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.

Monday, August 10, 2015

Access to Justice (司法公正)

The desperate hunt for Li Heping, China's missing human rights warrior
The Guardian, August 10, 2015
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/10/the-desperate-hunt-for-li-heping-chinas-missing-human-rights-warrior

Related:
My husband Li Heping, Part 5—Lawyer Li Chunfu, Heping’s younger brother
我的丈夫李和平之五:增记:和平的弟弟李春富律师
Human Rights in China, July 16, 2015
EN: http://www.hrichina.org/en/courageous-voices#10
CH: http://www.hrichina.org/chs/xiang-qiang-quan-shuo-bu#10

Chinese human rights lawyer is unexpectedly freed a day after being detained
The New York Times, August 9, 2015
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/09/world/asia/yu-wensheng-chinese-rights-lawyer-is-unexpectedly-freed.html

高智晟出狱一周年音讯仍无 兄长高智义疑遭封口 (No news of rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng on 1st anniversary of prison release, brother suspects he is being silenced by police)
Radio Free Asia, August 7, 2015
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/ql2-08062015113225.html

两藏人为达赖喇嘛祝寿先后被捕 (Two Tibetans arrested for celebrating Dalai Lama’s birthday)
Radio Free Asia, August 7, 2015
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/shaoshuminzu/dz-08072015121846.html

Gao Yu, jailed Chinese journalist, is said to be receiving good medical care
The New York Times, August 7, 2015
http://sinosphere.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/08/07/gao-yu-jailed-chinese-journalist-is-said-to-be-receiving-good-medical-care/

谢远东涉嫌“煽动颠覆国家政权罪”,律师不许会见 (Xie Yuandong suspected of “inciting subversion,” not permitted to meet lawyer)
Boxun, August 10, 2015
http://www.boxun.com/news/gb/china/2015/08/201508102159.shtml

山西因公牺牲民警首获人身意外险理赔 (Shanxi offers first insurance settlements for police officers injured in the line of duty)
Legal Daily, August 10, 2015
http://epaper.legaldaily.com.cn/fzrb/content/20150810/Articel02004GN.htm

China mulls harsher penalties for protesters, “cults”; fewer capital crimes
Dui Hua, August 6, 2015
http://www.duihuahrjournal.org/2015/08/china-mulls-harsher-penalties-for.html

Access to Information (信息公开)

China blacklists 120 songs for obscene or violent lyrics
Associated Press, August 10, 2015
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/b786b74934fc434eb8b22edca3b970d2/china-blacklists-120-songs-obscene-or-violent-lyrics

China TV anchor Bi Fujian to be punished for Mao insult
British Broadcasting Corporation, August 10, 2015
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-33844095

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

福建平潭强征打伤30村民 (30 villagers injured protesting forced land requisition in Pingtan, Fujian)
Radio Free Asia, August 8, 2015
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/ql2-08082015124107.html

Christian sentiment in Zhejiang against cross removal: three statements
China Change, August 7, 2015
http://chinachange.org/2015/08/07/christian-sentiment-in-zhejiang-against-cross-removal-three-statements/

Related:
A call to “cry out” against cross removals in China
The New York Times, August 10, 2015
http://sinosphere.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/08/07/a-call-to-cry-out-against-cross-removals-in-china/

Scream out! Don’t be silent anymore!—An Appeal to All Priests and Christians in China—The Catholic Parish of Priests in Wenzhou
Human Rights in China, July 28, 2015
http://www.hrichina.org/en/citizens-square/scream-out-dont-be-silent-anymore-appeal-all-priests-and-christians-china

Freed Chinese prisoner uses cartoons to illustrate torture claims
South China Morning Post, August 9, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1847995/freed-chinese-prisoner-uses-cartoons-illustrate-torture

Related:
Comics to show how police torture innocent man into confession
https://docs.google.com/document/d/11lE0aCPMJtSRKV5rbr8ri4HHuzt2OK61LIPiYiE7dV0/edit

