One journalist released, 42 still behind bars
New York, November 30, 2004—The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the November 27 release of dissident journalist Liu Jingsheng, imprisoned since 1992 for “spreading counterrevolutionary propaganda.” But with 42 journalists still behind bars—including four imprisoned in 2004 alone—China remains the world’s leading jailer of journalists. CPJ called on the Chinese government to reverse its long…
2004 IPFA dinner remarks
Remarks by Ann Cooper, Executive Director of CPJ At this event we celebrate the courage of individual journalists and we demonstrate our collective determination to thwart forces that would silence the press. Those collective efforts over the past 12 months have helped win the early release of journalists imprisoned for their work in Tunisia, in…
New York Times researcher formally arrested
New York, October 21, 2004—Prosecutors have issued a formal arrest order for New York Times researcher Zhao Yan, who has been detained since September 17 on suspicion of “providing state secrets to foreigners,” his lawyer told reporters today. Neither Zhao’s lawyer nor his family have been in contact with Zhao since his detention, and authorities…
Foreign affairs magazine shuttered after criticism of North Korea
New York, September 22, 2004—Chinese government authorities have closed the prominent bi-monthly diplomacy journal Zhanlue Yu Guanli (Strategy and Management) after it published an article strongly criticizing the North Korean government and urging a revised strategy in China-North Korea relations, according to international news reports. Analysts and foreign media initially speculated that the August article,…
Writers sued for libel
New York, August 31, 2004—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the trial of two Chinese authors who wrote a banned book investigating local corruption and mistreatment of peasants in Anhui Province. The two went on trial for libel in Fuyang Intermediate People’s Court last week, and the proceedings ended on August 28. A verdict is…
Editor released from prison
New York, August 30, 2004—The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the release of Cheng Yizhong, editor-in-chief of Nanfang Dushi Bao (Southern Metropolis News), who was freed on August 27 after more than five months in detention. His colleagues, Nanfang Dushi Bao Deputy Editor-in-Chief and General Manager Yu Huafeng and former editor Li Minying, remain imprisoned.…
Police officers attack international journalists at sporting event
New York, August 20, 2004—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the brutal attack by Chinese police officers on Han Guan Ng, a photographer with The Associated Press, and the harassment of Frederic Brown, a photographer for Agence France-Presse, at the Asian Cup soccer final on August 7. Brown and Ng were covering the match and…