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
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