Death threats against Albert Cheng King-hon
One of his companies' offices vandalised [RSF]

Reporters Without Borders today voiced concern about death threats against leading Hong Kong columnist and political critic Albert Cheng King-hon and called on the special region's chief executive, Tung Chee Hwa, to order a thorough investigation.

"If threats against journalists who criticise politicians or government measures succeed in silencing the critics, then editorial independence and free expression are in danger in Hong Kong," the organisation said.

Cheng has been receiving threats almost every day for the past two months because of his criticism of the government's pro-Beijing reforms. Then the premises of one of his companies was attacked on 31 March. [more]

. 3:05:17 PM    comments []

Reporters Without Borders raises alarm over mushrooming Internet repression in China [RSF]

Cyberdissident Ma Yalian has been sentenced to 18 months in a work re-education camp for posting articles on the Internet exposing failings in China's complaints system for its citizens. At the same time the authorities have extended filtering of weblogs.

Reporters Without Borders protested against the sentence, handed down on 19 March, which it said rode roughshod over basic rules of law.

"This woman has been sent to a re-education camp for the second time without being tried by a court. This practice shames China, which has just incorporated human rights into its constitution," said the international press freedom organisation. [more]

. 2:59:37 PM    comments []