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.

Thursday, April 30, 2015

Access to Justice (司法公正)

China launches special campaign to rectify miscarriages of justice
Xinhua, April 28, 2015
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2015-04/28/c_134193259.htm

Related:
Hearing reviews 20-year-old rape and murder case
Xinhua, April 29, 2015
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2015-04/29/c_134193313.htm

Police in China's Suzhou detain dozens in dawn raid on activists [re. Lin Zhao memorial service]
Radio Free Asia, April 29, 2015
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/suzhou-police-detain-dozens-in-dawn-raid-on-activists-04292015142052.html

See more information on Lin Zhao
http://www.hoover.org/news/letters-and-diaries-chinese-political-activist-lin-zhao-opened-hoover-institution-archives

Access to Information (信息公开)

Publisher of China’s leading pro-reform magazine vows to carry on despite growing pressure from authorities
South China Morning Post, April 28, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1779317/publisher-chinas-leading-pro-reform-magazine-vows-carry

China's new internet rules raise questions over role of agency
Radio Free Asia, April 29, 2015
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/rules-04292015104205.html

Cloudy with a chance of censorship: China bans unofficial weather reports
The Wall Street Journal, April 29, 2015
http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2015/04/29/cloudy-with-a-chance-of-censorship-china-bans-unofficial-weather-reports/?mod=WSJBlog

China’s scientific progress hinges on access to data
Nature, April 28, 2015
http://www.nature.com/news/china-s-scientific-progress-hinges-on-access-to-data-1.17426

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

The women of the Chinese internet remain defiant
British Broadcasting Corporation, April 30, 2015
http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-32518852

Related:
”女权五姐妹” 之一武嵘嵘就不接受传唤发布声明 (Wu Rongrong of the “Feminists Five” issues statement on refusing interrogation summons)
Radio Free Asia, April 29, 2015
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/Xinwen/3-04292015102833.html

Supporting women's rights in China
声援中国女权人士
Human Rights in China, April 28, 2015
EN: http://bit.ly/1Hd5v5D
CH: http://bit.ly/1DTr8Wy

China’s miners step up protests as industry downturn continues
China Labour Bulletin, April 29, 2015
http://www.clb.org.hk/en/content/china%E2%80%99s-miners-step-protests-industry-downturn-continues

Chinese labour activists “increasingly targets of violent attacks, intimidation”
Xinhua, April 28, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/economy/article/1781528/chinese-labour-activists-increasingly-targets-violent-attacks

Counterterrorism (反恐)

Police in Guangdong province practice anti-terrorism drills including the handling of a mock protest by villagers blocking construction of a development.
South China Morning Post, April 30, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/1781652/police-southern-china-practice-anti-terrorism-drills-including

Related:
广东江门举行反恐演练 模拟拆迁村民闹事(图) (Jiangmen, Guangdong Province holds anti-terror drills simulating protest by villagers against demolition (with pictures))
Southern Metropolis Daily, April 30, 2015
http://news.sina.com.cn/c/p/2015-04-30/092131780292.shtml

Government Accountability (政府问责)

Crackdown on corruption at Chinese environmental risk assessment agencies
South China Morning Post, April 29, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1779975/crackdown-corruption-chinese-environmental-risk

3 in Guangdong investigated for Party discipline violations
China Daily, April 30. 2015
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2015-04/30/content_20582869.htm

Eight hospital heads said to be found taking bribes
Caixin, April 29, 2015
http://english.caixin.com/2015-04-29/100805004.html

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

Goldman and IDG put $50 million to work in a Bitcoin company [Note: IDG is a China-based firm]
The New York Times, April 30, 2015
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/30/business/dealbook/goldman-and-idg-put-50-million-to-work-in-a-bitcoin-company.html

Related:
Under a 2013 notice issued by the People’s Bank of China, Chinese financial institutions are not permitted to use or interact with Bitcoin:
English: https://vip.btcchina.com/page/bocnotice2013
Chinese: http://www.pbc.gov.cn/publish/goutongjiaoliu/524/2013/20131205153156832222251/20131205153156832222251_.html

Hong Kong (香港)

Officials' assurances on reform “conflicting”
Radio Television Hong Kong, April 30, 2015
http://rthk.hk/rthk/news/englishnews/20150430/news_20150430_56_1096090.htm

陳文敏指政改方案沒回應市民憂慮 (Ex HKU law dean Johannes Chan says political reform package does not respond to citizens’ concerns)
Radio Television Hong Kong, April 30, 2015
http://rthk.hk/rthk/news/expressnews/20150430/news_20150430_55_1096119.htm

Related:
李卓人:中央若關心香港內耗 應拆8.31框架 (Pan-dem Lee Cheuk-yan: If Chinese government cares about HK internal friction, August 31 Framework should be dropped)
Radio Television Hong Kong, April 29, 2015
http://rthk.hk/rthk/news/expressnews/20150429/news_20150429_55_1095886.htm

Less than half HK’s residents support electoral reforms
Taipei Times, April 30, 2015
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2015/04/30/2003617161

Hong Kong trips again in global press freedom ranking
Hong Kong Economic Journal, April 30, 2015
http://www.ejinsight.com/20150430-hong-kong-trips-again-in-global-press-freedon-ranking/

Related:
去年撐警集會記者遇襲案 警指無足夠證據檢控 (Police say not enough evidence to charge attackers of journalists during last year’s pro-police event)
Apple Daily, April 29, 2015
http://hk.apple.nextmedia.com/realtime/news/20150429/53687604

Freedom of the Press 2015: Harsh Laws and Violence Drive Global Decline
Freedom House, April 28, 2015
https://freedomhouse.org/article/freedom-press-2015-harsh-laws-and-violence-drive-global-decline#.VUHjVdKqqko

Freedom of the Press 2015
Freedom House, April 28, 2015
https://freedomhouse.org/sites/default/files/FreedomofthePress_2015_FINAL.pdf

Opinion and Editorial (观点和社论)

YCW conversation–legal reform in China
Young China Watchers, April 28, 2015
http://www.youngchinawatchers.com/ycw-conversation-legal-reform-in-china/

Forced disappearances, brutality, and communist China's politics of fear
Vice News, April 28, 2015
https://news.vice.com/article/forced-disappearances-brutality-and-communist-chinas-politics-of-fear