24 October 2005

Alert

Journalist Ching Cheong imprisoned without lawyer for six months


Incident details

Ching Cheong

journalist(s)

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 21 October 2005 CPJ press release:

CHINA: Journalist Ching Cheong imprisoned without lawyer for six months

New York, October 21, 2005 -- The Committee to Protect Journalists deplores the continuing imprisonment of veteran Hong Kong journalist Ching Cheong, who will mark six months in detention on Saturday. Ching, a China correspondent for the Singapore daily The Straits Times, has been held in Beijing without charge or access to a lawyer.

"It is outrageous that China is holding Ching without charge or access to counsel in violation of its international commitments to safeguard justice," said CPJ Executive Director Ann Cooper. "We call on authorities to release him immediately."

Ching was detained in Guangzhou on April 22 while seeking the transcript of interviews with ousted former leader Zhao Ziyang, according to his wife Mary Lau. Mainland authorities blacked out coverage of Zhao's death in January. Zhao spent 15 years under house arrest for opposing the military crackdown at Tiananmen Square in 1989.

On August 5, the official Xinhua News Agency reported that he had been formally arrested on suspicion of spying for Taiwan.

On Tuesday, The Straits Times received notice from the State Council Information Office that Ching's case is ongoing and will be handled according to the law, and that Ching is in good health and spirits, according to his wife. For the past six months, authorities have forbidden Ching from replying publicly or through a lawyer to accusations against him.

The International Covenant for Civil and Political Rights, which China has signed, guarantees prisoners prompt access to defense counsel. In Ching's case, national security charges have been used to deny him access to a lawyer during the pre-trial investigation period, in violation of the Covenant.

Forty-two journalists were imprisoned in China at the end of 2004, according to CPJ research.

CPJ is a New York-based, independent, nonprofit organization that works to safeguard press freedom worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.cpj.org



Source:

Committee to Protect Journalists
330 7th Ave., 11th Floor
New York, NY 10001
USA
info (@) cpj.org
Phone: +1 212 465 1004
Fax: +1 212 465 9568
 

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Updates to this story

Hong Kong journalist tried in closed-door proceeding in Beijing 16 August 2006

More on this case

Transfer of Ching Cheong case to state prosecutors increases likelihood he will be charged with spying, says CPJ 6 January 2006 Jailed Hong Kong reporter's case heads to prosecutors 3 January 2006 Detention of journalist Ching Cheong extended 13 December 2005 Authorities turn down request for defence lawyer for journalist Ching Cheong 30 August 2005 IFJ and HKJA call for fair trial in case of Hong Kong journalist accused of spying 8 August 2005 CPJ calls for immediate release of journalist being held on suspicion of espionage 1 June 2005 Hong Kong reporter detained by Chinese authorities 31 May 2005

China

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