China Journalists Protest the Dismissal of Newspaper Deputy Editor over Tibet Comments

Reporters Without Borders, 6 May 2008-

China journalists protest the dismissal of newspaper deputy editor over Tibet comments

Media personalities and journalists on Nanfang Dushi Bao have protested at the dismissal of Chang Ping, deputy editor of the paper. A petition in support of his reinstatement is being circulated, on the initiative of Cheng Yizhong, the former editor of the Guangzhou daily. This proves that freedom of expression is still being trampled on in China”, said Cheng Yizhong, who was himself sanctioned and arrested in 2004. Journalist, Zan Aizong, demanded “fair treatment” for his colleague.

06.05 – Deputy editor removed because of editorial about Tibet

The deputy editor of the daily Nanfang Dushi Bao, Chang Ping, announced today that he has been removed from his post because of his editorials about Tibet, especially two entitled “Universal Values” and “How to find the truth about Lhasa”, that contrasts with the government’s propaganda, according to the web site Boxun. He has been the target of a smear campaign on the Internet and in other newspapers for daring to say that events in Tibet show that the government has not solved the problem of minorities.

“We deplore this unfair removal of a well-known member of the liberal press,” Reporters Without Borders said. “Once again, only the voice of propaganda is permitted in China with the aim of getting the world to believe that all Chinese support repression in Tibet.”

Chang is known for writing serious, independent editorials, in which he often denounces press freedom violations by officials. In 2006, for example, he criticised a government bill on crisis management that envisaged additional restrictions on the press.

He used to be deputy editor of the famous weekly Nanfang Zhoumo and deputy editor of Waitan Huabao. He was removed from the Nanfang Zhoumo deputy editor position in 2001 after publishing two investigative reports that had a lot of impact.

– Original report from Reporters Without Borders: Figures within Chinese media speak out against sacking of Chang Ping