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, May 13, 2016

Access to Justice (司法公正)

Cover-up of the week: Death by drinking boiled water
China Digital Times, May 12, 2016
http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2016/05/cover-week-death-drinking-boiled-water/

宁夏监狱刑罚执行案全网办 (Ningxia handles all changes in sentencing online)
Legal Daily, May 10, 2016
http://epaper.legaldaily.com.cn/fzrb/content/20160510/Articel02006GN.htm

Access to Information (信息公开)

【时评】毒地信息公开别再靠倒逼了 ([Editorial] Information on toxic land should be publicly available, disclosure should not require compulsion)
Beijing News, May 9, 2016
http://huanbao.bjx.com.cn/news/20160509/731407.shtml

Chinese tycoons’ and Communist Party officials’ personal data leaked on Twitter
South China Morning Post, May 12, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/1944456/chinese-tycoons-and-communist-party-officials-personal-data

Free speech is under attack, from Beijing to Istanbul
The Guardian, May 12, 2016
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/may/12/free-speech-under-attack-beijing-istanbul

“What mistake did we make?” Victims of Cultural Revolution seek answers, 50 years on
The Guardian, May 13, 2016
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/may/13/victims-cultural-revolution-50-years-china-mao

The foreigner advising Beijing on propaganda
The Wall Street Journal, May 13, 2016
http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2016/05/13/the-foreigner-advising-beijing-on-propaganda/

大陆禁播人权议题纪录片“流氓燕” 首度在台湾公演 (Human rights documentary banned in China “Hooligan Sparrow” premieres in Taiwan)
Radio Free Asia, May 12, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/gangtai/km1-05122016102457.html

傳《環時》被指違反報道紀律 遭勒令一個月內整改 (“Global Times” allegedly accused of breaching reporting discipline, ordered to rectify within one month)
Ming Pao, May 13, 2016
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20160513/s00004/1463106978841

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

民政部公布第六批“离岸社团” “山寨社团”名单 (Ministry of Civil Affairs releases 6th list of “offshore social organizations” and “fake social organizations”)
Ministry of Civil Affairs, May 10, 2016
http://www.mca.gov.cn/article/zwgk/mzyw/201605/20160500000264.shtml

Government Accountability (政府问责)

中意警方首次联合巡逻开启中国警察赴欧执法合作先河, 越来越多中国警察异国合作执法 (Chinese police increasingly engaging in law enforcement cooperation with foreign countries: Sino-Italian joint patrol kicks off Chinese police's first law enforcement cooperation in Europe)
Legal Daily, May 10, 2016
http://epaper.legaldaily.com.cn/fzrb/content/20160510/Articel03001GN.htm

Beijing man suspected of soliciting prostitution dies in police custody
People’s Daily, May 10, 2016
http://en.people.cn/n3/2016/0510/c98649-9055732.html

The eclipse of the Communist Youth League and the rise of the Zhejiang clique
The Jamestown Foundation, May 11, 2016
http://www.jamestown.org/single/?tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=45422&no_cache=1#.VzV3GfZ-MdV

Parents try to sue government on eighth anniversary of Sichuan quake
Radio Free Asia, May 12, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/sue-05122016161455.html

河南农民遭错判被羁7年, 申请赔偿272万获赔73万 (Henan farmer who was wrongly imprisoned for 7 years applied for RMB 2.72 million in state compensation but received RMB 730,000)
The Paper, May 10, 2016
http://news.163.com/16/0510/08/BMMM58FR00014AED.html

习近平老家举办“纪念文革50周年座谈会” 引发舆论警惕 (Xi Jinping’s hometown hosts conference commemorating 50th anniversary of Cultural Revolution, provokes discussions and warnings)
Radio Free Asia, May 10, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/zhengzhi/xl1-05122016103034.html

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

治山寨社团, 黑名单仅是第一步 (In controlling “fake social groups,” a black list is just the first step)
Beijing Business Times, May 9, 2016
http://finance.sina.com.cn/stock/t/2016-05-09/doc-ifxryahs0513503.shtml

U.S. focusing intently on China's cyber commitments
Voice of America, May 12, 2016
http://www.voanews.com/content/us-china-meeting-cyber-commitments/3328521.html

Hong Kong (香港)

