The
International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is deeply concerned by two
separate attacks on media which occurred in Hong Kong and Mainland China last
week.
According
to reports received by the IFJ, four masked men entered the office of Hong Kong
news outlet Inmedia and smashed three computers, a television and chairs on
August 8. Chu Hoi-Dik,
Chairman of Inmedia, told the IFJ that the perpetrators were highly organised
and ‘professional’, having convinced employees of the media company to provide them
with the office street address. When they arrived, they reportedly told two
interns to move aside saying “We will leave when we finish.”
Chu
said he believed that the incident was an attack on freedom of speech. The
media outlet had not received any threats preceding the attack, he added.
Inmedia
is an online-only media outlet established in 2004 and run by a group of former
journalists and activists. It is known for its independent reporting on issues such
as local Government, social justice and politics.
Inmedia
was recently found liable in a defamation case by the High Court of Hong Kong,
and has been ordered to pay compensation to the plaintiff - Hong Kong based press
group Oriental Daily.
In a
separate incident, on August 10, a cameraman for Hong Kong-based Asia
Television, was reportedly attacked by a number of plain-clothed policemen in Mainland
China, as he attempted to report on the alleged police cover uprelated to the
high profile case of Chinese politician Bo Xilai’s wife Gu Kailai, who has been
charged with the murder of British businessman Neil Heywood.
According
to Hong Kong media reports, the cameraman was blocked by a group of people preventing
him from filming a protestor outside the court. The attack left the cameraman with
injuries. It was reported that a number of uniformed policemen witnessed the
attack, but failed, or refused to stop it.
IFJ
affiliate, the Hong Kong Journalists Association (HJKA), and other media
associations have condemned the brutal attack on the cameraman.
During
Gu Kailai’s trial, overseas and Hong Kong media were prevented from getting
close to the courtroom, and the Central Propaganda Department ordered that only
Xinhua’s articles on the trial be republished, effectively placing a ban on
independent reporting by the Mainland media. Microblog messages regarding the
case were censored.
Hong
Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-Ying reportedly asked the Hong Kong Bureau in
Shanghai to follow up the attack on the cameraman, and demand the government of
Anhui to investigate the incident.
“We
urge Leung Chun-Ying to ensure that the authorities investigate these incidents
and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice” said the IFJ Asia
Pacific office.
For
further information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific on +61 2 9333 0950
The IFJ represents more than 600,000 journalists in 131
countries
Find the IFJ on Twitter: @ifjasiapacific
Find the IFJ on Facebook: www.facebook.com/IFJAsiaPacific