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, April 14, 2017

Access to Information (信息公开)

习近平要记者讲政治 十九大前料再有监控措施 (Xi Jinping asks journalists to stay loyal to Party when reporting on politics, raises speculation about further implementation of monitoring measures before 19th Congress)
Radio France Internationale, April 14, 2017
http://cn.rfi.fr/中国/20170414-习近平要记者讲政治-十九大前料再有监控措施

Western content is heading to Chinese social media feeds
CNBC, April 14, 2017
http://www.cnbc.com/2017/04/13/western-content-is-heading-to-chinese-social-media-feeds.html

Government Accountability (政府问责)

「東北虎」受賄一審判囚14年 (Former Heilongjiang provincial deputy director to NPC sentenced to 14-years imprisonment for graft in first instance trial)
Mingpao, April 14, 2017
https://news.mingpao.com/pns/dailynews/web_tc/article/20170414/s00013/1492106699305

China's Hebei vows to learn lessons from new graft probe
Reuters, April 13, 2017
www.reuters.com/article/us-china-hebei-corruption-idUSKBN17G024

China slams anti-pollution efforts in major cities, detains dozens
Radio Free Asia, April 13, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/efforts-04132017120128.html

Hong Kong (香港)

议员「长毛」12年来破冰入中国 双方释出善意 (Hong Kong lawmaker “Long Hair” enters China after ban of 12 years, friendliness expressed on both sides)
Radio France Internationale, April 14, 2017
http://cn.rfi.fr/中国/20170414-议员「长毛」12年来破冰入中国-双方释出善意

Related:
梁國雄稱邊防人員一度要求除下黃絲帶 其後放行 (Leung Kwok-hung asked by border officials to remove yellow ribbon, allowed to proceed afterwards)
Radio Television Hong Kong, April 14, 2017
http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/ch/component/k2/1325192-20170414.htm

Thursday, April 13, 2017

Access to Justice (司法公正)

Beijing's rewards for unmasking foreign “spies” leaves NGOs, journalists at risk
Radio Free Asia, April 12, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/rewards-04132017112629.html

上海律师李天天被以“寻滋罪”刑拘 疑曝光国保身份遭报复 (Shanghai-based lawyer Li Tiantian believed to be criminally detained over “picking quarrels and provoking troubles” charge after exposing identity of a domestic security officer)
Radio Free Asia, April 12, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/xl2-04122017101412.html

Access to Information (信息公开)

中国政府对微信的审查扩展到图片 (Chinese gov’t extends censorship to pictures on WeChat)
Radio Free Asia, April 13, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/meiti/hc-04132017101253.html

Related:
We (can’t) Chat: “709 Crackdown” discussions blocked on Weibo and WeChat
Citizen Lab, April 13, 2017
https://citizenlab.org/2017/04/we-cant-chat-709-crackdown-discussions-blocked-on-weibo-and-wechat/

China jails social media user for two years for satire about president, Chairman Mao
Radio Free Asia, April 12, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/sentencing-04122017111054.html

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

陕西两千民师省信访局上访 要求释放维权代表 (2,000 teachers in Shaanxi march to provincial Bureau of Letters and Calls to demand release of rights defending representatives)
Radio Free Asia, April 13, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/xl1-04132017101815.html

各地老兵上访此起彼伏 重庆百余老兵市府要求落实中央文件 (Wave of veterans protests continues: Over 100 veterans protest in front of Chongqing city gov't to ask for implementation of central documentation)
Radio Free Asia, April 13, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/yf1-04132017101943.html

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

Authorities urge Kyrgyz herdsmen to spy on Uyghurs in China’s Xinjiang
Radio Free Asia, April 12, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/uyghur/authorities-urge-kyrgyz-herdsmen-to-spy-on-uyghurs-in-chinas-xinjiang-04122017153521.html

Hong Kong (香港)

Hong Kong's next leader wants to make life easier for pupils
The Economist, April 12, 2017
http://www.economist.com/news/china/21720593-will-it-make-her-more-popular-current-chief-executive-hong-kongs-next-leader-wants