New U.S. gov’t report says bookseller saga may be “most significant breach” of One Country, Two Systems
Hong Kong Free Press, May 12, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/05/12/new-us-govt-report-says-bookseller-incident-may-be-most-significant-breach-of-one-country-two-systems/

Hong Kong glues bricks to pavements as top Beijing official makes visit
The Guardian, May 13, 2016
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/may/13/hong-kong-glue-bricks-pavement-beijing-visit

Pro-Beijing group hits back at “Ten Years” mania with anti-Occupy “Blood Umbrella” film
Hong Kong Free Press, May 13, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/05/13/pro-beijing-group-hits-back-at-ten-years-mania-with-anti-occupy-blood-umbrella-film/

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

北京警方缉枪治爆破案30起 (Beijing police solve 30 cases involving guns and explosives)
Legal Daily, May 10, 2016
http://epaper.legaldaily.com.cn/fzrb/content/20160510/Articel02004GN.htm

Opinion and Editorial (观点和社论)

China's middle-class anxieties
中国中产阶级的焦虑
The New York Times, May 11, 2016
EN: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/11/opinion/chinas-middle-class-anxieties.html
CH: http://cn.nytimes.com/opinion/20160512/c12iht-edmurong/

Refusing to honor labor rights backfires on China
The New York Times, May 13, 2016
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/13/opinion/refusing-to-honor-labor-rights-backfires-on-china.html

书评:文革的问题和答案 (Book review: The questions and answers of the Cultural Revolution)
Financial Times, May 13, 2016
http://www.ftchinese.com/story/001067528

Thursday, May 12, 2016

Access to Justice (司法公正)

China cracks down on human rights lawyers challenging the system
Australian Broadcasting Corporation, May 11, 2016
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-05-11/human-rights-lawyers-taking-extraordinary-risks-in-china/7406494

Related:
李和平案“连坐”涉及妻女 王俏岭办暂住证受阻 (Li Heping’s wife and daughter suffer collective punishment—Wang Qiaoling fails to get temporary residence permit)
Radio Free Asia, May 11, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/yf1-05112016103545.html

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

新疆一维族男子因看“敏感”电影被判七年 (Xinjiang Uyghur sentenced to 7 years for watching “sensitive” film)
Voice of America, May 11, 2016
http://www.voachinese.com/content/voa-news-china-sentences-man-to-7-years-in-jail-for-watching-a-film-20160511/3325792.html

【川震8周年】樂見一線希望 譚作人透露民事訴訟首獲法院接受待審批 ([Sichuan earthquake 8th anniversary] Tan Zuoren glad to see a gleam of hope as first civil action accepted by court)
Ming Pao, May 12, 2016
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20160512/s00004/1463034250952

中国国有企业利用“主权豁免权”免于法律诉讼 (Chinese state owned enterprises use “sovereign immunity” to be exempted from lawsuits)
Voice of America, May 12, 2016
http://www.voachinese.com/content/voa-news-chinese-state-entities-argue-they-have-sovereign-immunity-20160511/3325874.html

Access to Information (信息公开)

Extraordinary moment China censors BBC coverage of the Queen's unguarded comments
The Telegraph, May 11, 2016
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/05/11/extraordinary-moment-china-censors-bbc-coverage-of-the-queens-co/

Related:
英女王批習訪問團無禮 《環時》反斥西方媒體「蠻夷」 (The British Queen criticizes Xi’s visiting mission as rude, “Global Times” rebuts Western media as “barbaric”)
Ming Pao, May 12, 2016
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20160512/s00004/1463033433916

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

Former students call for full inquiry into “suspicious” death of Beijing university alumnus in police custody
Agence France-Presse, May 11, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/1943580/former-students-call-full-inquiry-suspicious-death-beijing

Kardze mine work halted pending “resolution” of community concerns
Radio Free Asia, May 11, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/tibet/halted-05112016151524.html

Government Accountability (政府问责)

Were authorities really tricked into hosting a Cultural Revolution throwback concert? Chinese are skeptical.
Global Voices, May 12, 2016
https://globalvoices.org/2016/05/12/were-authorities-really-tricked-into-hosting-a-cultural-revolution-throwback-concert-chinese-are-skeptical/

