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.

Friday, July 08, 2016

Access to Justice (司法公正)

最高法:八种情况可申请国家司法救助, 规定额度上限 (Supreme People's Court: 8 circumstances in which state assistance may be applied for, with limit on maximum amount to be awarded)
YuYao News, July 6, 2016
https://perma.cc/Q973-939Z

Woman detained in China’s lawyer crackdown pens letter of apology, says she was “used” by foreign orgs
Hong Kong Free Press, July 8 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/07/08/woman-detained-in-chinas-lawyer-crackdown-pens-letter-of-apology-says-she-was-used-by-foreign-orgs/

Related:
中国维权律师关注组发布709事件周年最新发展及寻人启事 (China Human Rights Lawyers Concern Group issues latest development of 709 Crackdown and search notices)
Radio Free Asia, July 7, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/xl2-07072016101537.html

中国维权律师妻子集体上访最高检 (Wives of Chinese rights lawyers gather to petition at the Supreme People's Procuratorate)
Deutsche Welle, July 7, 2016
http://www.dw.com/zh/中国维权律师妻子集体上访最高检/a-19386016

China’s shattered dream for the rule of law, one year on
China Change, July 8, 2016
https://chinachange.org/2016/07/08/chinas-shattered-dream-for-the-rule-of-law-one-year-on/

Mass Crackdown on Chinese Lawyers and Defenders
中国大规模镇压维权律师和活跃人士
Human Rights in China, February 5, 2016
EN: http://www.hrichina.org/en/mass-crackdown-chinese-lawyers-and-defenders
CH: http://hrichina.org/chs/zhong-guo-da-gui-mo-zhen-ya-wei-quan-lu-shi-he-huo-yue-ren-shi

China violated rights of detained American, U.N. panel says
简讯:联合国人权机构称中国随意拘押美国公民
The New York Times, July 8, 2016
EN: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/08/world/asia/china-un-phan-gillis-detained-american.html
CH: http://cn.nytimes.com/china/20160707/cc07chinadetain/

Access to Information (信息公开)

中国大陆警方近来严查网购境外“禁书” (Mainland Chinese police closely investigate online purchases of foreign “banned books” recently)
Radio Free Asia, July 7, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/meiti/yl-07072016102230.html

2016年昆明将加大推进水源水质信息公开 (In 2016, Kunming will increase promotion of information disclosure on water sources and quality)
Yunnan Info, June 30, 2016
http://info.js.hc360.com/2016/06/301052135002.shtml https://perma.cc/E4B9-59RY

China’s Communist Youth League joins witch-hunt of film director Zhao Wei for using “pro-Taiwan-independence” actor
South China Morning Post, July 8, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1987148/chinas-communist-youth-league-joins-witch-hunt-film

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

留学人员成统战新着力点, 中央明确欧美同学会应成立党组 (Chinese students studying abroad a new focal point for United Front work, CPC clarifies that Western Returned Scholars Association should establish Party Organization(s))
Phoenix News, July 6, 2016
https://perma.cc/E4B9-59RY

Government Accountability (政府问责)

潘基文:活跃的民间社会和自由媒体对中国发展至关重要 (UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon: Active civil societies and free media are essential to China’s development)
Radio Free Asia, July 7, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/zhengzhi/nu-07072016102407.html

大赦国际和香港人权机构呼吁中国政府停止残酷压制人权律师 (Amnesty International and Hong Kong organization call on Chinese government to stop brutal suppression of rights lawyers)
Voice of America, July 8, 2016
http://www.voachinese.com/a/china-human-rights-lawyers-20160707/3408381.html

Body found in wreckage of home forcibly demolished in central China
South China Morning Post, July 8, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/1987051/body-found-wreckage-home-forcibly-demolished-central-china

China jails “Xinjiang sage” connected to former security chief
Reuters, July 8, 2016
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-corruption-judgement-idUSKCN0ZO0B7

County officials in Tibet seize land, sell at a profit to developers
Radio Free Asia, July 7, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/tibet/land-07072016145422.html

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

中国两支最强反恐部队将首次共同 赴俄参加演习 (China's 2 strongest counter-terrorism units to jointly visit Russia for 1st time to engage in exercises)
Sina News, June 29, 2016
http://mil.news.sina.com.cn/china/2016-06-28/doc-ifxtmwei9438201.shtml

浙江警方开出首张个人“反恐罚单” (Zhejiang police issue first individual notice of “counter-terrorism infringement”)
Taizhou Evening News, July 5, 2016
http://news.xinhuanet.com/legal/2016-07/05/c_129118269.htm

Hong Kong (香港)

郭声琨会见香港特区政府代表团 (Guo Shengkun, Minister of Public Security, meets with HK SAR delegation)
Legal Daily, July 6, 2016
http://epaper.legaldaily.com.cn/fzrb/content/20160706/Articel01007GN.htm

