18 July 2012

IFJ Concerned by Removal of Senior Media Personnel in China

The

International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is deeply concerned by the recent

removal of senior staff from two Chinese newspapers, both in apparent responses

to political pressure.

Lu Fumin,

Editor-in-Chief for Xin Kuai Daily (New Express in English), a newspaper based

in China’s southern Guangdong province, and Publisher Lu Yan and Vice-Publisher

Sun Jian of the Shanghai-based Dong Fang

Daily were reportedly removed or suspended from their duties within the

last two days.

It is

reported that Lu Fumin was removed from his post at Xin Kuai Daily and moved to sister newspaper, the Yangcheng Evening Post, as an editor on

Monday July 16. The decision to move Lu is believed to be related to his

decision to re-publish an article detailing the political origins of several

current members of China’s politburo, including Deputy President Xi Jinping.

The article, in addition to other news, commentary and investigative content

was also temporarily removed from the Xin

Kuai Daily website. According to a local journalist, the international and

commentary content was only restored to the site in response to public outcry.

Although no

reason was given for the sudden removal of Publisher Lu Yan and the suspension

of Vice-Publisher Sun Jian, many in the media community suspect it was prompted

by the Dong Fang Daily’s publication

of an article in May which accused China’s government-owned corporations of

stifling the country’s economic development.

“IFJ is

deeply concerned that the upcoming change in leadership within China’s

Politburo Standing Committee is having a chilling effect on press freedom

within the country, with a heightened censorship regime swiftly censoring and

punishing any independent political commentary”, IFJ Asia-Pacific said.

We urge the management

board of Xin Kuai Daily and Dong Fang Daily to reconsider the

recent personnel decisions, and remind all media of their duty to defend their

right to free and independent reporting”.

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