IFJ Welcomes Call for Media Reform In China

IFJ Welcomes Party Elders’ Call for Media Reform in China

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) welcomes a call by 23 elders of China’s Communist Party to overturn media censorship and guarantee protection of the rights to freedom of the press and freedom of expression which are enshrined in China’s Constitution.

The open letter, addressed to members of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress and dated October 1, describes China’s censorship system as scandalous and an embarrassment. It dubs the Propaganda Department as “invisible black hands”.

The letter, which came to light on October 11 but is apparently not connected to this week’s furore over the awarding of the Nobel Peace prize to detained writer Liu Xiaobo, is signed by more than 500 journalists, writers and scholars.

It was sponsored by 23 veteran former officials including Li Rui, former deputy head of the China Communist Party Organisation Department; Zhong Peizhang, former chief of the Central Propaganda Department News Bureau; Hu Jiwei, former editor-in-chief of the People’s Daily; and Li Pu, former vice-president of Xinhua News Agency.

“The IFJ is encouraged by the sentiments of the letter, and its reflection of the wishes of China’s citizens for press freedom and freedom of expression as the foundations of an open and transparent democracy,” IFJ General Secretary Aidan White said.

“The IFJ urges China’s leadership to fairly consider the proposed reforms outlined in the letter, and to implement the provisions in Article 35 of the Constitution, which enshrine the right to freedoms of the press, of speech, of assembly, of association, of procession and of demonstration,” he said.

In the letter, the group calls for an end to all forms of media censorship and full implementation of the 1982 Constitution. Their demands for change include the following.

- Guarantee independence of the media by ending Party and government controls.

- Ensure respect for journalists as “uncrowned kings”, notably for their public service in reporting freely on “mass incidents” and corruption.

- End local authorities’ harassment and detention of journalists.

- Abolish policing of online media content and restrictions on anti-censorship technologies.

- Confirm the right of citizens to know of errors committed by the ruling party.

- Enable pilot projects to support citizen-owned media organisations.

- Allow media and books from Hong Kong and Macau to be openly distributed in China.

The letter condemned the violation of the Constitution by censors “often ordering by telephone that the works of such and such a person cannot be published, or that such and such an event cannot be reported in the media”.

“The officials who make the call do not leave their names, and the secrecy of the agents is protected, but you must heed their phone instructions,” the letter said.

The group also called for the creation of a press law. However, the IFJ noted its reservations and reiterated that journalists and media workers should participate in a system of self-regulation in order to maintain independent, professional and ethical journalism.

An English version of the letter can be found at http://cmp.hku.hk/2010/10/13/8035/

ENDS

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