HRIC Weekly Brief
November 19, 2024
Top News 头条
In Hong Kong, the long-awaited close of the “47 Democrats” trial brought harsh sentences for all but two of the pro-democracy activists on trial, including a ten-year sentence for Benny Tai, 7 years and nine months for Owen Chow, seven years for Gwyneth Ho, and four years and eight months for Joshua Wong, who shouted “I love Hong Kong” as he was lead away. The sentences ranged from four to ten years for all defendants, with those who plead not guilty treated most harshly. The sentencing was swiftly condemned by governments and organizations around the world, while the families of the defendants and the many Hongkongers waiting outside the court reacted with sadness, anger, and defiance. Human Rights in China strongly condemns the unjust and harsh punishment of the 45 defendants for exercising their political rights.
Meanwhile, tragedy struck China this week, as two car-ramming incidents and a mass stabbing left the country reeling while the authorities rushed to silence discussion and mourning. In Zhuhai, a man drove his car into a group of exercisers, leaving 35 dead and dozens injured. In addition to the authorities’ apparent reluctance to release details of the case, reporters were driven from the scene, online discussion was swiftly tamped out, and the memorial flowers laid at the scene were quickly removed. According to the BBC, local media was even told explicitly not to report on the case. Meanwhile, Xi Jinping’s response emphasized an increase of local control and “incident prevention,” which some local governments have interpreted as “sending local officials and volunteers to intervene in people’s marital troubles and to mediate disputes between neighbors.” Today brought further tragic news of a second car-ramming incident outside an elementary school in Hunan. But beyond videos showing the injured lying on the ground, details remain few and far between—the authorities have yet to announce the number of casualties or clarify the intent of the driver.
Law & Policy 法律与政策
2024年1-10月律师权益大事记 [Major developments in lawyers’ rights from January to October 2024]: HRIC has shared a record of incidents and major developments in lawyers’ rights in China from January to October 2024.
HRIC on Twitter/X: China’s Cyberspace Affairs Commission has issued new “Guidelines for the Establishment of Minors’ Internet Modes” which tighten limits on internet access for children and teens, including a hard limit of one hour per day for those under the age of 16, and two hours for those aged 16-18, in addition to tightened regulation of content.
Cyber Security & Digital Rights 网络安全与数字权利
Chinese hackers target Tibetan websites in malware attack, cybersecurity group says: A group of hackers with Chinese government connections hacked the website of the Tibet Post and Gyudmed Tantric University with the aim of accessing the information of visitors to the sites, by prompting them to “download a malicious executable file disguised as a security certificate.”
China’s Cyber Sovereignty Norms Spread Abroad: China is using a range of incentive strategies to spread its cyber sovereignty—the “use of technology to control what sort of information can be accessed and exchanged within a national boundary and by whom”—norms well beyond its national borders.
Investigation into Chinese hacking reveals ‘broad and significant’ spying effort, FBI says: While few new details were released in the FBI’s latest statement on the “Typhoon” Chinese cyberespionage case, a federal investigation has reportedly established the broad scope of the intrusions.
Diaspora Community & Transnational Repression 海外社群和跨国镇压
Fengsuo Zhou Speaks at Opening of 35th Anniversary Memorial Exhibit at Axel Springer in Berlin: The exhibit will be available to view at this second location until December 10.
‘What Happened, Mama? In 1989, Were You Just Like Me?’: A young activist reflects on her own political beliefs and actions in the context of generational political trauma.
As China cracks down on bookstores at home, Chinese-language booksellers are flourishing overseas: Crackdowns and inspections of bookstores, galleries, internet cafes, and other potential avenues of information have led many booksellers within China to shut their doors, essentially harassed out of business by the authorities.
Human Rights Defenders & Civil Society 人权捍卫者与公民社会
Tibetan language rights advocate under surveillance after release from detention: Tibetan language activist Tashi Wangchuk has been released after 15 days of detention for “disrupting social order” due to his social media posts, but he remains under surveillance and is undergoing interrogation. Wangchuk was previously jailed for five years for speaking to Western media about the Chinese government’s efforts to eradicate the Tibetan language.
Uyghur man sentenced to 7 years in jail for possessing ‘illegal’ books: Jappar Ablimit was one of many Uyghurs detained in 2017 during China’s mass detentions of Uyghurs in Xinjiang. The “illegal” materials, likely religious in nature, were likely discovered during the authorities’ search of his residence. Due to the extreme restrictions placed on Xinjiang, cases such as Ablimit’s frequently go unreported, or only come to light well after the initial sentencing.
HRIC on Twitter/X or Bluesky: Xu Dongqing and Yang Li, mother and daughter, were detained again in October this year on charges of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble” for their efforts over the last 15 years to petition for justice and defend their rights.
HRIC on Twitter/X or Bluesky: In September 2024, Chinese human rights activist Zhu Guiqin was forcibly imprisoned in Kaiyuan Mental Hospital in Shenyang City, Liaoning Province.
Hong Kong man jailed nearly 24 years for alleged bomb plot: Ng Chi-hung was sentenced to 23 years and ten months for allegedly planning to attack police with explosives during the 2019 protests.
Man charged with insulting China’s national anthem during World Cup qualifier in Hong Kong: A 19-year-old who was arrested in June for allegedly turning his back on the field during the Chinese national anthem has officially been charged with one count of insulting the national anthem, a crime which comes with a potential fine and up to three years jail time.
Hongkonger charged with sedition under Article 23 security law over social media posts: A 57-year-old man was arrested last week for allegedly making posts on social media that incited “hatred towards the Central Authorities and the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.”
Head of Hong Kong’s Democratic Party says members have faced harassment in run-up to internal election: The harassment, which includes accusations of “anti-China activities,” appears targeted to dissuade members from running for the party’s Central Committee.
China’s Reach & Internal Control 中国: 内控与外扩
Commending a Compliant Press: China’s Journalist Day awards serve as a reminder that the Chinese media is primarily expected to serve as mouthpiece, protector, and cheerleader of the Party.
Related: Essays by Two Reporters on the Rewards and Pitfalls of Investigative Journalism in China.
International Responses 国际反应
US lawmakers mark East Turkestan National Day with Uyghur community: Several U.S. lawmakers, including Nancy Pelosi, attended an event in Washington for “East Turkestan National Day” and expressed their support for Uyghurs’ rights. Pelosi added: “if we don’t speak out for human rights in China…We lose all moral authority to speak out for human rights in any other place in the world.”
Xi Jinping praises Labour’s economic policy as Keir Starmer discusses human rights concerns: In his first meeting with Xi Jinping, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer raised concerns regarding the treatment of Jimmy Lai, after which British journalists were removed from the room.