More than 1,000 people back Chinese women’s call for law change so men considered rape victims
South China Morning Post, August 7, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1847551/more-1000-people-back-chinese-womens-call-law-change-so

Livelihood clampdown on Tibetans in Diru County
Phayul, August 7, 2015
http://www.phayul.com/news/article.aspx?id=36332&article=Livelihood+clampdown+on+Tibetans+in+Diru+County

Related:
狮子旗热气球飞越欧洲北京干预不果 (Tibetan flag balloon to float across Europe despite China's intervention)
Radio France Internationale, August 7, 2015
http://cn.rfi.fr/中国/20150809-狮子旗热气球飞越欧洲北京干预不果

Government Accountability (政府问责)

China Communist paper criticises retired leaders
Agence France-Presse, August 10, 2015
http://www.france24.com/en/20150810-china-communist-paper-criticises-retired-leaders

Related:
人民日报思想纵横:辩证看待“人走茶凉” (People’s Daily Ideological Aspect: critically examining “when a person leaves, the tea cools”)
People’s Daily, August 10, 2015
http://opinion.people.com.cn/n/2015/0810/c1003-27434178.html

China’s disgraced ex-PLA general Gu Junshan spared death
Asia Times, August 7, 2015
http://atimes.com/2015/08/chinas-disgraced-ex-pla-general-gu-junshan-spared-death/

China's cadres to be watched outside work as corruption watchdog targets old boys' networks
South China Morning Post, August 7, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1847676/chinas-cadres-be-watched-outside-work-corruption

China to prosecute former regulatory official for graft
Reuters, August 7, 2015
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/08/07/us-china-corruption-securities-idUSKCN0QC0R120150807

中国被查官员若自杀 将问责纪检人员 (Prosecutors to be held accountable if suspected corrupt officials commit suicide)
Voice of America, August 10, 2015
http://www.voachinese.com/content/china-punish-20150807/2906375.html

Hong Kong (香港)

Let’s stick to the facts: The strange case of superintendent Chu King-wai
Hong Kong Free Press, August 7, 2015
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2015/08/07/lets-stick-to-the-facts-the-strange-case-of-superintendent-chu-king-wai/

李源潮接见港青禁香港记者采访 (Hong Kong journalists not permitted to film Chinese vice president Li Yuanchao’s meeting with SAR youth)
Radio France Internationale, August 9, 2015
http://cn.rfi.fr/中国/20150809-李源潮接见港青禁香港记者采访

港府选民登记混账文化中心也算住址 (HK government voter registration system a mess—accepts hotels and the Cultural Centre as resident addresses)
Radio France Internationale, August 9, 2015
http://cn.rfi.fr/中国/20150809-港府选民登记混账文化中心也算住址

Counterterrorism (反恐)

四川一高校配合武警反劫机大队反恐演习 场面如大片 (Sichuan Southwest Airlines Professional College coordinates “hijacking” counterterrorism drills with People's Armed Police)
Sichuan News Agency, August 10, 2015
http://sc.people.com.cn/n/2015/0810/c345167-25919372.html

Opinion and Editorial (观点和社论)

China vs. its human rights lawyers
The New York Times, July 31, 2015
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/01/opinion/chinas-vs-its-human-rights-lawyers.html

研究:毛式政策远期会为中国带来更快增长 (Study: Maoist policy would bring China faster long-term growth)
Financial Times, August 10, 2015
http://www.ftchinese.com/story/001063400

China’s fear remains even after Tenzin Delek Rinpoche’s death
Phayul, August 9, 2015
http://www.phayul.com/news/article.aspx?id=36337&t=1

Q. and A.: Chen Zhonglin on “picking quarrels” online
The New York Times, July 27, 2015
http://sinosphere.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/07/27/q-and-a-chen-zhonglin-on-picking-quarrels-online/

Friday, August 07, 2015

Access to Justice (司法公正)

