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.

Tuesday, July 18, 2017

Special Feature: Liu Xiaobo (特辑:刘晓波)

We hope our expanded special feature on Liu Xiaobo—including news items, analyses of the significance of his life and work, international support for Liu Xia and calls for accountability, and commentaries—will be a useful information resource and help generate more effective action by the international community. Liu Xiaobo was a prominent Chinese public intellectual and 2010 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, recognized for “his long and non-violent struggle for fundamental rights in China.” He died of liver cancer on July 13, 2017 in Chinese custody.

News (新闻)

China's ocean burial of Liu Xiaobo backfires as activists stage sea protests
The Guardian, July 19, 2017
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jul/19/chinas-ocean-burial-of-liu-xiaobo-backfires-as-activists-stage-sea-protests

民众以“空凳子”祭奠刘晓波 刘霞仍然下落不明 (Citizens pay tribute to Liu Xiaobo with an “empty chair,” Liu Xia’s whereabouts still unknown)
Radio Free Asia, July 18, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/ql1-07182017104930.html

Related:
信息中心:劉霞正在雲南「被旅遊」 (Information Center for Human Rights & Democracy: Liu Xia is “forced to travel” in Yunnan)
Radio Television Hong Kong, July 18, 2017
http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/ch/component/k2/1342873-20170718.htm

华盛顿华人在共产主义受难者纪念碑下悼念刘晓波 (Chinese people in Washington mourn Liu Xiaobo at Victims of Communism Memorial)
Voice of America, July 19, 2017
https://www.voachinese.com/a/liu-xiaobo-washington-20170718/3949287.html

Related:
“中国民主教育基金会”发表声明沉痛哀悼刘晓波 称他是中国的曼德拉,华夏的哈维尔 (Chinese Democratic Education Foundation releases announcement to mourn Liu Xiaobo and calls Liu “Mandela of China”)
Radio Free Asia, July 18, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/ck-07182017101327.html

沈阳国保骚扰跟踪恐吓记者实录 (National Security officers in Shenyang harass, follow, and intimidate journalists)
Voice of America, July 19, 2017
https://www.voachinese.com/a/3949025.html

中国驻英国大使馆发言人致信《金融时报》:刘晓波违法并被依法定罪 (Chinese embassy in the UK writes to Financial Times: Liu Xiaobo broke the law was convicted in accordance with the law)
Financial Times, July 18, 2017
http://www.ftchinese.com/story/001073458

Assessments: Liu Xiaobo’s Life & Work (评价:刘晓波的审评和著作)

Liu Xiaobo is gone, but resistance continues
Dissent Magazine, July 18, 2017
https://www.dissentmagazine.org/blog/liu-xiaobo-resistance-china

VOA专访:史密斯议员谈如何延续刘晓波精神遗产 (Rep Smith: How to continue Liu Xiaobo’s legacy)
Voice of America, July 18, 2017
https://www.voachinese.com/a/smith-interview-20170718/3949124.html

International Support for Liu Xia (国际社会给刘霞的声援)

无国界记者组织在台北设立办公室 呼吁各国营救刘霞重获自由 (Reporters Without Borders sets up office in Taipei and calls countries to rescue Liu Xia)
Radio Free Asia, July 18, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/gangtai/km1-07182017100553.html

Liu Xiaobo’s wife said to be kept off Beijing
EJ Insight, July 18, 2017
http://www.ejinsight.com/20170718-liu-xiaobos-wife-said-to-be-kept-off-beijing/

Commentary (评论)

As Liu Xiaobo dies in isolation, it’s time to abandon “quiet diplomacy”
Chang Ping, China Change, July 18, 2017
https://chinachange.org/2017/07/18/as-liu-xiaobo-dies-in-isolation-its-time-to-abandon-quiet-diplomacy/

The death of Liu Xiaobo
The New York Times, July 18, 2017
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/18/opinion/the-death-of-liu-xiaobo.html

The quiet tragedy of China’s dissidents
Max Boot, Commentary Magazine, July 17, 2017
https://www.commentarymagazine.com/foreign-policy/asia/china/liu-xiaobo-dissident-china/

 
 
 
 

News (新闻)

Access to Justice (司法公正)

维权律师持续受压 担心重现709时期 (Rights lawyer continues to face suppression, concerned about possible repeat of 709 crackdown)
Radio Free Asia, July 18, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/lawyer-07182017094757.html

709之殤—我的709經歷│709受害人隋牧青律師 (Sui Muqing: My experience as a 709 victim)
Inmediahk, July 18, 2017
https://www.inmediahk.net/node/1050811

广东江门被刑拘牧师获释 限制出境 (Criminally detained priest in Guangdong gets released but banned from crossing the border)
Radio Free Asia, July 17, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/shehui/yf1-07172017103936.html

内蒙古牧民因保卫草场被判刑25个月后出狱 (Herder in Inner Mongolia gets released after 25 months in prison for protecting grassland)
Radio Free Asia, July 17, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/shaoshuminzu/hc-07172017102333.html

