Detention of Hong Kong Journalists in China

IFJ Denounces Detention of Hong Kong Journalists in China

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has been notified of another incident in which provincial authorities in China have ignored the promises of the Central Government to allow local and foreign journalists more freedom in their reporting.

Four Hong Kong journalists were detained by government officials in Dujiangyan, Sichuan Province, on May 7 while they researched a story on corruption related to the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, local reports said.

The journalists, who were on assignment for the Ming Pao newspaper and the Hong Kong-based Hong Kong Cable Television station, told the IFJ they were prevented from interviewing residents of Xiang’e village who allege their houses were deliberately demolished by a developer after the quake.

The journalists were reportedly told by a group of 10 government officials to stop the interviews, on the basis that they did not have the appropriate permit from the Sichuan propaganda department. They were then taken to a police station.

One journalist told the IFJ the group was not allowed to contact the local propaganda department to obtain the appropriate permit. They were forced to delete all footage taken and to sign a letter of penitence before they were released.

Many of the interviewees were also reportedly harassed by local police.

In February, two human rights activists and writers, Huang Qi and Tan Zuoren, were sentenced to three years and five years’ jail respectively, following their investigative work into the collapse of school buildings during the quake and their demands for an official investigation. Huang was accused of possessing state secrets while Tan was accused of subversion of state power.

“Provincial permits are administrative tools used by local authorities in China to prevent journalists from doing their jobs properly,” IFJ General Secretary Aidan White said.

“They also highlight the urgent need for central authorities to ensure that their promises of an improved open media are understood and acted on in provinces.”

In October 2008, Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao announced China would adopt a “basic policy of opening up to the outside world, [and] protecting the lawful rights and interests of foreign media” in accordance with promises made by the Central Government in its bid to host the 2008 Olympic Games.

ENDS

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