China detains lawyer who accused police of torture, his wife says
The New York Times, August 7, 2015
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/08/world/asia/china-detains-yu-wensheng-lawyer-who-accused-police-of-torture-his-wife-says.html

China accuses prominent rights lawyer of inciting subversion
Reuters, August 7, 2015
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/08/07/us-china-rights-idUSKCN0QC1AO20150807

律师在内200多人联署控告中国公安部抗议警方大规模抓捕威胁律师 (Over 200 people including lawyers submit written complaint against Chinese Public Security Ministry to protest large-scale detention, intimidation of lawyers)
Radio France Internationale, August 6, 2015
http://cn.rfi.fr/中国/20150806-律师在内200多人联署控告中国公安部抗议警方大规模抓捕威胁律师

Related:
“710 Crackdown” Case Updates (1 August 2015-7 August 2015)
China Human Rights Lawyers Concern Group, August 7, 2015
http://www.chrlawyers.hk/en/content/%E2%80%9C710-crackdown%E2%80%9D-case-updates

Mass crackdown on Chinese lawyers and defenders: Courageous voices
中国大规模镇压维权律师和活跃人士:向强权说“不!” Human Rights in China, August 7, 2015
EN:http://www.hrichina.org/en/courageous-voices
CH:http://www.hrichina.org/chs/xiang-qiang-quan-shuo-bu

Activists call on China to free jailed journalist Gao Yu
Deutsche Welle, August 6, 2015
http://www.dw.com/en/activists-call-on-china-to-free-jailed-journalist-gao-yu/a-18631514

“I am pregnant, but there's nobody to look after me”
Radio Free Asia, August 6, 2015
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/pregnant-08062015103357.html

Access to Information (信息公开)

China orders amateur sex videos scrubbed from social media, threatens to punish offenders
South China Morning Post, August 6, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1847113/china-orders-amateur-sex-videos-scrubbed-social-media

Taylor Swift's advisers “discussing removing 1989 logo” from some of clothing line sold in China
South China Morning Post, August 7, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/1847303/taylor-swifts-advisers-discussing-removing-1989-logo-some

“It's getting worse”: China's liberal academics fear growing censorship
The Guardian, August 6, 2015
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/06/china-xi-jinping-crackdown-liberal-academics-minor-cultural-revolution

China's cities “not telling public about debt levels”
Caixin, August 6, 2015
http://english.caixin.com/2015-08-06/100837111.html

Chinese government officials to give university lectures to “improve students’ political education”
South China Morning Post, August 6, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1847015/chinese-government-officials-give-university-lectures

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

Hundreds march in China to protest pollution, gov’t indifference
Hong Kong Free Press, August 7,2 015
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2015/08/07/hundreds-march-in-china-to-protest-pollution-govt-indifference/

Despite millions of recruits, criticism of China’s online civilization army mounts
Hontg Kong Free Press, August 6, 2015
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2015/08/06/despite-millions-of-recruits-criticism-of-chinas-online-civilization-army-mounts/

Related:
How China's online civilization army turned a youth street fight into a patriotic struggle
Global Witness, July 31, 2015
http://globalvoicesonline.org/2015/07/30/how-chinas-online-civilization-army-turned-a-youth-street-fight-into-a-patriotic-struggle/

浙江当局威胁升级 “不拆十字架就拆教堂” (Zhejiang authorities step up threats: “If we don’t tear down the cross, we’ll tear down the church”)
Radio Free Asia, August 6, 2015
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/shehui/yf2-08062015113409.html

Related:
Chinese Christians hold protest on church roof to protect cross
Reuters, August 6, 2015
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/08/06/us-china-rights-idUSKCN0QB18820150806

德媒:艾未未还不像一个获得了自由的人 (German media: Ai Weiwei still doesn't look like a freed man)
Radio Free Asia, August 6, 2015
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/meiti/gr-08062015102435.html

