50余人代终止资格

请看博讯热点：王立军、薄熙来事件 
(博讯北京时间2012年10月31日 转载)     来源：旺报
    
          包括前重庆市委书记薄熙来在内，大陆自十七大以来，已有50多名全国人大代表资格终止，其中有多名省部级高官。大陆媒体分析，探究这些高官代表资格被终止的塬因，贪污腐败和生活作风问题仍占主要部分，离不开钱与色。
    
    　　大陆的全国人大代表资格终止，有3种方式，辞职、罢免和自然终止。
    
    　　最近辞职的像前重庆市副市长王立军、广东省江门市新会区会成农业综合服务中心支部书记钟明照等，因严重违纪提出辞职请求，代表资格终止。
    
    　　被罢免的最令人瞩目的是，9月28日重庆市人大常委会罢免了前重庆市委书记薄熙来，10月26日全国人大常委会公告，终止薄熙来的代表资格。
    
    
    
    　　至于自然终止资格的，人大代表死亡后资格自然终止。
    
    　　近年来省部级高官有多人或被迫辞人大代表，或被罢免人大资格。前中共海军副司令员王守业涉嫌经济犯罪被免也请辞人大代表。前深圳市委副书记、市长许宗衡、前吉林省人大常委会副主任米凤君等人，因涉嫌违纪违法被罢免。
    
    　　前全国人大财经委副主任委员朱志刚、前中共中央政治局委员、上海市委书记陈良宇、前中共福建省委常委、祕书长陈少勇、前济南人大常委主任段义和、前广东省政协常务副主席、党组副书记刘维明等人，则是因严重违纪违法，被终止全国人大代表资格。

只有声明没有指控 温家宝的反击很软弱

http://www.creaders.net  2012-10-31 09:07:52  中央社

　　大陆国务院总理温家宝家人对纽约时报报导发出澄清声明，多位学者认为，这篇声明没有就指控一一反证，比较像「公关行动」。

专门研究中国大陆法律制度的美国乔治华盛顿大学法学院教授郭丹青（Donald C. Clarke）28日在自己的部落格上，就温家宝家人反驳纽约时报报导温家坐拥27亿美元财富的声明提出看法。

　　郭丹青认为，温家宝家人的声明太过模煳，除针对「温家宝母亲是个千万富翁」和「温家宝一些亲戚拥有许多企业股份」等指控进行反驳外，并没有对报导中的指控一一提出反证，反驳力道薄弱。

　　专攻媒体自由和诽谤案件的北京维权律师浦志强则向香港英文媒体南华早报指出，这篇声明比较像是「清白宣言」，比较像是公开的誓言，或是「为公共关系（声誉）所采取的行动」，声明内容「什么都没说」。

　　另外，温家宝家人这篇声明，提到保留对纽约时报采取法律行动的权利。

　　北京大学法学院教授贺卫方表示，这篇声明与其说是实质的法律文件，不如说是个姿态，用意在向大陆民众说明纽约时报的报导不实，但预料温家宝的家人不会采取实质法律行动；如果温家控告纽约时报，可能让事件愈闹愈大，甚至失控。

　　蒲志强则认为，温家人的声明中，反驳非常薄弱，如果温家没有提出实质性的大量证据，他们在任何法庭都不会有胜诉机会。

　　但蒲志强说，无论是什么情况，这件事对温家宝都是不利的。

　　北京维权律师莫少平认为，从声明稿很难判断温家是否真的要控告纽约时报，但如果要打官司也应该会等到中共18大之后。

同病相怜 《纽约时报》让胡温习空前团结

http://www.creaders.net  2012-10-31 09:37:00  大纪元

　　《纽约时报》有关温家宝家族财富的报导刊载出来之后，全球各界哗然，对于《纽约时报》的报导，各种各样的看法与解读充斥报刊与网路。我们不知道《纽约时报》是出于何种考量作出了这样的报导，我们也无法确切知道其相关信息是来自于什么地方，我们也一时无法完全看清这件事情会给中共带来怎样的冲击，但是有一点我们可以预知的就是这件事情的出现会让胡锦涛、温家宝、习近平彼此更加的团结，同时这也必然让他们进一步加大打击江派势力的力度。

前不久美国彭博通讯社也曾登载过揭示习近平家族财产的文章，此次温家宝的遭遇与前段时间习近平的遭遇如出一辙。中国有句成语叫同病相怜，它的意思就是不同的人在遇到同样的痛苦或不幸时会很自然的彼此产生怜悯同情之情。在以前的报导中，我们很难看出温家宝和习近平有什么特别的关系，但是两人双双中枪之后，我相信那种同一个战壕里面的战友的亲近感必然会把两个人拉的非常近。本来在这之前，温家宝和习近平为了对付共同的敌人正在一步步靠近，这个事情一出现，那两个人必然完全站到了一起，难兄难弟感情深，打起仗来也必然是通力合作、彼此帮衬。

　　《纽约时报》这件事情一发生，胡锦涛也必然震惊不小，以前大家嘴上总是挂着“胡温”这样的说法，现在这种说法渐渐变成了“胡温习”，也就是在迎战江派势力的权斗之中，这三个人是同一阵营的，并且也是这一阵营的最关键的三个人物。现在三个人里习近平、温家宝依次被黑了，而且被黑的层级越来越高，这胡锦涛能不害怕吗？中国还有一句成语叫唇亡齿寒，温习都中枪了，下一个很有可能就是胡锦涛了，到了胡锦涛这里其家族资产被说成是多少就很难想像了。面对温家宝的遭遇，胡锦涛必然会感受到那种切肤之痛。这一切就必然让胡温习三人走向空前的团结。

