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.

Thursday, August 20, 2015

Access to Justice (司法公正)

14 cases exemplify the role played by lawyers in the rights defense movement, 2003–2015
China Change, August 19, 2015
http://chinachange.org/2015/08/19/14-cases-exemplify-the-role-played-by-lawyers-in-the-rights-defense-movement-2003-2015/

Access to Information (信息公开)

Tianjin explosions: Journalism stands as official line stumbles
China Digital Times, August 19, 2015
http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2015/08/tianjin-explosions-journalism-stands-official-line-stumbles/

Related:
Apology but few answers as Tianjin’s mayor finally addresses media –a week after deadly blasts
South China Morning Post, August 19, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/1850997/apology-few-answers-tianjins-mayor-finally-meets-media

中国社交媒体打破官媒垄断 (Chinese social media break official media monopoly)
Radio Free Asia, August 19, 2015
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/shehui/xql-08192015113334.html

天津爆炸:联合国专家批当局缺乏透明度 (Tianjin explosion: United Nations experts criticize authorities’ lack of transparency)
British Broadcasting Corporation, August 19, 2015
http://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/simp/china/2015/08/150819_tianjin_blast_kindergarten

China jails dissident over Tianjin blast death toll retweet
Radio Free Asia, August 19, 2015
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/retweet-08192015135855.html

China can learn from West about briefing public on disasters, admits Communist Party mouthpiece
South China Morning Post, August 19, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/1850788/china-can-learn-west-about-briefing-public-disasters-admits

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

Authorities in Tianjin rule out buying back flats damaged in explosions but homeowners standing firm
South China Morning Post, August 19, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/1850768/protests-among-angry-tianjin-homeowners-grow-chinese-government

Related:
天津当局否认回购房再惹民众不满 (Tianjin authorities reject buying back homes, again provoking public dissatisfaction)
Deutsche Welle, August 19, 2015
http://www.dw.com/zh/天津当局否认回购房再惹民众不满/a-18658098

Angry Chinese ask: Why did so many firefighters die in Tianjin explosion?
Washington Post, August 18, 2015
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/angry-chinese-ask-why-did-so-many-firefighters-die-in-tianjin-explosion/2015/08/18/4b14b669-de26-4b47-aa57-b2ea844de25b_story.html

Related:
In China, there is no firefighters’ trade union and it shows
China Labour Bulletin, August 19, 2015
http://www.clb.org.hk/en/content/china-there-no-firefighters%E2%80%99-trade-union-and-it-shows

Four big questions Chinese people want answered following deadly Tianjin blasts
South China Morning Post, August 19, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/1850765/4-big-questions-chinese-people-want-answered-following-deadly

Government Accountability (政府问责)

Chinese report details role of political connections in Tianjin blasts
The New York Times, August 20, 2015
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/20/world/asia/tianjin-china-explosions.html

Related:
China investigates executives, top work safety official after Tianjin explosions
The Diplomat, August 20, 2015
http://thediplomat.com/2015/08/china-investigates-executives-top-work-safety-official-after-tianjin-explosions/

Tianjin blast: more warehouses accused of violating rules on toxic materials
The Guardian, August 19, 2015
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/19/tianjin-blast-more-warehouses-accused-of-violating-rules-on-toxic-materials

China seeks to beat corruption by separating football and politics
Hong Kong Free Press, August 19, 2015
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2015/08/19/china-seeks-to-beat-corruption-by-separating-football-and-politics/

Hong Kong (香港)

HKU head of humanities slams “absurd in the extreme” delay in appointing pro-vice-chancellor
South China Morning Post, August 19, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education-community/article/1850939/hku-head-humanities-slams-absurd-extreme-delay

Opinion and Editorial (观点和社论)

Tianjin disaster a wake-up call to change business culture in China
South China Morning Post, August 19, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1850785/tianjin-disaster-wake-call-change-business-culture-china

大家谈中国:我该相信谁? (Talk about China: Who should I believe?)
British Broadcasting Corporation, August 19, 2015
http://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/simp/comments_on_china/2015/08/150819_coc_i_should_believe_who

VOA专访周锋锁:八九一代遗忘六四可耻 (VOA interview with Zhou Fengsuo: The 1989 generation forgetting June Fourth is shameful)
Voice of America, August 19, 2015
http://www.voachinese.com/content/voa-news-zhou-fengsuo-june4th-20150819/2924188.html

Time for the U.S. to punish China in Cyberspace?
The Diplomat, August 20, 2015
http://thediplomat.com/2015/08/should-the-us-punish-china-in-cyberspace/