The International
Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is deeply concerned for the welfare of a junior
magazine journalist who has been missing for three days in China.
Zhang Jialong, 23, who joined Caijing magazine as an intern journalist
less than a year ago, disappeared on April 28, according to reports.
The journalist was reportedly
at dinner when he was approached by a person who claimed to represent Beijing police and asked
Zhang to depart with him. Zhang has not made contact with family, friends or
his employer since.
Zhang’s family has uploaded a
missing person notice on a social networking website, http://www.szzse.com/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=1641,
asking people to inform
them if they can provide any information about his situation. The content of
the message has since disappeared, with only the title of the message remaining
on the site.
“He is just a reporter - people
should talk with his employer if there are any questions,” Zhang’s father said
in the message before it was deleted.
Zhang has reported on some
popular and sensitive subjects including missing artist Ai Weiwei and the aftermath of the
2008 Sanlu tainted milk scandal.
“The IFJ holds significant
concerns that Zhang Jialong has become another member of the press to suffer
under China’s
clampdown on free speech and freedom of association,” IFJ
Asia-Pacific said.
Since calls for “jasmine”
revolution-style protests spread across China in early February, scores of
people have disappeared without explanation. It is estimated that more than 100
people are being detained, including journalist Wen
Tao and dissident artist Ai Weiwei, as well as human rights lawyers, human
rights activists, bloggers and other artists, according to reports.
“We urge the Central Government
of China to direct police to release Zhang and others illegally detained,” the IFJ Asia-Pacific said.
“Illegal detention is a clear
violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the IFJ urges the
United Nations to investigate all these cases as a matter of urgency.”
For further
information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific
on +61 2 9333 0919
The IFJ
represents more than 600,000 journalists in 125 countries
Find the
IFJ on Twitter: @ifjasiapacific
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