　　很多人猜测《纽约时报》报导的幕后黑手是江家帮的曾周之流，是他们在做最后的博弈。从表面上看，《纽约时报》的报导会让温家宝很难堪，甚至仕途与权力都会受到很大的影响，但是最终得到的结果很有可能和江派料想的恰恰相反。这一击必然大大的增强胡温习的凝聚力，大大增加他们的斗志。江派用了多大的心思想要搞掉温家宝、习近平，其反作用力就会多大程度的回击到江家帮自己身上。现在的江家帮拿什么去和胡温习对抗啊？这种打击力量作用在胡温习身上可能会伤及皮肤，但是同样的力量作用到孱弱的江派上面那就是要命的事儿啊！不管《纽约时报》此举的初衷是什么，但是最终受伤最深的一定是江家帮。

　　其实很多人都说过，很多事实也都证明了，江派这些人不去瞎折腾可能还有一定的喘息空间，如果这些人总是这样折腾来折腾去的，只能是把自己脖子上的绳索拉得越来越紧，越来越接近于窒息。到了今天这个局面，就算《纽约时报》的报导和江派一点关系没有，胡温习也会把此事和江派紧密的联系在一起去考虑问题的。江派势力彻底土崩瓦解的过程也就是胡温习不断的充实权力的过程，在拿到绝对权力之后，面对全球民主化的浪潮，我相信胡温习是绝对不会再延续江派的老路的，他们不管愿意不愿意都必须要做出新的选择，如果他们有意要推进中国的民主进程，那么他们手中的权利，他们彼此之间的团结就会让这一切成为可能。当然我这里并非是要将中国变革的希望寄托在他们身上，我只是想要强调目前的中共内部的人没有别的选择，中共内部外部的刺激与波动或许形式多样，但是这些刺激最终作用的效果必然是把中国带入民主自由的社会，问题就在于身处其中的人是正向还是逆向而动的问题了。

去年3000亿美元资金流出中国 裸官带走巨额资产

(博讯北京时间2012年10月25日 转载)     
    来源：中国经济网
     
    [提要]3000亿美元！—尽管从去年以来，中国就没有发布过有关资本出入情况的报告，不过《华尔街日报》借助日前发布的贸易数据、外汇储备数据和其他经济统计资料分析得出，截至2012年9月份12个月内约2250亿美元的资金流出中国，这同时包括合法和非法的资金流出额，这相当于去年中国经济产值的3%左右。
    