Related:
Ai Weiwei: “All I ask for is a normal life”
SZ International, August 6, 2015
http://international.sueddeutsche.de/post/126018336495/ai-weiwei-all-i-ask-for-is-a-normal-life

Government Accountability (政府问责)

At sea in the city: When building cities, someone forgot the drains
The Economist, August 8, 2015
http://www.economist.com/news/china/21660576-when-building-cities-someone-forgot-drains-sea-city

中国证监会投资者保护局原局长李量因收受贿赂等被双开—中纪委 (China's former senior regulatory official to face prosecution for graft)
Reuters August 7,2 015
http://cn.reuters.com/article/2015/08/07/cn-crim-idCNKCS0QC0QX20150807

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

Divine Eagle: How much of a threat is China's new high-flying drone to U.S. air superiority?
The Independent, August 6, 2015
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/divine-eagle-how-much-of-a-threat-is-chinas-new-highflying-drone-to-us-air-superiority-10441385.html

Hong Kong (香港)

Student activist group founder found guilty of obstructing police officer on Christmas morning
South China Morning Post, August 7, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/1847247/student-activist-guilty-obstructing-police-officer

称遭公安屈打成招刘进图“刀手”指中央不想政治化 (Defendant in ex Mingpao chief editor assault case: Tortured to confess by public security officers)
Radio France Internationale, August 7, 2015
http://cn.rfi.fr/中国/20150807-称遭公安屈打成招刘进图“刀手”指中央不想政治化

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

Asean talks: Beijing's South China Sea island-building “increasing tensions”
The Guardian, August 6, 2015
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/07/asean-talks-beijing-south-china-sea-increasing-tensions

China confirms Uighur repatriation fears
Financial Times, August 5, 2015
http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/e9940340-3b3a-11e5-bbd1-b37bc06f590c.html

美敦促中国在反恐中保护宗教自由 (U.S. urges China to protect religious freedom in the fight against terrorism)
Voice of America, August 7, 2015
http://www.voachinese.com/content/us-china-counter-terrorism-20150806/2905109.html

Opinion and Editorial (观点和社论)

Beijing Olympic scandal redux
The Wall Street Journal, August 6, 2015
http://www.wsj.com/articles/beijing-olympic-scandal-redux-1438880174

Should the U.S. extradite Chinese wanted by Beijing?
China File, August 7, 2015
http://www.chinafile.com/conversation/should-us-extradite-chinese-wanted-beijing

China, the internet you’re looking for does not exist
Foreign Policy, August 6, 2015
http://foreignpolicy.com/2015/08/06/china-the-internet-youre-looking-for-does-not-exist/

Increasing engagement with Human Rights Council must be matched by respect for civil society at home
The International Service for Human Rights, July 28, 2015
http://www.ishr.ch/news/china-increasing-engagement-human-rights-council-must-be-matched-respect-civil-society-home

时事大家谈:在中国当官为何成为高危职业 (Current affairs talk: How officialdom became a high-risk profession in China)
Voice of America, August 7, 2015
http://www.voachinese.com/content/voaweishi-io-1-20150806/2903824.html

China’s naked emperors
中国皇帝的新装
The New York Times, August 7, 2015
http://cn.nytimes.com/opinion/20150806/c06krugman/dual/

Attempt to subvert academic freedom in Hong Kong is far worse than disrupting the HKU council
South China Morning Post, August 6, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1847100/attempt-subvert-academic-freedom-hong-kong-far-worse

Thursday, August 06, 2015

Access to Justice (司法公正)

律師:高瑜有心臟病,要求保外就醫 (Lawyer: Gao Yu has heart disease and should be released on medical parole)
British Broadcasting Corporation, August 6, 2015
http://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/trad/china/2015/08/150806_gaoyu_medical

Related:
15人权团体呼吁习近平释放高瑜 (15 organizations urge Xi Jinping to release Gao Yu)
Voice of America, August 6, 2015
http://www.voachinese.com/content/human-rights-groups-gaoyu-20150805/2903559.html

