IFJ Press Freedom in China Campaign Bulletin: October 2011

Welcome to IFJ Asia-Pacific’s monthly Press Freedom in China Campaign e-bulletin. The next bulletin will be sent on November 8, 2011, and contributions are most welcome.

To contribute news or information, email ifjchina@ifj-asia.org. To visit the IFJ’s China Campaign page, go to www.ifj.org.

1. IFJ Worried by Attacks on Journalists in China

The IFJ is worried by a recent spate of attacks on journalists in China, including the killing of a television journalist in eastern China on September 19. Li Xiang, about 30, a journalist for the Luoyang City television station, was killed in the early hours of September 19 near his home in Xigong District, Luoyang, Henan Province. According to the China-based Southern Metropolis Daily, Li was stabbed more than 10 times and his portable computer was stolen.Police immediately classified the case as robbery, but many journalists in Mainland and Li’s colleagues believed his death related to he has been investigating a local illegal production of cooking oil.

See: http://asiapacific.ifj.org/en/articles/ifj-worried-about-journalists-safety-in-china

2. IFJ Concerned by Process of Panel Investigating ATV Case

The IFJ wrote an open letter to the Information and Technology and Broadcasting Panel of Hong Kong’s Legislative Council on September 27 to express concern about claims senior management at Hong Kong broadcaster Asia Television Ltd (ATV) had interfered with the broadcaster’s news reporting and compromised its independence. A Legislative Council panel was unable to ascertain the reasons for the erroneous reporting of the death of former President Jiang Ziamin and complaints of compromised editorial reporting at a hearing on September 19. The IFJ urged the panel to properly follow the Legislative Council (Powers and Privileges) Ordinances, provide all attendees of panel meetings with their entitlements to immunity from civil prosecution while giving their statements and demand the senior management of ATV attend the hearing in order to assist members of the panel investigating cases of public concern. Furthermore, the Broadcasting Authority of Hong Kong advised ATV to ensure strict adherence to the Generic Television Code of Practice that regulates programme and advertising standards. It said that ATV allowed Mainland commercial sponsors to repeatedly show their products or names in a news broadcast. Another broadcaster, Television Broadcasting Ltd, received a warning after it allowed a then-disqualified director to exercise control of the company for three days without the approval of the Chief Executive of Hong Kong.

See: http://asiapacific.ifj.org/en/articles/ifj-expresses-concern-regarding-process-of-panel-investigating-atv-case

3. IFJ Fears Erosion of Editorial Independence in Hong Kong

The IFJ joined its affiliate the Hong Kong Journalists’ Association (HKJA) in voicing deep concerns about the appointment of a civil servant as director of broadcasting of publicly-owned Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) on September 9. Hong Kong’s Commerce and Economic Development Bureau, which oversees public broadcasting, appointed deputy secretary for labour and welfare Roy Tang Yun-Kwong as director of broadcasting, despite his lack of experience in the media sector. Tang, who has been a civil servant since 1987, was appointed after no candidate was found to be suitable among 26 applications for the role. His appointment drew immediate criticism from former RTHK director Franklin Wong, the broadcaster’s staff union, academics and legislators. RTHK Program Staff Union chairwoman Janet Mak Lai-Ching described Tang’s appointment as a “dark day” for the public broadcaster.

See: http://asiapacific.ifj.org/en/articles/ifj-fears-erosion-of-editorial-independence-in-hong-kong

4. State Secrecy Laws Used to Intimidate Journalists in China

The IFJ is deeply concerned by the use of state secrecy laws to harass and intimidate a Chinese journalist investigating the arrest of a civil servant in Luoyang, in eastern China. On September 22, Ji Xuguang, an investigative journalist for China’s Southern Metropolis Daily, published a report about civil servant Li Hao being charged with the abduction and imprisonment of women for the purposes of sexual slavery. Li, 34, an official with Luoyang City's Quality and Technical Supervision Bureau, is also accused of murdering two women. Immediately after publishing his report, Ji was approached by two unidentified men representing local police. He claims he was threatened and interrogated for details of the source of his information, and for revealing state secrets.

See: http://asiapacific.ifj.org/en/articles/state-secrecy-laws-used-to-intimidate-journalists-in-china

5. Citizen Journalist Imprisoned

The IFJ is alarmed by reports that Citizen journalist Wang Lihong was sentenced to nine months imprisonment on September 9 for publishing reports on the internet criticising Fuzhou police. Wang reported that police had illegally prosecuted three citizen journalists, who had helped an elderly mother to demand they explain the cause of her daughter’s death in 2008. Wang’s reports were followed by the organising of a protest in March 2011 in Beijing on behalf of the arrested citizen journalists, during which she was arrested by police. Police initially charged Wang with disturbing traffic, however the charge was changed to causing a serious disturbance. Many activists and citizen journalists believe Wang was charged as a result of her reporting on the Fuzhou police. Wang’s son has said they will appeal the conviction and sentence.

6. Harassment of Citizen Journalists Continues

The IFJ are concerned by reports that two prominent citizen journalists Wang Qi and Liu Feiyue, were aggressively harassed by local security officers on September 22 according to the independent news website Boxun, Wang has relocated the office of his website “June 4th” more than five times since his release from prison in June, after having served his full sentence for revealing state secrets. He was also refused permission to interview the victims of the Sichuan earthquake in relation to government failures to properly address their needs. The report also said Liu had been assaulted by security officers on three occasions. He believed it was a result of his management of his website, which helps citizens fight challenge government action that adversely effects their livelihoods.

Serenade Woo
IFJ Project Manager
IFJ Asia-Pacific

asiapacific.ifj.org
ifj@ifj-asia.org
ifjchina@ifj-asia.org

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