    
    那些巨额的钱究竟哪里去了？
    　　黎友焕尽管做了多年的国际外汇和金融研究，但他仍然不知道那些通过各种隐秘渠道，流到国外的中国资本究竟有多少？
    　　3000亿美元！—尽管从去年以来，中国就没有发布过有关资本出入情况的报告，不过《华尔街日报》借助日前发布的贸易数据、外汇储备数据和其他经济统计资料分析得出，截至2012年9月份12个月内约2250亿美元的资金流出中国，这同时包括合法和非法的资金流出额，这相当于去年中国经济产值的3%左右。
    　　多位经济学家也试图估算流出中国的资金数量。研究机构Lombard Street Research的经济学家杜马（Charles Dumas）估计同期中国资金净流出数量为3000亿美元。
    　　中国央行下属的国家外汇管理局日前在一份声明中说，今年上半年中国经历了一定程度的资本流出。
    　　“资金外流的数目是一个大约数，外媒的估算不一定准确。”多年研究热钱的广东省社会科学综合开发研究中心主任黎友焕对此并不担心，他对时代周报记者表示，即使是这个数目，也距我国3.29万亿元的官方储备来说，这个数目还不足以在汇率市场上引起大幅波动，造成外汇危机，甚至对减少我国外汇储备风险来说，还有一定的好处。
    　　《华尔街日报》的文章则措辞严厉：“中国曾经吸引世界资金涌入，现在却只能眼睁睁地看着资金流出。”
    　　“中国资金外流并不完全是一个市场行为。”中国社会科学院金融研究所研究员尹中立告诉时代周报记者，中国外汇储备3万多亿元，这在外汇市场上是没有任何一种力量可以与之相抗衡的，中美汇率市场在很大程度上是中美两国博弈的一个产物。
    　　资本流失的种种原因
    　　尽管黎友焕和尹中立都对中国资本外流规模不以为然，不过《华尔街日报》为估计资金流出的规模，依然做了不少功课—详细比较了中国外汇储备的变动规模和导致外汇储备增减的主要项目的变化情况。
    　　“热钱其实并不是你想象中突击炒作的资金，好像哪个地方能赚钱就可以到哪个地方去。”尹中立对时代周报记者解释，这些资金在很大程度上，从所有者的角度来看，好像是美国或是欧洲的，其实这些热钱都是中国人自己的钱，人民币升值的时候，大量的企业和个人，尤其是国有企业会在境外大量地举债，也就是说大量借入外汇的负债。
    　　资金此前也曾流出中国，最近一次是在金融危机期间。华尔街日报的计算显示，在截至2009年3月的12个月内，资金流出数量达到大约1100亿美元的高峰。
    　　黎友焕对时代周报记者表示，资本外流不仅是为了逃避外汇管制，也有可能是为规避国内政策和经济风险、逃避税收征管，或是为了洗钱和转移资产，主要来自各级官员、幸运的上市（特别是境外上市）国企高管以及新富起来的民营企业家等。
    　　黎友焕表示：“在我国，转移非法所得、实现化公为私、转移个人财产是资本外流的三个主要原因。资本外流对国际收支、国内税基以及政策的制定实施都会产生负面影响，而除了对我国经济形成危害之外，会严重动摇国人的信心，是严重的社会问题。”
    　　国家外汇管理局在一份声明中说，今年上半年中国经历了一定程度的资本流出。它将资本流出的主要原因归结为中国企业和个人海外投资数量的增加，还说它并不担心资本流出可能破坏中国经济。
    　　对此尹中立亦表示赞同，热钱的流入流出是一种市场的选择，我们根本不用太担心这会造成中国市场经济的一个负担，并不是因为进来或者出去我们就要堵，这是堵不住的，这些都是市场行为。
    　　“随着国内劳动力成本的上升，产业结构在国际之间转移，这是一个大趋势，东亚和东南亚国家有着比我们更多吸引外资投资的环境。所谓的产业空心化并不是因为产业结构转移而产生的，最重要的还是国内的房地产泡沫太严重了，跟国际资本的流动关系不大。”尹中立说。
    　　资本外流隐秘路径
    　　近期以来，关于中国资本外流的话题持续发酵。境外多个研究机构发布研究报告称，中国资本外流数量高达2250亿-3000亿美元。其中，境外置业成为资本外流的主阵地。
    　　《华尔街日报》报道称，塞浦路斯房地产开发商PaschaliDevelopers近几个月已经向中国买家销售了90多套公寓。该公司发言人帕斯卡利说，买房者希望获得永久居留身份。塞浦路斯是中国资本外流的一个缩影。
    　　“塞浦路斯减免房产过户费的政策将延长执行至今年12月底，近期咨询的人士还是比较多的。”一家投资移民中介机构工作人员对媒体表示，自2011年12月向中国敞开投资移民大门以来，塞浦路斯已经成为一个颇受中国有钱人欢迎的投资目的地。
    　　事实上，中国香港、加拿大、美国、英国和法国等欧洲国家仍是中国资本外流的主要目标地。据Dealogic提供的数据，自2005年以来，350家内地公司在香港共筹集了逾1500亿美元。公司所有者也可以通过将公司在纽约或新加坡上市而达到同样的目的。
    　　“中国资本在一定程度上的外流，实际就是中国长期性的经济结构畸形累积而成的。”广东省社科院开放经济研究所副所长任志宏对时代周报记者分析称，国际资本现在看来不仅仅只是从中国撤出，实际上印度、巴西、墨西哥他们的资金外流一点都不比我们弱，这就反映了尤其是新兴国家在成长速度过快过程中面临着一些结构性的问题。“中国的贸易结构，生产结构都是严重扭曲的。”
    　　美国学者史宗瀚估计，中国最富裕的1%的人口拥有的流动资产和不动产可能在2万亿至5万亿美元。招商银行和贝恩顾问公司不久前联合发布的《2011中国私人财富报告》中披露，在目前中国50万名千万富豪中，有超过四分之一的人选择了移民。
    　　此外，所谓的“裸官”出逃也带走了巨额资产。
    　　如何防范资本外流？“关键是把好关口，杜绝法律的漏洞。”多年研究浙江地下钱庄的温州管理科学研究院院长周德文对时代周报记者表示，内地很多的资金是从香港转出去的，我们可以在香港设立各种离岸公司，资金通过香港，然后再从香港转出去。
    　　人民币升值两难困境
    　　在华尔街日报报道称过去一年约2250亿美元逃出中国的背后，市场所看到的却是人民币汇率屡创新高。资本外流背景下人民币为何升值？
    　　在黎焕友看来，人民币的这一波行情主要是美国的QE3推动的结果。当前的资本流入主要还是境外资金在美国QE3及其宽松思路的影响下，预期人民币上涨。但人民但这种环境存在很多不稳定因素。
    　　“如果要改变这种状况，中国要改变强制的结受汇制。”任志宏对时代周报记者分析，第一因为我们资本的流进、流出由国家外汇管理局管理，第二是中国要达到资本放开自由地进出，第三个是外汇储备的币种分布不以美元计价为中心，这些结构如果改变了，那人民币对美元的升值才会结束，但是目前来看这种可能性非常小。
    　　不过任志宏认为，最近人民币升高，又导致部分投机性的热钱回流进来，这是一个极具操作层面的短期效应，随时来随时走，这次热钱回流还有一个政治预期，马上“十八大”要召开，肯定会有新一轮鼓舞士气的政策出台，他们在等待对于中国股市一个利好的消息出台。
