Blogger harassed after protesting closure of magazine
NOVEMBER 29, 2007 Posted December 19, 2007 Zhai Minglei, Minjian Harassed According to his blog, Yibao,and international media commentators and bloggers, five officials from the local cultural administration searched Zhai’s Shanghai residence. Zhai is a former reporter with Southern Weekend and one of the founders of the banned grassroots activism magazine Minjian. The officials, who…
Chinese writer held on vague subversion charge
New York, October 2, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the recent arrest of freelance writer Lü Gengsong on subversion charges and calls for his immediate release. Lü’s wife, Wang Xue’e, received notice on Sunday of her husband’s arrest on charges of “inciting subversion of state power,” according to Chinese human rights groups and news…
In China, reporter jailed for allegedly fabricating news
New York, August 14, 2007 – The Committee to Protect Journalists is disappointed by the severe criminal penalties handed down by a Chinese court in the case of Zi Beijia, a Beijing TV reporter accused of fabricating a story about contaminated buns. On August 12, the Beijing No. 2 Intermediate People’s Court found Zi guilty…
The Toxic Toll of Press Repression
Kristin Jones Published in The Wall Street Journal Asia July 9, 2007 The discovery of toxic ingredients in toothpaste, seafood, cough syrup and toys has raised questions about the safety of China’s exports. These threats — and the risk they pose to consumers — could have been uncovered much earlier had the Chinese government used…
Nearly 300 journalists urge release of abducted Afghan colleague
New York, April 5, 2007—Nearly 300 journalists have signed an open letter urging the release of abducted Afghan journalist Ajmal Nakshbandi, who has been held captive by the Taliban since March 4. Those signing the letter represent an array of local and international news organizations, including CNN, The Associated Press, Reuters, Time, The New York…
Thailand’s military government censors satellite TV station
New York, March 20, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the censorship of a new satellite television station by Thai authorities, part of an ongoing ban against the broadcaster since the military seized power in a coup last September. Over the weekend, government agencies blocked news programs carried by PTV, or People’s Television, which was…