Joint Letter Regarding Health of Imprisoned Journalist Gao Yu
关切高瑜健康状况的联名信
15 Organizations, August 6, 2015
EN: http://www.hrichina.org/en/press-work/joint-statement/joint-letter-regarding-health-imprisoned-journalist-gao-yu
CH: http://www.hrichina.org/chs/xin-wen-gong-zuo/lian-he-sheng-ming/guan-qie-gao-yu-jian-kang-zhuang-kuang-de-lian-ming-xin

紧急关注:著名人权律师余文生被警方破门传唤、抄家并带走 (Urgent: Well-known rights lawyer Yu Wensheng taken by police after home was searched)
Weiquanwang, August 7, 2015
http://wqw2010.blogspot.com/2015/08/blog-post_64.html?spref=tw

Related:
Mass suppression of lawyers reveals true nature of Xi’s “rule by law”
对维权律师的大规模镇压揭示了习近平“依法治国”的真实面目
Human Rights in China, July 16, 2015
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

”Left-behind children” found stabbed to death in southern China
South China Morning Post, August 5, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/1846701/left-behind-children-found-stabbed-death-southern-china

Tibetan monk emerges from two-month stint in Sichuan jail in poor health
Radio Free Asia, August 5, 2015
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/tibet/emerges-08052015150323.html

Access to Information (信息公开)

China jails hacker for 12 years over anti-government broadcast
South China Morning Post, August 5, 2015
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/11785003/China-jails-hacker-for-12-years-over-anti-government-broadcast.html

人权组织敦促中国修改网安法草案 (Human rights group calls on China to revise proposed cybersecurity draft law)
Voice of America, August 6, 2015
http://www.voachinese.com/content/hrw-china-revised-cybersecurity-law-20150805/2902936.html

China’s cities keep mum in deep fog of debt
The Wall Street Journal, August 5, 2015
http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2015/08/05/chinas-cities-keep-mum-in-deep-fog-of-debt/

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

A day in the life of china's first cyber dissident
The Huffington Post, August 5, 2015
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/chinas-first-cyber-dissident_55acb432e4b065dfe89ea4a6

China has promised I can return, says Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei
South China Morning Post, August 5, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1846764/china-has-promised-i-can-return-says-chinese-dissident

Tears and hymns as crosses toppled in China's Christian heartland
South China Morning Post, August 5, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1846785/tears-and-hymns-crosses-topple

Government Accountability (政府问责)

China’s top court demands heavy penalties for firms breaking food safety laws
South China Morning Post, August 6, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1846954/chinas-top-court-demands-heavy-penalties-firms-breaking

Orphan’s essay sets off debate about poverty in China
The New York Times, August 5, 2015
http://sinosphere.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/08/05/orphans-essay-sets-off-debate-about-poverty-in-china/

Beijing’s winter doldrums
Foreign Policy, August 4, 2015
http://foreignpolicy.com/2015/08/04/china-beijing-winter-olympics-money-taxpayer-criticism/

Related:
With China, IOC Turns Its Back on Human Rights
Human Rights in China, July 31, 2015
http://www.hrichina.org/en/press-work/statement/china-ioc-turns-its-back-human-rights

HRIC Urges IOC to Postpone Host City Election for 2022 Olympics
中国人权敦促国际奥委会推迟选举2022年冬奥会主办城市
Human Rights in China, July 28, 2015
EN: http://www.hrichina.org/en/press-work/statement/hric-urges-ioc-postpone-host-city-election-2022-olympics
CH: http://www.hrichina.org/chs/xin-wen-gong-zuo/sheng-ming/zhong-guo-ren-quan-dun-cu-guo-ji-ao-wei-hui-tui-chi-xuan-ju-2022nian

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

U.S. and China race for the fastest supercomputer
Deutsche Welle, August 5, 2015
http://www.dw.com/en/us-and-china-race-for-the-fastest-supercomputer/a-18628659