    　　资本为什么喜欢在新兴市场上投机呢？任志宏认为主要有两个原因：一资本是逐利的。二是新兴市场的法律体系，制度不完备漏洞多，有利于国际资本进入钻这个空子。资本都是肮脏，不会流着道德的血液，天下熙熙皆为利往，这就是国际资本的本性。
    　　央行行长周小川此前称，中国鼓励资本外流，中国未来或进一步放松管制，允许企业和居民更方便地进行海外投资。
    　　对此黎友焕表示，他不认为这次的资金流动趋势与国际流动性泛滥有关，这次国际热钱流入香港等东南亚地区和新兴发展中国家，与美国的新一轮全球战略密切相关，尤其是美国从政治、文化、经济、军事等全方面围堵中国的同时，引导资金涌向中国周边地区，是其新金融战略的一部分。
    　　尹中立则更为乐观，他对时代周报记者强调，国外的资金是从来没有到中国炒过楼，也没炒过股，炒楼或者炒股这些实质上都是中国人自己的钱。从单面上看，资本的流动一会多一会少，实际上这只是一个金融行为。“不要有太多的担心，中国的市场经济岂能是热钱就能冲击垮的。”
    　　中国资本外流谁受益
    　　中国的外汇储备看似庞大，但在人民币升值压力下，在全球金融不稳定的环境中，正在不断地缩水，消耗着国民财富，也威胁着中国金融安全。
    　　“中国三万多亿高额的外汇储备，涉及到国家的一个战略安全、外汇安全和人民币的财富安全。”任志宏称，三万多亿的美元相当于20多万亿的人民币资产，如果美元贬值1%，中国的损失就是以千亿来计算的。如果中国总是保持高额的外汇储备，那人民币对美元的升值就会没完没了。
    　　为此，香港金融管理局10月20日出手买入6.03亿美元，以维持港元汇率稳定。任志宏强调说，今年上半年，世界银行的报告显示资本外流不仅仅是中国的，还有很多新兴经济体，资本流入的总量跟去年相比收缩了40%，但资本外流中国实际上就是系统性的效应，唱空中国是国际上主流的话语体系，好像他们打了一场精心布局的战略。
    　　“中国2008年出台的四万亿计划负作用正逐渐显现。”任志宏对时代周报记者分析，我们现在做的去“泡沫化”的过程会导致很多的财富消失于无形中，中国现在面临着几个问题都是相当棘手，第一个就是房地产过高的“空置率”相应地就带来基建、装备、制造业等产业链都面临着全面的溃败。第二公共债务问题相当地突出，不仅仅中央政府举债，现在更为严重的是地方政府的举债，最主要的一个原因就是产能过剩。
    　　“产能过剩还隐藏着一个最大的问题就是结构性问题，这也会直接导致我国对外贸易受到严重影响，今年的广交会是最为惨淡的一年，国外市场红利这块已经失去了。鲁比尼的唱空可以说和国际资本投资机构遥相呼应，对中国展开一个系统性的围剿。”任志宏说。
    　　至于对中国企业海外投资的争议，任志宏表示，不排除打着奔赴海外收购企业的口号，来实行转移资金的目的，因为贪官携款外流、富人移民，这种做法会直接损害人们对未来中国经济增长的信心。“中国现在的发展需要更多的企业家来投资，如果血液不输给国内市场，那么国内市场成长的动力机制会下降。”
    　　广东省社会科学综合开发研究中心主任黎友焕：资本外流将冲击实体经济
    　　时代周报：《华尔街日报》称，过去的一年里约2250亿美元的资金流出中国。资本外流背景下人民币为何升值？
    　　黎友焕：首先资金外流的数目是一个大约数，外媒的估算不一定准确。即使是这个数目，也距我国3.29万亿元的官方储备来说，这个数目还不足以在汇率市场上引起大幅波动，造成外汇危机，甚至在减少我国外汇储备风险来说，还有一定的好处；其次就是，今年9月单月出口规模空前，外贸数据开始反弹，贸易顺差扩大至276.7亿美元，高于8月的266.7亿美元和市场此前的预期，整个外汇结余有很大提升。这就在一定程度上弥补了资金外流的缺口，为人民币持续走强提供了助推力；再次就是美国QE3的推行，QE3的推行令美元贬值的预期形成，国际市场美元货币增加供给，这就造成了人民币的升值结构。本次人民币兑美元的升值与美元指数的走低完全吻合，拐点发生在7月25日，人民币未能走出独立行情。也就是说,人民币的这一波行情主要是美国的QE3推动的结果。
    　　时代周报：近些年来，资本外流规模越来越大，影响越来越大，产生的原因和后果是什么？
    　　黎友焕：资本外流不仅是为了逃避外汇管制，也有可能是为规避国内政策和经济风险、逃避税收征管，或是为了洗钱和转移资产，主要来自各级官员、幸运的上市（特别是境外上市）国企高管以及新富起来的民营企业家等。在我国，转移非法所得、实现化公为私、转移个人财产是资本外流的三个主要原因。资本外流对国际收支、国内税基以及政策的制定实施都会产生负面影响，而除了对我国经济形成危害之外，会严重动摇国人的信心，是严重的社会问题。但在近期我国资本外流的结构中，还包括了各种性质企业没有从正规渠道的对外投资资金和一些企业外迁导致的资金外流。资本外流和资本外流是完全不同性质的概念。
    　　时代周报：国家外汇管理局曾在一份声明中说，将资本流出的主要原因归结为中国企业和个人海外投资数量的增加，还说它并不担心资本流出可能破坏中国经济。对此你如何评价？
    　　黎友焕：从短期看，资本外流并非坏事。多年来面对大规模外汇净流入，央行不得不通过投放基础货币来对冲，由此释放大量流动性。如今这一压力明显减轻，央行操作的空间更充裕，独立性也会提高。面对外汇占款减少后的流动性变化，央行可以通过央票和调整存款准备金率进行调节。但在长期资金外流的风险不容忽视。而随着欧债危机持续地发酵，我国外需市场将进一步萎缩。与此同时，随着我国人口红利逐步消失，劳动力等要素资源使用成本的不断上升，制造业的国际竞争优势将逐渐下降，贸易顺差收敛趋势有可能仍将继续下去。国内制造成本上升，一部分内资企业也将考虑将产能外迁，均会构成对实体经济的冲击。
    　　时代周报：一些地下钱庄和中介公司称，中国的将资金转移到海外一点都不难。有一些特殊渠道，这些渠道能够在银行之外，不受监管地换汇。这些特殊渠道主要有哪些？
    　　黎友焕：首先是贸易途径，高保出口价格、低报进口价格、假出口贸易、提前预收贸易货款等；其次外商投资途径，包括外商投资企业转移定价、外商投资企业虚报盈利、外商直接投资、短期外债等；金融机构业务转移途径，也就是通过同一个外资金融机构的境内外不同的分支机构来转移资金；资本项目下其他渠道，资本项目的借贷资本、人民币掉期业务、货币互换等方式；出入境私带方式；非贸易项目途径。境外企业转移资金途径。
    　　时代周报：央行行长周小川此前称，中国鼓励资本外流，中国未来或进一步放松管制，允许企业和居民更方便地进行海外投资。对此你怎么评论？
    　　黎友焕：抑制热钱大规模外流，央行要落实好出口收结汇联网核查，加强异常外汇资金流动监管，防范外汇资金大规模流出。同时深化外汇管理体制改革，引导资本平衡流动，完善多元化、多层次的对外投资体系，促进国际收支趋于平衡。但是要真正留住外资，还应该要转变发展方式，政府应为扩大消费内需和促进服务业发展创造更为有利的财税环境，适时推进资源能源价格形成机制改革，提高并强化环保标准，促进发展方式转变。中国放松资本管制是符合我国经济发展进程的，放松管制与人民币、汇率改革都应该形成配套，相辅相成。 

