The International
Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is deeply concerned by the disappearance of a
Mainland Chinese journalist, who is believed to have been detained by police on
March 23.
According to a report by the Hong Kong-based Apple Daily newspaper, Li
Delin, 33, a member of the editorial board of Capital Week, a weekly business magazine, has been missing since March 23, 2012.
Reports indicate Li disappeared
shortly after receiving an anonymous phone call. In response to journalists’
enquiries as to Li’s whereabouts, his office has claimed that he is on leave. However,
sources online suggest that Li has been detained by police and given seven days
imprisonment without formal charge.
“He is detained, but we do
not know the reason why”, one journalist told the IFJ.
“Although there are
rumours that Li was detained by police because of his reporting of increased
security checks on Beijing’s
Changan Street
on 19 March 2012, I think it is unlikely because Li was an
investigative financial news reporter before he became an editorial board
member. He would not casually write something on his blog
without cross checking all the information.”
Under existing Chinese
law, police have the administrative power to detain anyone for a period of time
without formally charging them or informing their family.
“Nobody should be able to
be detained for extended periods of time without formal charges being laid or
informing their family”, IFJ Asia-Pacific
Office said.
“To detain someone in
this manner is a gross violation of human rights.”
“The outcome of allowing
such conduct is the creation of a police force with unchecked power to detain
individuals. Such a situation has a chilling effect on journalists and others
who exercise their rights to free speech.”
The IFJ urges China’s
Ministry of Security to investigate Li’s case immediately, and release him
immediately if no formal charges have been laid.
IFJ also urges a thorough
review of police administrative power, to ensure
no similar cases of journalists being detained without public charge occur in
the future.
For further
information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific
on +612 9333 0950
The IFJ
represents more than 600,000 journalists in 131 countries
Find the
IFJ on Twitter: @ifjasiapacific
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IFJ on Facebook: www.facebook.com/IFJAsiaPacific