Tuesday, January 17, 2017

Access to Justice (司法公正)

A third update on lawyer Li Chunfu: He was drugged in custody
China Change, January 15, 2017
https://chinachange.org/2017/01/15/a-third-update-on-lawyer-li-chunfu-he-was-drugged-in-custody/

Related:
709 Lawyer Released on Bail in Psychological Distress
“709”被捕律师李春富取保候审，身心状况异常
Human Rights in China, January 13, 2017
EN: http://www.hrichina.org/en/press-work/hric-bulletin/709-lawyer-released-bail-psychological-distress
CH: http://www.hrichina.org/chs/xin-wen-gong-zuo/zhong-guo-ren-quan-jian-xun/709bei-bu-lu-shi-li-chun-fu-qu-bao-hou-shen-shen-xin

Chinese government thwarts effort to appeal the recent Wukan sentences
China Change, January 17, 2017
https://chinachange.org/2017/01/17/chinese-government-thwarts-effort-to-appeal-the-recent-wukan-sentences/

人权组织呼吁释放藏族活动人士：审判扎西文色就是审判中国宪法 (Rights group calls for release of Tibetan activist: Putting Tashi Wangchuk on trial means putting the Chinese Constitution on trial)
Voice of America, January 17, 2017
http://www.voachinese.com/a/hrw-calling-chian-drop-charges-tibetan-activist-20170116/3678608.html

Lawyers urge China’s top judge to quit over controversial comments against “Western” judicial independence
South China Morning Post, January 17, 2017
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2062829/lawyers-urge-chinas-top-judge-quit-over-controversial

Related:
“对司法独立亮剑"引发网民唇枪舌剑 (“To wield a sword against judicial independence” speech sparks heated online debate)
Deutsche Welle, January 17, 2017
http://www.dw.com/zh/对司法独立亮剑引发网民唇枪舌剑/ a-37145086

Access to Information (信息公开)

Chinese official fired after calling Mao “a devil”
Reuters, January 16, 2017
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-mao-idUSKBN151050

China ramps up control of domain names, adds new layer to Great Firewall
Radio Free Asia, January 16, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/internet-domain-01162017155356.html

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

Ministry wants random inspections for China’s non-governmental organizations
South China Morning Post, January 16, 2017
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2062578/ministry-wants-random-inspections-chinas-non

Government Accountability (政府问责)

Tiananmen activist’s hands and feet shackled for extended periods in Chinese prison, lawyer says
Hong Kong Free Press, January 17, 2017
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2017/01/17/tiananmen-activists-hands-and-feet-shackled-for-extended-periods-in-chinese-prison-lawyer-says/

Hong Kong (香港)

Beijing approves resignation of John Tsang and Carrie Lam; chief exec. bids expected
Hong Kong Free Press, January 16, 2017
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2017/01/16/breaking-beijing-approves-resignation-of-john-tsang-and-carrie-lam-chief-exec-bids-expected/

Related:
A guide to the top contenders vying to be Hong Kong’s next chief executive
Quartz, January 17, 2017
https://qz.com/884690/a-guide-to-the-top-contenders-vying-to-be-hong-kongs-next-chief-executive/

Police make fifth arrest connected to assault of pro-democracy lawmaker Nathan Law at airport
Hong Kong Free Press, January 16, 2017
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2017/01/16/police-make-fifth-arrest-connected-to-assault-of-pro-democracy-lawmaker-nathan-law-at-airport/

戴耀廷推「民間投票」選特首 強調不綑綁選委 (Benny Tai launches “civil referendum” on the CE, stresses that the result would not bind the Election Committee)
Mingpao, January 16, 2017
http://news.mingpao.com/pns/dailynews/web_tc/article/20170116/s00002/1484503826065

林鄭指23條立法屬憲制責任　惟應審時度勢 (Carrie Lam says enactment of laws for Art. 23 is a constitutional responsibility, but gov’t should assess first)
Sing Tao Daily, January 16, 2017
http://std.stheadline.com/instant/articles/detail/318569-香港-【特首選戰】林鄭指23條立法屬憲制責任+惟應審時度勢

Commentary (评论)

Zhou Qiang on judicial independence, the separation of powers, and constitutional democracy
REACH, January 15, 2017
https://china-research.net/2017/01/15/zhou-qiang-jiang-ping-and-he-weifang-debate-judicial-independence-the-separation-of-powers-and-constitutional-democracy/

Related:
China’s Chief Justice’s extraordinary statement: The most enormous ideological setback for a professional judiciary
Jerry’s Blog, January 17, 2017
http://www.jeromecohen.net/jerrys-blog/chinas-chief-justices-extraordinary-statement

The People’s Court Daily on independent adjudication
REACH, January 16, 2017
https://china-research.net/2017/01/16/the-peoples-court-daily-on-independent-adjudication/

旗帜鲜明地维护和落实依法独立审判的宪法原则 (Taking a clear-cut stance on protecting and realizing the constitutional principle of independent adjudication)
People’s Court Daily, January 16, 2017
http://www.rmfyb.com/paper/html/2017-01/16/content_120886.htm?div=-1