Chen Says Nephew Held 'Hostage'

2012-10-25

The blind Chinese activist says Beijing is still seeking revenge against him six months after his escape from house arrest.

RFA

Chen Guangcheng speaking to RFA in Washington, Oct 25, 2012.

U.S.-based Chinese blind dissident Chen Guangcheng said Thursday that the authorities in Beijing were attempting to prevent him from speaking out on human rights abuses by using his arrested nephew as a "hostage."

He said that although his nephew Chen Kegui was facing a reduced charge of causing injury—from the more serious attempted murder charge—the Chinese authorities were still seeking revenge against him for escaping from house arrest and making his trip to the U.S. to study law.

The scaling down of the charge brings scant comfort to the family but "it's not as if they are admitting they were wrong by changing it like that," Chen told Radio Free Asia in an interview. "It's still a form of revenge towards my family."

Chen Kegui, who defended his family from an allegedly brutal attack by Chinese provincial officials after his uncle's daring escape from house arrest in April, will no longer be charged with "intentional homicide," but with "intentional injury" instead, according to Chen Guangfu, his father and Chen Guangcheng's brother.

But Chen Guangcheng said the authorities in his home county of Yinan were effectively using Chen Kegui as a "hostage," so as to ensure the activist wasn't too harshly critical of the authorities during his stay as a visiting law student in New York.

"They have prevented the lawyers from meeting with him ... They are clearly in breach of the law here, and yet they continue to do this blatantly, with no sign that they will correct their error," said Chen, who visited RFA's office in Washington.

Chen Kegui's case was shrouded in secrecy since Chen Guangcheng's arrival in the U.S. in May, with many lawyers reporting official harassment after they tried to advise or represent him.

Withdrawn

However, the case was passed to the state prosecutor's office earlier this month, and the homicide charges filed against him earlier have been withdrawn.

In an interview in August, Chen Guangfu said police and officials "illegally burst into my house on the night of April 26 and ruthlessly beat up me, my son Kegui, and Kegui’s wife, who was wounded by the attackers."

He said the attackers were shouting to each other to beat his son to death, so his son picked up a kitchen knife in self-defense, injuring Zhang Jian, the head of Shuanghou township, and two other attackers.

Chen Guangcheng said he "definitely" planned to go back to China after completing his law study.

"I definitely want to return to China in the future," he said. "China can't continue like this forever, and I think that, by the time I go back, China will be almost like today's Taiwan," he said.

China regards democratic Taiwan as a renegade province and the two have been ruled separately since the end of a civil war in 1949.

Chen Guangcheng said however that he was "still getting used to life here, so I haven't even thought about going back yet."

Chen's daring escape in April from his closely guarded home and subsequent flight to the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, where he sought refuge for nearly a week, came just ahead of annual strategic dialogues between U.S. and Chinese officials, prompting a diplomatic crisis and frantic behind-the-scenes negotiations.

The crisis was defused after Chen was allowed to fly to New York, where he is now a special student in law at the U.S.-Asia Law Institute of New York University.

He has accused Beijing of failing to honor its pledge to investigate abuses that he and his family were subjected to while under house arrest in China.

Short wave

Chen vowed to continue pushing for human rights and the rule of law in China.

The blind activist said he had been listening to Radio Free Asia since 1998 to stay in touch with political, social and development issues in China, urging his Chinese compatriots to listen to the Washington-based radio station broadcasts on short wave.

Chinese media censorship includes radio jamming targeted largely at foreign broadcasters, including RFA.

"I know that jamming is a big problem, but short wave radio can play a complementary role in China’s society, especially in the rural areas where the Internet is not very popular yet," Chen said.

