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.

Monday, September 26, 2016

Access to Justice (司法公正)

China: Lawyer Xia Lin sentenced to 12 years in jail
Al Jazeera, September 22, 2016
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/09/china-lawyer-xia-lin-sentenced-12-years-jail-160922072441226.html

Related:
Rule by Law or power? Lawyer’s conviction stirs online debate in China
Voice of America, September 23, 2016
http://www.voanews.com/a/lawyer-conviction-stirs-online-debate-in-china/3522177.html

HRIC Translation: “Lawyer Xia Lin: Such Is Our Country, and All We Can Do Now Is Fill Up Our Glasses”
Human Rights in China, September 23, 2016
http://www.hrichina.org/en/press-work/hric-bulletin/hric-translation-lawyer-xia-lin-such-our-country-and-all-we-can-do-now-fill

Chinese law firms face punishment under amended rules if lawyers exert pressure on judicial authorities
South China Morning Post, September 25, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2022318/chinese-law-firms-face-punishment-under-amended-rules

Related:
中国新律所管理办法被指针对维权人权律师 (China’s amended law firm regulations criticized as picking on rights lawyers)
Voice of America, September 25, 2016
http://www.voachinese.com/a/china-human-rights-lawyers-20160925/3524050.html

For mocking a martyr, Chinese blogger runs afoul of Beijing court
The New York Times, September 24, 2016
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/24/world/asia/china-qiu-shaoyun-korean-war.html

Insider gives rare look into Chinese VIP prison
Sixth Tone, September 23, 2016
http://www.sixthtone.com/news/insider-gives-rare-look-chinese-luxury-prison

Case against two citizen journalists who compiled China protest blog transferred for prosecution
Hong Kong Free Press, September 26, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/09/26/case-against-two-citizen-journalists-who-compiled-china-protest-blog-transferred-for-prosecution/

Access to Information (信息公开)

Darkened Screen: Constraints on foreign journalists in China
Pen America, September 22, 2016
https://pen.org/china-foreign-journalists

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

Beijing-linked Phoenix TV seeks Hong Kong license as China extends “soft power”
Radio Free Asia, September 23, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/license-09232016110745.html

Chinese Jews of ancient lineage huddle under pressure
The New York Times, September 25, 2016
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/25/world/asia/china-kaifeng-jews.html

Is free speech in China really getting better?
The Diplomat, September 23, 2016
http://thediplomat.com/2016/09/is-free-speech-in-china-really-getting-better/

福州维权人士抗议大抓捕 家属致信G20秘书处:别再来开会了 (Fuzhou rights defenders protest crackdown on petitioners, victims’ families send letter to G20 secretariat asking them not to come hold the meeting again)
Radio Free Asia, September 23, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/xl1-09232016101248.html

Government Accountability (政府问责)

江苏检察机关对上海垃圾非法倾倒太湖案5名嫌疑人作出逮捕决定 (Jiangsu procuratorial organs approve arrest of 5 suspects in case of illegal dumping of trash from Shanghai into Lake Tai)
People’s Procuratorate Daily, September 23, 2016
http://newspaper.jcrb.com/2016/20160923/20160923_001/20160923_001_4.htm

福建省原副省长徐钢受贿案一审开庭 (Bribery trial begins for, Xu Gang, former Vice Governor of Fujian Province)
People’s Procuratorate Daily, September 22, 2016
http://newspaper.jcrb.com/2016/20160923/20160923_002/20160923_002_8.htm

Tianjin’s new party chief, known for seizing reporter’s recorder, among front runners in Politburo race
South China Morning Post, September 26, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2021920/tianjins-new-communist-party-chief-among-first-front

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

“Exercise—Cormorant Strike VII” launched in Kokilai
Sri Lanka Army, September 4, 2016
http://www.army.lk/details.php?type=article&id=1582

Hong Kong (香港)

Screened out? Film charting Hong Kong's umbrella movement struggles to be seen
The Guardian, September 26, 2016
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/sep/26/yellowing-film-hong-kong-umbrella-movement-struggles-to-be-seen-cinema

A new front opens up in China’s battle against separatism
The Economist, September 5, 2016
http://www.economist.com/news/china/21707423-supporters-greater-independence-hong-kong-gain-foothold-citys-legislature-new

香港拔萃男書院國是學會公開標榜推動香港獨立 (Hong Kong Diocesan Boy’s School National Affairs Society publicly advertises promotion of Hong Kong independence)
Radio France Internationale, September 26, 2016
http://trad.cn.rfi.fr/中國/20160926-香港拔萃男書院國是學會公開標榜推動香港獨立

【中港關係】梁振英fb:在國際社會,中國地位決定了香港人地位 ([Sino-Hong Kong relationship] CY Leung Facebook: On the international level, China’s position determines Hong Kong’s position)
Ming Pao, September 24, 2016
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20160924/s00001/1474704203736

Opinion and Editorial (观点和社论)

Beijing’s disturbing turn against personal freedoms
The New York Times, September 24, 2016
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/24/opinion/beijings-disturbing-turn-against-personal-freedoms.html

Four years on: Where is Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption drive headed?
China Policy Institute Blog, September 25, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/09/25/four-years-xi-jinpings-anti-corruption-drive-headed/

最大危險是習以為常(文:馬嶽) (The greatest danger is losing perspectives in the current state of affairs)
Ming Pao, September 26, 2016
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20160926/s00022/1474850244514

中大校董會改組新瓶舊酒 (Reform of CUHK Council is “old wine in a new bottle”)
InMedia HK, September 24, 2016
http://www.inmediahk.net/node/1044805