Media Release: China
May 07, 2013
The
International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) condemns the interference in the
release of an initial public offering of the Lens magazine, a subsidiary of SEEC Media Group Limited, because it
published a negative report about a labour camp in Liaoning.
On 6th April,
Lens magazine, in issue 62, published
an article which revealed that many of the women detained in the Masanjia Women’s labour camp had
been tortured by the officials running the camp. The local Government denied
the allegations of torture based on the findings of an ad hoc committee established
to investigate the allegations. They refused to make the findings public and only
certain parts of the report were made public
“The magazine
was prevented from issuing the IPO and had its publication licence cancelled because of the Masanjia article, which
revealed serious human rights abuses in the labour camp” said a journalist
working for the Group. “The magazine was originally scheduled to
make its public offering in June, but now the magazine will be issued free or
charge similar to its sister publications on sale in the market. ” he added.
The IFJ Asia-
Pacific office said “This is clearly a violation of press freedom. If the
report was incorrect the Department could have taken legal action against the
magazine, not prevent it from issuing an IPO and cancelled its license.”
This action
also coincides with a directive of the State General Administration of the
Press which demands positive reporting by print and electronic media about
issues related to the Central or Local Authority.
The IFJ urges
the Central Government of China to refrain from interfering in press freedom.
The public has a right to know about important issues and the press play an
important role in ensuring the public’s right to know.
For further information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific on +61 2 9333 0950
The IFJ represents more than 600,000 journalists in 131
countries
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