"The short wave radio program can guide people on what subjects they may be more interested in knowing, especially if they know how to use a proxy server to bypass the Internet blockage. Therefore I believe that short wave radio should not be minimized or cut, instead it should be strengthened. There should be more air time, more frequencies and more programs.

"It is wrong to have a notion that Internet will replace short wave radio. I don’t buy that."

Awards

Chen was in Washington to receive the 2012 Oxi Day Award from the Washington Oxi Day Foundation "for the courage he showed to promote democratic values and fundamental rights in China."

"Despite losing his sight as a child, [Chen] Guangcheng’s legal vision has made him one of China’s most prominent human rights defenders," it said in a statement on its website.

On Wednesday, Human Rights First gave Chen its 2012 Human Rights Award. It was presented by actor Christian Bale, who had tried to meet the activist in China in December but was turned away by officials.

"Human Rights First selected Chen for his lifetime of work on behalf of the thousands of Chinese citizens who had been subjected to forced late-term abortions, mandatory sterilizations, and unprovoked late night beatings," the group said in a statement on its website.

"His daring defiance of a brutal regime gives courage to those in China and beyond who struggle for human rights," the group's president and CEO Elisa Massimino said.

Chen told RFA he had mixed emotions on receiving the award, because he believed it wasn't an individual achievement, but a collective one.

"It's hard to explain in a few words, but overall, the U.S. seems to care about things that benefit humanity," he said.

"Regardless of what award I am honored with, I don't see it as being for me, but for everyone in China who works hard for human rights and the rule of law."

Chen said he was still getting used to life in the U.S., with the language barrier his biggest difficulty.

Reported by Grace Kei Lai-see for RFA's Cantonese and Zhang Min for the Mandarin service. Translated by Luisetta Mudie and Feng Xiaoming. Written in English by Luisetta Mudie and Parameswaran Ponnudurai.

Copyright © 1998-2011 Radio Free Asia. All rights reserved.

China Blocks Report on Wen Billions

2012-10-26

Report says Premier Wen Jiabao's wife and relatives control assets worth at least U.S.$2.7 billion.

RFA

Wen Jiabao arrives at his last press conference as premier at the National People's Congress in Beijing, March 14, 2012.

China on Friday responded to an article in the New York Times detailing billions of dollars in business wealth linked to outgoing premier Wen Jiabao by placing it swiftly outside the system of blocks, filters and human censorship known as the Great Firewall.

According to the testing site GreatFire.org, access to English and Chinese versions of the article "Family of Wen Jiabao Hold a Hidden Fortune in China" was blocked to computers in mainland China.

Censors were also at work on China's hugely popular Twitter-like sites, blocking keyword searches for "Wen Jiabao," and "New York Times," in English and Chinese.

Searches on Sina Weibo on Friday produced the message: "According to the relevant laws and regulations, we were unable to display the search results for "New York Times" [in Chinese].

Similar results were displayed for "Wen Jiabo" in both languages.

However, netizens apparently managed to get around the blocks by searching for "New York" in English and "Times" in Chinese, although only the first page of posts would display.

User @quweiguo, whose identity as an international relations professor at Shanghai's prestigious Fudan University was verified on Sina Weibo, said he had been unable to get onto the site on Friday.

"I heard it reported some rubbish that our leader's family have assets worth a few billion," Qu wrote. "We should organize people to hit back against this nonsense."

Not all netizens agreed, however.

'Pretty cool'

User @luDaphewweibodaren wrote simply: "The headline in the new york times is pretty cool," adding a "surprised" emoticon, while others said they were unable to find it. "I searched all afternoon, but no trace," wrote user @VR-046. "Can't you tell us something about it?"

Other users retweeted a post from @steve_Jin, which read: "Actually this is something everyone already knows."

Meanwhile, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei accused the paper of "smearing" China with the report, which said that Wen's family was in control of assets worth at least U.S.$2.7 billion.

The report "blackens China's name and has ulterior motives," Hong told a regular news briefing in Beijing.

Asked why the report was inaccessible from within China, Hong replied: "China manages the internet in accordance with laws and rules."

Disappointed
New York Times spokeswoman Eileen Murphy said she was disappointed that Internet access had been blocked, adding that the Chinese-language Web site had attracted “great interest” in China, the paper reported.

“We hope that full access is restored shortly, and we will ask the Chinese authorities to ensure that our readers in China can continue to enjoy New York Times journalism,” she said in a statement.

The article said that many of Wen's relatives, including his son, daughter, younger brother and brother-in-law, had become extraordinarily wealthy during his leadership.

After reviewing numerous corporate and regulatory records, the paper said records showed that the prime minister’s relatives, including his wife, had controlled assets worth at least U.S.$2.7 billion.

Many of them "have a knack for aggressive deal-making," it said, adding that their names had been hidden behind "layers of partnerships and investment vehicles involving friends, work colleagues and business partners."

The article came after a lengthy investigation untangled the family's financial holdings.

"The Times found that Mr. Wen’s relatives accumulated shares in banks, jewelers, tourist resorts, telecommunications companies and infrastructure projects, sometimes by using offshore entities," the paper said.

Controls tightened

Sichuan-based rights activist Huang Qi said China had stepped up controls over what its netizens could see in recent weeks, and the New York Times wasn't the only publication that was blocked inside China.

"Chinese rights websites, including [my own] Tianwang website, international media and human rights websites have all been blocked," Huang said.

He said he had been unable to visit the websites of the New York Times, Radio Free Asia, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, the VOA, BBC, Deutsche Welle or Radio France International, recently.