How political hatred during Cultural Revolution led to murder and cannibalism in a small town in China
South China Morning Post, May 11, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1943581/how-political-hatred-during-cultural-revolution-led

China refuses entry to German chair of human rights committee
Deutsche Welle, May 11, 2016
http://www.dw.com/en/china-refuses-entry-to-german-chair-of-human-rights-committee/a-19249261

德人权专员:中国打压维权人士有损形象 (German human rights Commissioner: China’s crackdown on rights defenders harms her image)
Deutsche Welle, May 11, 2016
http://www.dw.com/zh/德人权专员中国打压维权人士有损形象/a-19249300

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

Apple’s uphill battle with China is a reminder that there’s no such thing as “borderless” tech
Quartz, May 11, 2016
http://qz.com/680952/apples-uphill-battle-with-china-is-a-reminder-that-theres-no-such-thing-as-borderless-tech/

Hong Kong (香港)

Rioting charge against another accused dropped as court adjourns Mong Kok unrest cases till June
Hong Kong Free Press, May 10, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/05/10/rioting-charge-against-another-accused-dropped-as-court-adjourns-mong-kok-unrest-cases-till-june/

Opinion and Editorial (观点和社论)

If you want to anger China you should criticize its human rights record not its etiquette
The Independent, May 11, 2016
http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/if-you-want-to-anger-china-you-should-criticise-their-human-rights-record-not-their-etiquette-a7024586.html

Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Access to Justice (司法公正)

“Picking quarrels”: China court jails pro-democracy activists—lawyer
Agence France-Presse, May 10, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/05/10/picking-quarrels-china-court-jails-pro-democracy-activists-lawyer/

China transgender case: “Mr C” vows fight on for equality
British Broadcasting Corporation, May 10, 2016
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-36258905

709事件满10个月 最新数据:受影响者达319人 (10 months after 709 Event: Latest data shows 319 affected)
Radio Free Asia, May 10, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/xl1-05102016110223.html

Related:
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://www.hrichina.org/en/mass-crackdown-chinese-lawyers-and-defenders

Access to Information (信息公开)

《律师文摘》停刊 言论空间进一步收缩? (“Lawyer Digest” to cease publication—space for opinions shrinking further?)
Radio Free Asia, May 10, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/meiti/yf1-05102016111805.html

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

Hundreds march in protest against plan for petrochemical plant in eastern China
South China Morning Post, May 11, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1943473/hundreds-march-protest-against-plan-petrochemical-plant

Tibetan monk and writer sentenced to prison term
Radio Free Asia, May 9, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/tibet/tibetan-monk-and-writer-05092016160254.html

As China's economy slows, workers' anger soars
The Diplomat, May 11, 2016
http://thediplomat.com/2016/05/as-chinas-economy-slows-workers-anger-soars/

Government Accountability (政府问责)

A young political prisoner in the grand picture of U.S.-China diplomacy in the wake of June Fourth massacre
China Change, May 11, 2016
https://chinachange.org/2016/05/11/a-young-political-prisoner-in-the-grand-picture-of-us-china-diplomacy-in-the-wake-of-june-4th-massacre/

Chinese dominate list of people and firms hiding money in tax havens, Panama Papers reveal
South China Morning Post, May 10, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1943463/chinese-dominate-list-people-and-firms-hiding-money-tax-havens-panama

Beijing tipped to ramp up international pressure on Taipei amid Tsai’s silence on cross-strait consensus
South China Morning Post, May 10, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1943085/beijing-tipped-ramp-international-pressure-taipei-amid

瑞士情报局把孔子学院的活动列为观察对象 (Swiss intelligence targets Confucius Institute's activities for observation)
Radio Free Asia, May 10, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/junshiwaijiao/gr-05102016123043.html

We must confront our dark past of the Cultural Revolution to avoid repeating it, says Chinese novelist Yan Lianke
作家阎连科:必须面对文革黑历史 以免历史重演
South China Morning Post, May 10, 2016
EN: http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1942609/we-must-confront-our-dark-past-cultural-revolution
CH: http://www.nanzao.com/sc/national/1549d7c3e388848/zuo-jia-yan-lian-ke-bi-xu-mian-dui-wen-ge-hei-li-shi-yi-mian-li-shi-chong-yan