30 August 2004

Alert

Former newspaper editor released, two of his colleagues remain imprisoned


Incident details

Cheng Yizhong, Yu Huafeng, Li Minying

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(RSF/IFEX) - RSF has welcomed the release of Cheng Yizhong, former editor-in-chief of the daily newspapers "Xin Jing Bao" and "Nanfang Dushi Bao", and called on the authorities to free two other editors of the popular daily "Nanfang Dushi Bao" who were arrested more than five months ago.

RSF said it hoped Cheng would be allowed to work as a journalist again. His release from preventive detention was announced anonymously by the papers' staff. The organisation appealed for the release of journalists Yu Huafeng and Li Minying, who are also serving prison terms.

Cheng was reportedly released by Guangzhou police on 27 August 2004 and allowed to return home, where some sources said he was placed under house arrest, suggesting he would not be able to work as a journalist. The authorities have not confirmed his release.

Cheng had been detained without charge since 20 March. The police are supposed to present the results of their inquiry into the case by 20 September. Chinese law allows people to be held without charge for six months.

"Nanfang Dushi Bao" had published stories about a SARS outbreak in Guangzhou in December 2003 and about Sun Zhigang, a young graphic artist who was beaten to death in a Guangzhou police station in March 2003. The journalists were dismissed and arrested. Local authorities, including Guangzhou Police Chief Zhu Suisheng, have targeted the paper in a bid to intimidate the country's journalists.



Source:

Reporters Without Borders
47, rue Vivienne
75002 Paris
France
rsf (@) rsf.org
Phone: +33 1 44 83 84 84
Fax: +33 1 45 23 11 51
 

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More on this case

Former newspaper president's sentence reduced by one year 26 February 2007 Newspaper's former director freed on completing half of six-year sentence 12 February 2007 Thousands of Chinese journalists appeal for release of colleagues 30 June 2005 Editor-in-chief dismissed; crackdown on Guangzhou press continues 27 October 2004 Journalists' sentences reduced 16 June 2004 CPJ condemns journalists' continued detention 12 April 2004 Two editors sentenced to lengthy prison terms, another editor arrested 22 March 2004

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