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, August 03, 2017

We have concluded our Daily Brief Special Feature on Liu Xiaobo, prominent Chinese public intellectual and 2010 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, who died tragically in Chinese custody on July 13, 2017. For more information on Liu Xiaobo’s life and work, background information, and updates on his wife, Liu Xia, please see HRIC’s special action page: Liu Xiaobo's Living Legacy. We hope this page will be a useful information resource and help generate more effective action by the international community.

Access to Justice (司法公正)

China is keeping Liu Xia, widow of human rights activist Liu Xiaobo, from talking to the world
Quartz, August 3, 2017
https://qz.com/1041895/china-is-keeping-liu-xia-widow-of-human-rights-activist-liu-xiaobo-from-talking-to-the-world/

Related:
Video: “Open the blockade!”: Hong Kongers Mourn Liu Xiaobo「打開路障!」:香港市民悼念劉曉波
Human Rights in China, August 2, 2017
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCP1BWEwec0&feature=youtu.be

Liu Xiaobo’s Death is a Stain on the CPC, International Community Must Press for Liu Xia’s Freedom
刘晓波之死是中共污点,国际社会必须施压让刘霞获得自由
Human Rights in China, July 13, 2017
EN: http://www.hrichina.org/en/press-work/statement/liu-xiaobos-death-stain-cpc-international-community-must-press-liu-xias-freedom
CH: http://www.hrichina.org/chs/xin-wen-gong-zuo/sheng-ming/liu-xiao-bo-zhi-si-shi-zhong-gong-wu-dian-guo-ji-she-hui-bi-xu-shi-ya

A home prison is being built for recently released human rights lawyer Xie Yang
China Change, August 2, 2017
https://chinachange.org/2017/08/02/a-home-prison-is-being-built-for-recently-released-human-rights-lawyer-xie-yang/

Related:
709案谢阳又遭“家庭监狱”被软禁 (709 lawyer Xie Yang placed under “family house arrest” again)
Weiquanwang, August 2, 2017
http://wqw2010.blogspot.com/2017/08/709_2.html

曹雅学:谢阳律师失联,当局在谢家修建监狱 (Cao Yaxue: lawyer Xie Yang couldn’t be reached and the authority is building a prison at his home)
Voice of America, August 3, 2017
https://www.voachinese.com/a/caoyaxue-xieyang-update-20170802/3970395.html

曾協助709事件律師稱 疑被當局打壓兒子無法入學 (Beijing primary school refuses to admit son of rights lawyer Chen Jiangang)
Radio Television Hong Kong, August 3, 2017
http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/ch/component/k2/1346057-20170803.htm

Access to Information (信息公开)

China is perfecting a new method for suppressing dissent on the Internet
Vox, August 2, 2017
https://www.vox.com/world/2017/8/2/16019562/china-internet-freedom-dissent-twitter-facebook

Chinese chatbot vanishes after spurning Communist Party
Sky News, August 2, 2017
http://news.sky.com/story/chinese-chatbot-vanishes-after-spurning-communist-party-10970890

Related:
腾讯聊天AI“不爱党”被关闭,称中国梦是移民美国 (Tencent AI chatbot shut down for “not loving the Party,” saying the Chinese dream is to immigrate to the United States)
Sin Chew, August 2, 2017
http://www.sinchew.com.my/node/1668639/腾讯聊天ai“不爱党”被关闭.称中国梦是移民美国

In hotels, China filling gaps in “Great Firewall”
Voice of America, August 2, 2017
https://www.voanews.com/a/hotels-china-firewall-gaps/3970451.html

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

China issues working rules on handling public petitions
Xinhua, August 2, 2017
http://english.sina.com/news/2017-08-02/detail-ifyiswpt4966140.shtml

三部委联合印发规范党员干部网络行为意见 (Chinese authorities tighten control over what Party members’ online activities)
Sina, August 1, 2017
http://news.sina.com.cn/c/nd/2017-08-01/doc-ifyinvyk3055328.shtml

Multiple violent clashes erupt, all involving food delivery drivers
China Labor Bulletin, August 3, 2017
http://www.clb.org.hk/content/multiple-violent-clashes-erupt-all-involving-food-delivery-drivers

Government Accountability (政府问责)

Lax anti-pollution efforts highlighted
China Daily, August 2, 2017
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2017-08/02/content_30325621.htm

Related:
Officials caught protecting polluters
China Daily, August 1, 2017
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2017-08/01/content_30313674.htm

Former bank official expelled from CPC
China Daily, August 2, 2017
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2017-08/02/content_30325622.htm

National Security & Counterterrorism (国家安全和反恐)

流亡西藏司政严正呼吁藏人勿再自焚 (Tibetan political leader in exile calls Tibetans to stop self-immolation)
Radio Free Asia, August 2, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/shaoshuminzu/dz-08022017123813.html

Hong Kong (香港)

94人發起一地兩檢關注組促撤方案 陳淑莊:盼蒐30萬簽名叫停 (Lawmakers, academics, and social groups set up “one place, two checks” concern group)
Mingpao, August 2, 2017
https://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20170802/s00001/1501669407347

Related:
Lawmakers, academics, student bodies establish concern group over joint checkpoint arrangement
Hong Kong Free Press, August 3, 2017
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2017/08/03/lawmakers-academics-student-bodies-establish-concern-group-joint-checkpoint-arrangement/

“Not just mine, but everyone’s concern”: Legal heavyweight defends criticism of XL Rail joint checkpoint arrangement
Hong Kong Free Press, August 2, 2017
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2017/08/02/not-just-mine-everyones-concern-legal-heavyweight-defends-criticism-xl-rail-joint-checkpoint-arrangement/

支聯會等遊行到中聯辦 抗議內地拘捕海祭劉曉波人士 (Hong Kong Alliance and other groups march to the Liaison Office to protest the detention of Liu Xiaobo mourners)
Radio Television Hong Kong, August 2, 2017
http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/ch/component/k2/1345967-20170802.htm

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam hints Civic Square could reopen after study
South China Morning Post, August 2, 2017
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2105169/hong-kong-leader-carrie-lam-hints-civic-square-could-reopen

Embattled villagers promise to defend homes as Wang Chau eviction deadline looms
Hong Kong Free Press, August 2, 2017
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2017/08/02/embattled-villagers-promise-defend-homes-wang-chau-eviction-deadline-looms/

Commentary (评论)

How America can honor a Chinese dissident—and help protect his widow
The Washington Post, August 1, 2017
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/how-america-can-honor-a-chinese-dissident--and-help-protect-his-widow/2017/08/01/5fd15cbe-762c-11e7-9eac-d56bd5568db8_story.html