The following is an IFJ media release:
IFJ Condemns Chinese Security for Roughing Up Journalist Filming Protestors
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today condemned Chinese
security guards for an attack on a British journalist who was detained and
roughed up after filming pro-Tibetan protests.
"While the Chinese government has promised that foreign journalists can
work freely during the Beijing Games, they have repeatedly set up obstacles
for media workers and in some cases security officers have acted violently
to stop reporters from doing their work," said IFJ Deputy General Secretary
Paco Audije. "The government must live up to its promise and ensure that
these attacks stop immediately."
Earlier today, John Ray, a British journalist working for Independent
Television News (ITN) was roughed up by security officers after he and two
colleagues filmed protestors who brought a banner that said "Free Tibet"
inside the Chinese Ethnic Culture Park, which is close to the Bird Nest in
Beijing.
As Ray filmed the protestors, security officers physically restrained him
and dragged him into a nearby restaurant, despite the fact that he and
Chinese colleagues clearly identified themselves as members of the press.
Inside the restaurant, Ray was forced onto a sofa and when he tried to get
away he was knocked down by an officer. He was interrogated for about half
an hour and then released.
Last week two Japanese journalists were beaten by police while trying to
report on the aftermath of another bomb attack in north-west China's
Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region that killed 16 police officers. Other
journalists reported that police confiscated or forced journalists to
delete film footage and photographs. A few days later, journalists were
also detained after trying to cover the aftermath of another set of bombing
attacks in the region.
The IFJ said these practices are a breach of the letter and spirit of
China's reporting regulations issued in 2007 that allow journalists from
all countries to report freely, including taking photos freely, without any
interference.
The IFJ represents over 600,000 journalists in 120 countries worldwide.
For further information on the case of the assaulted Japanese journalists,
see: http://www.ifex.org/fr/content/view/full/95941
For further information on the case of journalists detained while covering
the bombing, see: http://www.ifex.org/fr/content/view/full/96039
For further information, contact the IFJ, International Press Centre,
Residence Palace, Block C, 155 Rue de la Loi, B-1040 Brussels, Belgium,
tel: +322 235 2200 / 2207, fax: +322 235 2219, e-mail:
rachel.cohen@ifj.org, Internet: http://www.ifj.org/