Video: Demosistō activist Oscar Lai ousts his two “minders” during democracy protest, takes selfie
Hong Kong Free Press, July 8, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/07/08/video-demosisto-activist-oscar-lai-ousts-his-two-minders-during-protest-takes-selfie/

China’s disturbing detention of Hong Kong booksellers
The Diplomat, July 7, 2016
http://thediplomat.com/2016/07/chinas-disturbing-detention-of-hong-kong-booksellers/

中國內地派至香港的特工疑增多 (Mainland China allegedly has sent more agents to Hong Kong)
Radio France Internationale, July 5, 2016
http://trad.cn.rfi.fr/中國/20160705-中國內地派至香港的特工疑增多

Thursday, July 07, 2016

Access to Justice (司法公正)

Wives of detained human rights lawyers in China fight on a year after husbands held by authorities
South China Morning Post, July 7, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1986569/wives-detained-human-rights-lawyers-china-fight-year

Related:
Shanshan's Year: anguish of jailed lawyers' families laid bare in Chinese film
The Guardian, July 7, 2016
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jul/07/shanshans-year-anguish-of-jailed-lawyers-families-laid-bare-in-chinese-film

China to release human rights worker Zhao Wei on bail after a year of detention
The Guardian, July 7, 2016
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jul/07/china-to-release-human-rights-worker-zhao-wei-on-bail-after-a-year-of-detention

Mass Crackdown on Chinese Lawyers and Defenders
中国大规模镇压维权律师和活跃人士
Human Rights in China, February 5, 2016
EN: http://www.hrichina.org/en/mass-crackdown-chinese-lawyers-and-defenders
CH: http://hrichina.org/chs/zhong-guo-da-gui-mo-zhen-ya-wei-quan-lu-shi-he-huo-yue-ren-shi

Rights group demands release of U.S. businesswoman held by China for alleged spying
South China Morning Post, July 6, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy-defence/article/1986122/rights-group-demands-release-us-businesswoman-held

Related:
China chides U.N. group over criticism of “arbitrary” detention
Reuters, July 6, 2016
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-rights-un-idUSKCN0ZM16L

Family of “rebel Chinese village” chief refuses to recognize gov’t appointed lawyers
Hong Kong Free Press, July 6, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/07/06/family-of-rebel-chinese-village-chief-refuses-to-recognise-govt-appointed-lawyers/

Access to Information (信息公开)

China says facing flood of online info distorting party history
Reuters, July 6, 2016
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-party-idUSKCN0ZM0DT

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

The man who keeps tally of protests in China
China Change, July 6, 2016
https://chinachange.org/2016/07/06/the-man-who-keeps-tally-of-protests-in-china/

Strikes continue unabated in China during first half of the year
China Labor Bulletin, July 7, 2016
http://www.clb.org.hk/content/strikes-continue-unabated-china-during-first-half-year

Government Accountability (政府问责)

联合国人权理事会通过保障网络自由草案 中国受到国际谴责 (United Nations Human Rights Council passes resolution for protecting Internet freedom, China denounced by international community)
Radio Free Asia, July 6, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/meiti/xl1-07062016095100.html

China’s communist cadre cradle pledges not to rock party boat after teachers rapped for “spreading Western values”
South China Morning Post, July 6, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1986359/chinas-communist-cadre-cradle-pledges-not-rock-party

China charges Tiananmen massacre alcohol label activists with “inciting subversion of state power”
Hong Kong Free Press, July 7, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/07/07/china-charges-tiananmen-massacre-alcohol-label-activists-with-inciting-subversion-of-state-power/

Decision, maybe momentous, nears in case China has tried to ignore
南海仲裁对中国的真正考验
The New York Times, July 7, 2016
EN: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/07/world/asia/china-hague-philippines-spratlys.html
CH: http://cn.nytimes.com/china/20160707/china-hague-philippines-spratlys/

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

Xinjiang imposes selective fasting ban amid terror crackdown
China Digital Times, July 6, 2016
http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2016/07/china-imposes-selective-fasting-ban-amid-terror-fear/

Related:
In western China, authorities grapple with how to handle Ramadan
The Washington Post, July 5, 2016
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/in-western-china-authorities-grapple-with-how-to-handle-ramadan/2016/07/05/b06c59aa-3e09-11e6-9e16-4cf01a41decb_story.html

Hong Kong (香港)

Bookseller Lam Wing-kee “relieved” after police agree to protect him, says lawmaker
Hong Kong Free Press, July 6, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/07/06/bookseller-lam-wing-kee-relieved-after-police-agree-to-protect-him-says-lawmaker/

香港书商抓捕问题 北京香港各说各话 (Hong Kong booksellers taken away and detained, Beijing and Hong Kong talk past each other)
Voice of America, July 6, 2016
http://www.voachinese.com/a/news-hongkong-bookseller-20160706/3405984.html

Opinion and Editorial (观点和社论)

On cross-border detention, Hong Kong and mainland China must strive for greater progress
South China Morning Post, July 6, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1986330/cross-border-detention-hong-kong-and-mainland-china-must

