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.

Wednesday, January 02, 2019

Xinjiang (新疆)

新疆伊宁强逼穆斯林当廉价劳工
Forced labor used businesses in China’s Xinjiang as part of camp system: Sources
Radio Free Asia, January 1, 2019

Chinese authorities close three Hui Muslim mosques for “illegal religious education”
South China Morning Post, December 31, 2018

Access to Justice (司法公正)

China holding more than 800 political prisoners in 2018: Report
Radio Free Asia, December 31, 2018

Access to Information (信息公开)

China discourse report 2018
China Media Project, December 30, 2018

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

A photographer’s quest to reverse China’s historical amnesia
The New York Times, January 1, 2019

澳大利亚律师团体敦促政府为北京监禁的人权律师发声 (Australian lawyers urge foreign minister to pressure China on Wang Quanzhang)
Voice of America, January 1, 2019

参与六四民主运动的56人发表元旦声明 (56 Tiananmen activists issue new year statement calling for global review of China’s model and re-establishing goal of democratic reform)
Radio Free Asia, December 31, 2018

1228北大清场纪要|北大团学领导的耻辱柱 (Shame on Peking University leaders for Dec. 28 roundup and beating of students supporting Jasic workers)
Jasic Workers Support Group, December 30, 2018

Related:
【时间线】更新至12.29|北大马会遭打压全过程 (Timeline: Suppression of Marxist students at Peking University, updated Dec. 29)
Jasic Workers Support Group, December 30, 2018

Government Accountability (政府问责)

Unification is the goal and force is an option, Xi Jinping says of Taiwan
The New York Times, January 1, 2019

蔡英文促中国和平处理分歧,强调台湾人自治意愿
Taiwan’s leader urges China to address differences peacefully
The New York Times, January 1, 2019

Related:
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen tells Beijing it “must” respect island’s sovereignty, people’s choices
South China Morning Post, January 1, 2019

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

U.S. economist Jeffrey Sachs retreats from Twitter after criticising U.S.’ treatment of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou
South China Morning Post, January 1, 2019

Hong Kong (香港)

University of Hong Kong students and staff united in desire to remove city’s leader as chancellor
South China Morning Post, January 2, 2019

In pictures: Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters rally over rule of law, inequality and waning freedoms
Agence France-Presse, January 1, 2019

Related:
Don’t bring Hong Kong independence banners to New Year march, protesters told
South China Morning Post, December 31, 2018

【元旦遊行】港獨組織多名成員稱被監視爆竊 梁頌恆:黑社會所為 (Pro-independence group members under surveillance, warehouse broken into, banners and flags missing)
Ming Pao, January 1, 2019

Four potential flashpoints for Hong Kong in 2019: National anthem law, mainland tourists, Lantau reclamation, and elections
South China Morning Post, January 1, 2019

影片證多名警察扔磚 莫慶榮:警方受暴徒猛烈攻擊,還擊無可厚非、相當合理、可以接受 (“Fighting back is reasonable and acceptable,” says superintendent in response to trial video showing police officers throwing bricks at protestors)
Inmediahk.net, December 31, 2018

A “dangerous departure”: More lawyers criticise Justice Dept. after it drops corruption case against ex-leader CY Leung
Hong Kong Free Press, December 31, 2018

Hong Kong University students seek permanent home on campus for statue of late Nobel-winning laureate Liu Xiaobo
Hong Kong Free Press, December 31, 2018

Commentary (评论)

香港「被融入」之後(文:陳景祥)(What happens after Hong Kong has been “integrated”)
Ming Pao, January 2, 2018

Teresa Cheng should have sought independent counsel for CY Leung’s case – that she didn’t is worrisome
South China Morning Post, January 2, 2019

The year China’s rise enters awkward adolescent phase
Channel NewsAsia, January 2, 2019

中國律師見聞錄:相信「依法治國」的下場,就是丟飯碗蹲監獄 (Chronicles of a lawyer in China: Consequences of “governing the country by law” are losing job, going to prison)
The News Lens, January 1, 2019

Weather the dark storm, persevere for rule of law in China — A 2019 New Year’s message from the China Human Rights Lawyers Group
China Change, January 1, 2019

End dictatorship, march towards freedom — A 2019 New Year’s statement from the China Citizens Movement
China Change, December 31, 2018