Commentary (评论)

《人民的名义》:过不过时 现实如此?(The hit anti-graft drama “In the Name of People”: Is it outdated? Is it realistic?)
British Broadcasting Corporation, April 12, 2017
http://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/simp/39582397

Related:
京城密語:中紀委不滿意反腐劇《人民的名義》(Central Commission for Discipline Inspection said to be upset about anti-graft drama “In the Name of People”)
Mingpao, April 13, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/meiti/hc-04132017101253.html

Chinese courts must encourage witness cross-examination to ensure a fairer trial
South China Morning Post, April 12, 2017
http://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/2086693/chinese-courts-must-encourage-witness-cross-examination

Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Access to Justice (司法公正)

回應李明哲事件 國台辦:別有用心人士借機製造事端 (Taiwan Affairs Office in response to Li Ming-che case: People with ulterior motives are using it to provoke conflict)
Radio Television Hong Kong, April 12, 2017
http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/ch/component/k2/1324776-20170412.htm

Related:
國台辦:李明哲依法受查 已透過台灣團體通報其妻 (Taiwan Affairs Office: Li Ming-che is under investigation in accordance with law, his wife has been notified through a Taiwanese group)
Radio Television Hong Kong, April 12, 2017
http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/ch/component/k2/1324763-20170412.htm

Access to Information (信息公开)

China blocks South Korean TV in dispute over missile defense
Radio Free Asia, April 11, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/korea/blocks-04112017151500.html

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

中国民革委员挑战泸州命案结论受压改看法 (Revolutionary Committee member pressured into changing his view criticizing Luzhou murder case)
Voice of America, April 12, 2017
http://www.voachinese.com/a/news-luzhou-man-felt-pressure-for-voicing-doubt-on-student-death-20170412/3806925.html

抗议“综合工时制” 沃尔玛中国员工与资方展开拉锯战 (Walmart and its Chinese employees in “tug of war” over imposition of comprehensive working time system)
Radio Free Asia, April 11, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/yf2-04112017101930.html

Ethnic Mongolians clash with police, claim official corruption linked to insurance
内蒙逾千农牧民抗议政府侵吞补偿 十多人被捕多人受伤
Radio Free Asia, April 11, 2017
EN: http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/corruption-04112017105813.html
CH: http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/shaoshuminzu/ql2-04112017101355.html

Feminists criticize depiction of women in anti-graft TV show
China Film Insider, April 12, 2017
http://chinafilminsider.com/feminists-criticize-depiction-women-anti-graft-tv-show/

Government Accountability (政府问责)

Chinese police account in death of Sichuan student raises questions
Voice of America, April 11, 2017
http://www.voanews.com/a/china-sichuan-student-death-police-account-questioned/3805439.html

Hong Kong (香港)

习近平指香港矛盾显露 不提民主料对港续推强硬路线 (Xi Jinping says conflict in Hong Kong is visible, does not mention democracy, attracts speculation that Beijing will continue hard line approach for Hong Kong)
Radio France Internationale, April 12, 2017
http://cn.rfi.fr/中国/20170412-习近平指香港矛盾显露-不提民主料对港续推强硬路线

One more arrested for alleged rioting during Mong Kok unrest
Hong Kong Free Press, April 4, 2017
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2017/04/12/one-arrested-alleged-rioting-mong-kok-unrest/

Hong Kong lawmaker arrested and charged after flipping flags at legislative meeting
Hong Kong Free Press, April 12, 2017
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2017/04/12/hong-kong-lawmaker-arrested-charged-flipping-flags-legislative-meeting/

Related:
倒插旗帜算不算侮辱国旗?(Is it flag desecration to place a flag upside down?)
Deutsche Welle, April 12, 2017
http://www.dw.com/zh/倒插旗帜算不算侮辱国旗/a-38400026

Commentary (评论)

“Ghost in the Shell” is a poem to Hong Kong as it faces the 20th anniversary of its handover to China
Quartz, April 11, 2017
https://qz.com/950919/ghost-in-the-shell-is-a-poem-to-hong-kong-as-it-faces-the-20th-anniversary-of-its-handover-to-china/