Wednesday, July 06, 2016

Access to Justice (司法公正)

U.N. panel raises concerns about China’s detention of American
The Wall Street Journal, July 5, 2016
http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2016/07/05/u-n-panel-raises-concerns-about-detention-of-american/

Access to Information (信息公开)

Missing Lings: Chinese state media silent on ex-presidential aide Ling Jihua’s brothers and “Shanxi Gang” ties
South China Morning Post, July 5, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1985652/missing-lings-chinese-state-media-silent-ex

China’s news websites now have to verify social media stories before they report them
Quartz, July 5, 2016
http://qz.com/723284/chinas-news-websites-now-have-to-verify-social-media-stories-before-they-report-them/

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

Hong Kong rights group calls China's NGO law a “step forward”
Voice of America, July 5, 2016
http://www.voanews.com/content/why-a-hong-kong-rights-group-calls-china-ngo-law-a-step-forward/3405867.html

Related:
HRIC Law Note: Draft Law on Foreign NGOs Undermines Chinese Civil Society and China’s International Engagement
中国人权法律评论:境外非政府组织管理法草案损害了中国的民间社会和中国政府的国际参与
Human Rights in China, May 5, 2015
EN: http://www.hrichina.org/en/legal-resources/hric-law-note-draft-law-foreign-ngos-undermines-chinese-civil-society-and-chinas
CH: http://www.hrichina.org/chs/fa-lu-zi-xun/zhong-guo-ren-quan-fa-lu-ping-lun-jing-wai-fei-zheng-fu-zu-zhi-guan-li-fa-cao-sun-hai

Government Accountability (政府问责)

世维会呼吁国际社会毋忘七五乌鲁木齐黑色星期日 (World Uyghur Congress calls on international community not to forget July 5 Urumqi Black Sunday)
Radio Free Asia, July 5, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/shaoshuminzu/gr-07052016100834.html

“Just a piece of trash paper”: former Chinese envoy dismisses upcoming ruling on nation’s South China Sea claims
South China Morning Post, July 6, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy-defence/article/1986029/just-piece-trash-paper-former-chinese-envoy-dismisses

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

GreatFire.org launches VPN information database
China Digital Times, July 5, 2016
http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2016/07/greatfire-launches-vpn-information-database/

Hong Kong (香港)

Chinese police urge bookseller Lam Wing-kee to return to mainland for investigation
Hong Kong Free Press, July 5, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/07/05/chinese-police-urge-bookseller-lam-wing-kee-to-return-to-mainland-for-investigation/

Related:
【銅鑼灣書店事件】黨報斥林榮基「背信棄義」 指公安港警加緊合作:勿以為到港可脫法律制裁 (State media calls Lam treacherous, says mainland and Hong Kong police would strengthen cooperation, being in Hong Kong does not spare him from legal penalties)
Ming Pao, July 6, 2016
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20160706/s00001/1467771667315

Hong Kong bookseller in the confessional during eight months of detention in mainland China
South China Morning Post, July 6, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/1985857/hong-kong-bookseller-confessional-during-eight-months

【短片:林榮基專訪】首披露缺席七一遊行內情 稱遭4大漢跟蹤返家 林:好似想郁我咁 ([Video: Interview with Lam Wing-kee] Lam reveals reason behind absence in July 1 demonstration: followed by 4 big guys on the way home who seemed about to beat him)
Ming Pao, July 5, 2016
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20160705/s00001/1467728707164

C.Y. Leung announces Hong Kong and mainland agree to notify within 14 days of detaining each other’s residents
South China Morning Post, July 6, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/1986070/cy-leung-announces-hong-kong-and-mainland-agree-notify

Related:
Bookseller Lam Wing-kee could be sent to mainland China if there was a reciprocal deal with Hong Kong: legal scholar
内地法律学者:中港若有司法互助协议 林荣基可能被送到内地
South China Morning Post, July 5, 2016
EN: http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/1985845/bookseller-lam-wing-kee-could-be-sent-mainland-china-if
CH: http://www.nanzao.com/sc/hk-macau-tw/155be7bd356c9f4/nei-di-fa-lv-xue-zhe-zhong-gang-ruo-you-si-fa-hu-zhu-xie-yi-lin-rong-ji-ke-neng-bei-song-dao-nei-di

I wish to complete democratic reform as soon as possible, says C.Y. Leung
Hong Kong Free Press, July 5, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/07/05/i-wish-to-complete-democratic-reform-as-soon-as-possible-says-cy-leung/

Hong Kong doesn’t want anyone to know the city’s best film is at a New York festival
Quartz, July 4, 2016
http://qz.com/722959/hong-kong-doesnt-want-anyone-to-know-the-citys-best-film-is-at-a-new-york-film-festival/

Opinion and Editorial (观点和社论)

Using free sex to expose sexual abuse in China: A Q&A with Nanfu Wang
China Film Insider, July 4, 2016
http://chinafilminsider.com/using-free-sex-expose-sexual-abuse-china-qa-nanfu-wang/