He said the authorities were also now able to block specific URLs within sites.

"They are also taking special measures, such as hacking into the back end of the Tianwang website, and blocking specific content from certain websites," Huang said.

Hong Kong-based blogger and editor Wen Yunchao, known online by his nickname Beifeng, said that even China's more tech-savvy netizens, who had previously been able to get around the Great Firewall, were now having problems.

"It's really obvious that some web circumvention tools are losing their effectiveness," Wen said. "In the past few days, it has become very difficult to get into Gmail from inside China."

"This used to be a very rare occurrence," he said.

Internal pressure

Meanwhile, Fujian-based blogger Peter Guo said the ruling Chinese Communist Party was under intense internal pressure following the fall of former Chongqing Party chief Bo Xilai, and ahead of the 18th Party Congress on Nov. 8, when a new generation of Chinese leaders will be announced.

"Of course they are going to step up controls on the Internet," he said. "I think we'll see overseas media sites gradually getting blocked now, and they already have a stranglehold on the microblogging sites."

"Today, on Weibo, not only were searches blocked for 'New York Times' in English and Chinese, but you couldn't even search for '2.7 billion,'" Guo said.

"Personally, I think these controls are just going to get tighter and tighter."

Hu Ping, the U.S.-based editor of Beijing Spring magazine, said the report would have an impact in China, regardless of the censorship, however.

"The New York Times has published such a long article saying that their family is corrupt...there is a lot of suspense over what kind of 18th Party Congress this will be," Hu said.

And Shenzhen-based rights activist Zhang Jinjun said Wen had, until now, managed to cultivate a fairly upright image in most people's eyes.

"These reports aren't going to be published in China so that most people will know about them," Zhang said. "But perhaps they will be used as a tool by Wen Jiabao's political enemies at the highest level."

Reported by Pan Jiaqing and Yang Jian for RFA's Cantonese service, and by Xin Yu for the Mandarin service. Translated and written in English by Luisetta Mudie.

Fired Tibetan Police Chief a 'Hero'

2012-10-26

Dismissed official refused to round up Tibetans protesting Chinese rule.

Photo courtesy of an RFA listener.

Paltop in an undated photo.

A Tibetan police chief who was dismissed for failing to track down and detain protesters challenging Chinese rule in Qinghai province has become an instant celebrity among Tibetans and is now providing advice to them on how to organize future protests, according to an exile source.

Paltop, chief of police for the Tibetan county of Pema in the Golog (in Chinese, Guoluo) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, was fired on July 1, three months after being ordered by the Chinese authorities to round up Tibetans who had carried out a series of protests early in the year.

“After hearing about this, representatives from local monasteries and area residents went to police chief Paltop’s house and offered him money and ceremonial scarves to show their support,” Tsangyang Gyatso, a Tibetan living in exile, told RFA’s Tibetan service this week.

Paltop was also invited to Akyong Jonang monastery in Pema county, where he was again honored with scarves and offered additional funds to compensate him for the loss of his job.

While there, Paltop offered local Tibetans advice on how to carry out protests while adhering to relevant laws, Gyatso said, citing contacts in the region.

Warm farewell

On Aug. 1, Paltop left for his hometown Darlag accompanied by around 300 vehicles of various sizes filled with supporters, “who gave him a very warm farewell.”

“Paltop wore traditional Tibetan dress and made a stop at a place known for its spiritual significance called Chagtse, located about 30 km from Pema county. There, he burned incense and addressed the gathering,” Gyatso said.

Gyatso explained that Paltop's sacking stemmed from Chinese authorities' concerns regarding Tibetan protests in the Golog area.

“Between Jan. 18-26 of this year, Tibetans in the Golog area carried out protests calling for a free Tibet, the return of [exiled spiritual leader] the Dalai Lama, and the release of all political prisoners."

“Several Tibetans taking part in a protest were detained on the spot by Chinese police, who later issued a circular ordering the arrest of everyone who had been involved,” Gyatso said.

Paltop refused, “and as a result, the Chinese were not able to lay their hands on anybody” except for the few who had initially been detained.

Provincial and county authorities gave Paltop three months in which to make further arrests and threatened to dismiss him if he failed to do his job, Gyatso said.

“Since he refused to arrest anybody, he was dismissed,” he said.

Private doubts

Robbie Barnett, director of Columbia University’s Modern Tibetan Studies program, described Paltop’s actions as unusual in Tibet’s police system, where promotions and pay depend on actively countering political opposition.

Many are privately uncomfortable about what they have to do, though, Barnett said.

“There seem to be quite a lot of doubts about what gets done, but no clear idea about what a practical alternative might be. So that’s another reason why people might keep quiet, apart from fear.”

“This is not a system that encourages debate,” Barnett said.

Reported by Chakmo Tso for RFA’s Tibetan service. Translated by Rigdhen Dolma. Written in English with additional reporting by Richard Finney.