RFA独家:新疆伊犁80哈萨克族人被捕 昭苏县一阿訇被判刑八年 (RFA Exclusive: In Xinjiang, 80 Kazakhs arrested in Yili, Imam sentenced to 8 years in Zhaosu)
Radio Free Asia, July 17, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/shaoshuminzu/ql2-07172017103134.html

Access to Information (信息公开)

China users report Whatsapp disruption amid censorship fears
Voice of America, July 18, 2017
https://www.voanews.com/a/china-users-report-whatsapp-disruption-amid-censorship-fears/3948669.html

Thousands of live-streamers taken offline for sexual content
Sixth Tone, July 17, 2017
http://www.sixthtone.com/news/1000527/thousands-of-live-streamers-taken-offline-for-sexual-content

China denies banning personal VPNs, but Facebook addicts not in clear
China Film Insider, July 16, 2017
http://chinafilminsider.com/china-denies-banning-personal-vpns-users-still-not-in-the-clear/

Why Shanghai’s best-known liberal bookshop is closing down
South China Morning Post, July 16, 2017
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2100533/why-shanghais-best-known-liberal-bookshop-closing-down

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

Workers at unsafe jobs left with nothing after strike
China Labor Bulletin, July 18, 2017
http://www.clb.org.hk/content/workers-unsafe-jobs-left-nothing-after-strike

江苏仪征市500多位原代课和幼儿教师集体到扬州市政府维权 (500 teachers in Jiangsu petition at Yangzhou gov’t for social insurance)
Weiquanwang, July 17, 2017
http://wqw2010.blogspot.hk/2017/07/500.html

上海60名维权人士集体起诉国家信访局 (60 petitioners in Shanghai file collective litigation against the National Letters and Visits Bureau)
Weiquanwang, July 17, 2017
http://wqw2010.blogspot.hk/2017/07/60.html

Protest in China over fertility treatment price hikes
International News Lens, July 17, 2017
https://international.thenewslens.com/article/73753

After deadly landslide, Shaanxi villagers resist relocation
Sixth Tone, July 14, 2017
http://www.sixthtone.com/news/1000515/after-deadly-landslide%2C-shaanxi-villagers-resist-relocation

Government Accountability (政府问责)

王岐山: 巡视监督是党内监督和群众监督相结合的有效方式 (Wang Qishan: inspection is an effective method for integrating inner-Party and citizen supervision)
Radio Free Asia, July 17, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/zhengzhi/yl-07172017154621.html

Related:
Top graft-buster vows enhanced discipline inspection
China Daily, July 17, 2017
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2017-07/17/content_30141262.htm

Ranking Chinese leader replaced amid reports of probe
Voice of America, July 17, 2017
https://www.voanews.com/a/ranking-chinese-leader-replaced-amid-reports-of-probe/3947055.html

Related:
中共政治局委员孙政才突然被免职,在北京接受调查 (Politburo member Sun Zhengcai suddenly removed from office, faces inspection in Beijing)
Radio Free Asia, July 16, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/zhengzhi/hc-07162017141830.html

Tougher stance on pollution yields better compliance
China Daily, July 17, 2017
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2017-07/17/content_30135818.htm

After deadly landslide, Shaanxi villagers resist relocation
Sixth Tone, July 14, 2017
http://www.sixthtone.com/news/1000515/after-deadly-landslide%2C-shaanxi-villagers-resist-relocation

Hong Kong (香港)

Lawmaker oaths: Experts say Beijing’s actions damaged rule of law and may have violated human rights
Hong Kong Free Press, July 18, 2017
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2017/07/18/lawmaker-oaths-experts-say-beijings-actions-damaged-rule-law-may-violated-human-rights/

“I won't give up fighting”: barred Hong Kong politician pushes back against Beijing
The Guardian, July 18, 2017
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jul/18/i-wont-give-up-fighting-barred-hong-kong-politician-pushes-back-against-beijing

Related:
FAQ: How might the ejection of 4 more pro-democracy lawmakers alter Hong Kong’s political landscape?
Hong Kong Free Press, July 17, 2017
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2017/07/18/faq-ejection-4-pro-democracy-lawmakers-alter-hong-kongs-political-landscape/

Chief exec. Carrie Lam says she currently has no plans to oust more lawmakers
Hong Kong Free Press, July 17, 2017
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2017/07/17/chief-exec-carrie-lam-says-currently-no-plans-oust-lawmakers/

Hong Kong pan-democrats list ways Carrie Lam could mend ties after ouster of four lawmakers
South China Morning Post, July 16, 2017
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2102866/hong-kong-pan-democrats-list-demands-carrie-lam-after-four

Commentary (评论)

The long arm of China’s law is coming down heavy on Hong Kong
Foreign Policy, July 17, 2017
http://foreignpolicy.com/2017/07/17/the-long-arm-of-chinas-law-is-coming-down-heavy-on-hong-kong/

What is driving Hong Kong-China tensions?
Al Jazeera, July 16, 2017
http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/talktojazeera/inthefield/2017/07/driving-hong-kong-china-tensions-170713112634433.html