Monthly Archives: 9 月 2016

Stephen McDonell: When China began streaming trials online

as-close-as-many-people-would-get-to-being-inside-a-court-until-the-website-was-launched

As close as many people would get to being inside a court – until the website was launched. AFP

Within China’s notoriously flawed legal system somebody is actually trying to usher in a bit of transparency. Now you can boot up your laptop or turn on your smartphone and take a peek inside proceedings. Continue reading

Lawyers’ Wives Petition Beijing Over Persecution Ahead of National Day

wives-of-chinese-human-rights-lawyers-detained-in-a-2015-crackdown-wearing-the-names-of-their-husbands

Wives of Chinese human rights lawyers detained in a 2015 crackdown wearing the names of their husbands after filing complaints at the Supreme People’s Procuratorate in Beijing, July 4, 2016.

The relatives of several prominent human rights lawyers detained since July 2015 are once more petitioning the Chinese government over the continuing persecution of their families ahead of National Day celebrations on Saturday. Continue reading

Tim Chamberlain : The Oxford Illustrated History of Modern China edited by Jeffrey N. Wasserstrom

Beginning with the question, ‘what and when is modern China?’, The Oxford Illustrated History of Modern China, edited by Jeffrey N. Wasserstrom, offers an overview of modern Chinese history, from its origins to the present-day. This is a beautifully illustrated, accessible and scholarly work that will serve as an excellent introduction to the country to researchers, students and the general public alike, writes Tim Chamberlain Continue reading

China Gives Police Powers to Monitor Social Media Friends, Chat Groups

from-oct-1-chinese-police-will-be-empowered-to-use-information-from-a-persons-social-media-contacts-list

From Oct. 1, Chinese police will be empowered to use information from a person’s social media contacts list, including friends circles on popular smartphone chat apps, as evidence in criminal investigations. Public Domain

He told RFA in an interview on Friday that he expects the new rules to be used to police speech, rather than to support investigations into criminal actions. Continue reading

Writers from across the globe gather in the city of Ourense, Galicia for the 82nd PEN Congress

pi8225 September, 2016 – More than 200 writers and PEN members will gather this week in the city of Ourense, Spain for the 82nd PEN InternationalCongress hosted by Galician PEN. Writers and journalists participating at the event include Russian-American writer Masha Gessen, Turkish journalist and PEN Main Case Can Dündar as well as Galician writers Manuel Rivas and Xosé Luís Méndez Ferrín, Almudena Grandes, , Nélida Piñon, Claudia Piñero, Ma Thida, Andrei Kurkov, Beatrice Lamwaka and many more. Continue reading

China Postpones Activist’s Subversion Trial, Wife Still Missing

Chinese democracy activist Qin Yongmin and wife Zhao Suli

Chinese democracy activist Qin Yongmin and wife Zhao Suli are shown in a photo from October 2013. Photo courtesy of rosechina.net

Authorities in the central Chinese city of Wuhan once more prolonged the pretrial detention of a veteran democracy activist for subversion on Thursday amid growing concerns over the safety of his ‘disappeared’ wife. Continue reading

China Rights Lawyer Who Defended ‘Sensitive’ Cases Jailed for 12 Years

human-rights-defender-xia-lin

Human rights defender Xia Lin, in undated file photo. Public domain.

A court in the Chinese capital on Thursday handed down a 12-year prison sentence to a prominent rights lawyer after finding him guilty of “fraud,” in a move slammed by rights groups as political persecution. Continue reading

Michael Caster and Peter Dahlin:China should be proud of Wang Quanzhang – instead it persecutes him

li-wenzu-wife-of-imprisoned-lawyer-wang-quanzhang

Li Wenzu, 31, wife of imprisoned lawyer Wang Quanzhang poses for a portrait with their son Wang Guangwei, 3. Photograph: Adam Dean for the Guardian

Last July, the Chinese government launched its most widespread crackdown on rule of law advocates in decades, detaining some 300 rights defenders. Some have been held incommunicado since, with lawyers and family members trying to visit them in detention being told to look elsewhere. Continue reading