Court upholds 10-year sentence for journalist Shi Tao
New York, June 30, 2005—The Committee to Protect Journalists deplores the Hunan Supreme People’s Court decision to uphold the conviction of journalist Shi Tao on charges of “illegally leaking state secrets abroad.” The ruling makes it more likely that Shi will serve out the bulk of a 10-year prison sentence for e-mailing to the editor…
CHINA
JUNE 30, 2005 Posted: July 28, 2005 Li Jianping, freelancer IMPRISIONED The Committee to Protect Journalists condemned the imprisonment of Internet journalist Li Jianping on suspicion of defamation. Authorities detained Li on May 27 in Zibo, a city in northeastern China’s Shandong Province, and formally arrested him for defamation on June 30, according to ChinaEForum,…
Thousands of Chinese journalists appeal for release of colleagues
New York, June 28, 2005–More than 2,000 journalists have signed an open letter to the Guangdong High People’s Court appealing for the release of imprisoned Nanfang Dushi Bao employees Yu Huafeng and Li Minying. The letter describes Yu and Li as innocent victims of an unjust prosecution. It was signed by 2,356 journalists who work…
Internet journalist tried on subversion charges
New York, June 21, 2005—Freelance Internet journalist and dissident Zhang Lin pleaded not guilty to charges of inciting subversion of state authority at his trial today at the Intermediate People’s Court of Bengbu in central China’s Anhui Province. Today’s trial concluded within five hours, defense lawyer Mo Shaoping told the Committee to Protect Journalists. The…
Stand up for journalists’ rights, Hong Kong
Despite protests by the Hong Kong Journalists’ Association and others, the city’s leaders have deferred to mainland law in the detention of veteran journalist and permanent Hong Kong resident Ching Cheong. This is a mistake. The freedom of the press, guaranteed by the Basic Law, is meaningless unless the local government defends the right of journalists to report news from the mainland.
New accusation extends jail time without trial forNew York Times researcher
New York, June 1, 2005 Police have leveled a new accusation at imprisoned New York Times researcher Zhao Yan, which permits Chinese authorities to continue holding him for an additional unspecified period of months. Zhao, who was formally arrested in October 2004 under suspicion of leaking state secrets, is now accused of fraud, police…
CHINA
MAY 31, 2005 Posted: June 7, 2005 Ching Cheong, Straits Times IMPRISONED The Chinese Foreign Ministry revealed that it had detained senior Hong Kong-based journalist on suspicion of espionage. In a statement released to reporters and published in international news reports, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced that it had been holding Ching since April 22…
China detains senior Hong Kong journalist
New York, May 31, 2005 The Chinese Foreign Ministry revealed today that it has detained senior Hong Kong-based journalist Ching Cheong on suspicion of espionage. In a statement released to reporters and published in international news reports, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced that it has been holding Ching since April 22 and that the journalist…