The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is deeply concerned
that the Central Propaganda Department in China has banned reports of protests and
explosions in different areas of China in recent
days.
The first relates to the May 10 death of Mergen, an organiser of the
Mongolian herders of Right Ujimchin Banner in
Southern (Inner) Mongolia,
who was killed when he was part of a group attempting to block a coal hauling
truck heading into the herders’ grasslands at Ujimchin, in the
Inner Mongolia autonomous region. Southern
Mongolian Human Rights Information Center (SMHRIC) reported that Mergen’s body
was dragged under the wheels of the truck for 150 metres and then repeatedly
struck by other trucks in the incident.
The death promptly heightened local frustrations against mining
companies and their employees who are working in the Southern Mongolian
grasslands. Protests by locals began on May 23 and numbers at the demonstrations
grew quickly.
The autonomous government of Inner Mongolia promptly began censoring reports or
information connected to the death or the subsequent protests, the SMHRIC
reported. Bloggers were unable to discuss the death in chat rooms and on other
social networking services. Media barely reported the incident or its aftermath. Schools were under heavy
supervision by police and students were instructed by the authorities not to
leave campus.
A peaceful protest in the Inner
Mongolian city Xilinhot on May 27 saw thousands of people,
including a great number of students gather. Many were taken away by police or
military officers. Information on the protest was banned by the provincial and
Central propaganda departments. Media outlets were ordered to
refer to government news agency Xinhua if they wished to report on the events
and all related news and information was deleted from all online
sources.
Guardian reporter Jonathan Watts
was blocked from entering the vicinity of the protest by local police. “Special
circumstances. You're not allowed in. It's not safe,” said an officer, according
to the May 27 report on guardian.co.uk.
At 4.30am the following morning, the journalist was woken by two plain clothes
police officers who entered his hotel room and attempted to interrogate
him.
Similar non-publication orders and bans were issued on May 26 after a
series of explosions at government buildings in Fuzhou, Jiangxi province
in China’s
south-east.
Three government buildings, including the procuratorate building, in
Linchun District, Fuzhou, were shaken by consecutive explosions which killed at least three people, including
the person allegedly responsible for the attack, farmer Qian Mingqi. He had
apparently become frustrated after being forced to leave his land with little
compensation, according to reports by Hong Kong Cable
Television.
The Central Propaganda Department responded by issuing an order to
all media demanding that organisations not send any journalist to the vicinity
of the explosion and should instead rely on Xinhua
reports.
“Concealing information that has implications for public safety is an
irresponsible act by Chinese authorities,” the IFJ
Asia-Pacific said.
“The IFJ urges China’s central authorities to
abandon the use of these restrictions and allow reporting of matters of public
interest.”
For further information contact IFJ
Asia-Pacific on +61 2 9333
0919
The IFJ represents more than 600,000 journalists in 131
countries
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