Tuesday, April 11, 2017

Access to Justice (司法公正)

709案升级祸延家属 王峭岭公开“托孤”(“709 Crackdown” escalation: Families are involved, Wang Qiaoling, wife of arrested lawyer, Li Heping, believed to be in danger, openly asks friends to take care of her children)
Radio Free Asia, April 10, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/xl1-04102017103322.html

Related:
Wife of 709 Lawyer Fears Arrest
李和平律师妻子面临危险,托付友人“善后”
Human Rights in China, April 7, 2017
EN: http://www.hrichina.org/en/press-work/hric-bulletin/wife-709-lawyer-fears-arrest
CH: http://www.hrichina.org/chs/xin-wen-gong-zuo/zhong-guo-ren-quan-jian-xun/li-he-ping-lu-shi-qi-zi-mian-lin-wei-xian-tuo-fu-you

Another Shenzhen activist held on “subversion” charges in secret location
深圳李江鹏被控“颠覆” 王军孕妻回深仍受监控
Radio Free Asia, April 10, 2017
EN: http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/activist-04102017110245.html
CH: http://www.hrichina.org/chs/xin-wen-gong-zuo/zhong-guo-ren-quan-jian-xun/li-he-ping-lu-shi-qi-zi-mian-lin-wei-xian-tuo-fu-you

China’s death penalty is still veiled in secrecy, Amnesty says
数据不透明掩盖中国死刑真相
The New York Times, April 11, 2017
EN: http://cn.nytimes.com/china/20170411/china-execution-amnesty-international/en-us/
CH: http://cn.nytimes.com/china/20170411/china-execution-amnesty-international/

China's detention of Taiwan rights activist strains relations
Voice of America, April 11, 2017
http://www.voanews.com/a/china-detention-of-taiwan-rights-activist/3805188.html

Related:
Badiucao: Travel ban on wife of detained Taiwan activist
China Digital Times, April 10, 2017
http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2017/04/badiucao-travel-ban-detained-taiwan-activists-wife/

Government Accountability (政府问责)

Corruption at top rung of China's ancient petition system sparks calls for reform
Reuters, April 11, 2017
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-petitioners-idUSKBN17D0QR

浙江贪官刑满后竟能任局长受贿又入狱 (Corrupt Zhejiang official, appointed as department head after release from jail, in jail for graft again)
Radio Franc e Internationale, April 11, 2017
http://cn.rfi.fr/中国/20170411-浙江一局长贪腐刑满后竟能任局长受贿又入狱

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

China draft cyber law mandates security assessment for outbound data
Reuters, April 11, 2017
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-cyber-idUSKBN17D0EC

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

China punishes official for not daring to smoke near Muslims
The Washington Post, April 11, 2017
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/china-punishes-official-for-not-daring-to-smoke-near-muslims/2017/04/11/7301e128-1e7a-11e7-bb59-a74ccaf1d02f_story.html

Hong Kong (香港)

President Xi Jinping gives full backing to Carrie Lam as Hong Kong’s next chief executive
South China Morning Post, April 11, 2017
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2086667/chinese-premier-li-keqiang-sets-out-do-list-carrie-lam-take

Related:
林郑月娥上京见习李 获正式任命 (Carrie Lam meets Xi Jinping and Li Keqiang in Beijing to receive official appointment)
Deutsche Welle, April 11, 2017
http://www.dw.com/zh/林郑月娥上京见习李-获正式任命/a-38376496

林鄭月娥稱向習近平提到市民關注人大8.31決定 (Carrie Lam says she expressed Hong Kong people’s concern about “831 Framework” with Xi Jinping)
Radio Television Hong Kong, April 11, 2017
http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/ch/component/k2/1324627-20170411.htm

林鄭月娥:外在因素非她可控制 難訂重啟政改時間表 (Carrie Lam says it’s hard to have a timetable for political reform since she isn’t able to control external factors)
Radio Television Hong Kong, April 11, 2017
http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/ch/component/k2/1324651-20170411.htm