纽时炮轰温家宝家族腐败的报道有重大缺陷：81%的金额未核实

(博讯北京时间2012年10月27日 首发 - 支持此文作者/记者)     《纽约时报》在北京时间26日发出长篇报道－《总理家人隐秘的财富》，这可能是近10年对温家宝家族腐败进行攻击最重的一炮。博讯驻北京记者为此进行查证，发现27亿美元的22亿美元（81%）存重大疑点。
    
     纽时报道的27亿美元中，22亿美元的资产来自段伟红的泰鸿公司，疑点在于段伟红到底有没有为温家宝家族代持股份。文章提出的唯一证据是段伟红的公司有温家宝的家属持有股份，包括温家宝的母亲和其他亲属。但这是2004－2005年的事情，段伟红使用了这些家属的身份证办理股份。而平安保险2008年上市前，温家宝的家属已经全部退出公司，平安保险的利益是2009年实现的。据悉，对以上所有的手续，段伟红都保留了证据。 

    由此看来，泰鸿公司的22亿美元的价值，和温家宝家属并无关系，至少是无法核实的。
    
    如果这22亿美元存疑的话，另外的5亿美元是否也有疑点呢？
    
    在过去近10年中，曾有媒体报道“郑建源”是温云松的化名，并为外界所相信，最近郑建源站出来，澄清了他不是温云松，他真正的幕后老板就是郑裕彤，郑建源为香港宝华投资的董事长，本人是在香港的大陆移民，与温云松无关。

中国最大淡水湖鄱阳湖大面积萎缩 湖滩成草原

请看博讯热点：环境破坏与污染 
(博讯北京时间2012年10月26日 转载)      来源： 中国新闻网 
     中国最大淡水湖鄱阳湖开始进入低水位期，其湖体正大面积萎缩，湖滩上的野草生长茂盛。胡国林 摄
    

    　　连日来，中国最大淡水湖鄱阳湖开始进入低水位期，其湖体正大面积萎缩，湖滩上的野草生长茂盛，一眼望去俨然成了一片“大草原”。据江西水文局数据，25日8时开始，鄱阳湖正式进入低水位期，星子站水位为11.97米，比前一天下降了0.2米；相应的湖区水体面积从今年8月16日最大值的3990平方公里，萎缩至现在的1060平方公里。
   
    图为10月25日，一群家鹅行走在鄱阳湖江西省九江市星子县白鹿镇水域的湖滩上。胡国林 摄
    

    图为水位持续下降导致鄱阳湖江西省九江市星子县白鹿镇水域大片湖滩裸露。 胡国林 摄
    

    

全国人大常委会发布公告：薄熙来代表资格终止

(博讯北京时间2012年10月26日 综合报道)      新华社今天上午发出快讯，内容如下：
    全国人大常委会26日公告：重庆市人大常委会罢免了薄熙来的十一届全国人大代表职务。依照代表法的有关规定，薄熙来的代表资格终止。 
     

    预计下一个官方消息将是薄熙来移交司法机关处理。

新华社北京１０月２６日电 全国人民代表大会常务委员会公告

　　〔十一届〕第四十四号

　　重庆市人大常委会罢免了薄熙来的第十一届全国人民代表大会代表职务。依照代表法的有关规定，薄熙来的代表资格终止。

　　现在，第十一届全国人民代表大会实有代表２９７２人。

　　特此公告。

　　　　　　　　　　　全国人民代表大会常务委员会

　　　　　　　　　　　２０１２年１０月２６日

中国政府债务接近国际负债率警戒线 地方债危机四伏

    (《财经》综合报道)据21世纪经济报道消息，10月22日，国务院发展研究中心发布的《中国财政金融风险问题研究》一书显示，截至2010年底，中央政府和地方政府最大口径下负债总额23.76万亿元，占2010年全年GDP比值59%，接近国际公认的公共部门负债率的警戒线。
    
     　　上述报告执笔人，国研中心宏观经济研究部副部长魏加宁表示，2009年放出的贷款到了集中还款阶段，随着房地产调控，地方政府土地土地出让金减少，地方债务尤其需要关注。 
    
    　　根据审计署《全国地方政府性债务审计结果》，未来两年地方政府债务将进入集中偿还期，约有42%的地方债务将于2012年底到期，53%的地方债务将于2013年底前到期。
    
    　　“一方面政府需要还钱，另一方面收入又减少，不管是展期还是银行贷款，政府对平台贷款是控制的，几重矛盾交织在一起。”魏加宁表示，地方政府是否能够在偿债高峰到来时顺利如约还本付息是值得担忧的。
    
    　　尽管存在法律限制，地方政府隐性债务还是在快速增长。2003年，国研中心宏观部在研究地方债问题时，曾列举当时地方债务至少达1万亿元以上。2006年，财政部科研所估算我国地方政府债务规模达4万亿元。2011年，审计署公布全国地方政府性债务余额10.7万亿元。
    
    　　从偿债主体结构来看，风险集中于地方融资平台。从省、市、县地方债务的借债主体来看，地方融资平台举债规模最大，金额为4.97万亿元，是地方政府和机构债务规模的近2倍。
    
    　　部分融资平台公司的管理制度不规范，存在注册资本不到位、地方政府和部门违规注资、法人治理结构不完善等问题，盈利能力较弱，有26.37%(1734家)融资平台出现亏损。
    
    　　对于解决办法，上述报告建议：首先，“堵后门”，整顿当前地方政府债务乱象；其次，“修围墙”，制定并落实各项法律法规，规范争渡债务的形成形势，最后也是最重要的，“开前门”，赋予地方政府举债权，以规范透明的举债方式来逐步替换和置换包括地方融资平台在内的隐性债务。
    
    　　“地方政府债务规模已经很重的情况下，实施新的刺激计划和超发货币是走不通的，中国的问题不是投资太多，而是政府投资太多，今年采取的一系列促进民资政策能够贯彻到底，中国经济未来还是有很好的前景。”魏加宁如是说。