NYT/Reuters: British Minister to Raise Press Freedom with Beijing

[DeepModem Mom]

British Minister to Raise Press Freedom with Beijing
By REUTERS
Published: September 4, 2006

BEIJING (Reuters) - Britain's Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell said on Monday she would raise the issue of press freedom in a meeting with Beijing Olympic organizers this week.

Jowell, who is responsible for her government's media and sports portfolios as well as the 2012 London Olympics, said reports of harassment of journalists in China were "matters of concern.''...

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The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Paris-based Reporters Without Borders and the Foreign Correspondents' Club of China have all complained this year about China's treatment of the media.

Around 20,000 media accredited by the IOC to cover the Games will descend on Beijing for the 2008 Olympics with thousands more coming to report from China without access to the venues.

BOCOG have repeatedly said that all media would be able to operate in the same way they had at previous Games and where Chinese norms differed from international norms, international norms would prevail....

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/sports/sports-olympics-beijing-britain.html

[NOLADEM]

1. China will never have a free press

It would tear the country apart.

There is so much discontent in the countryside and among ethnic minorities, a free press would foment this to a breaking point.

Sad to say, but true. China would disintegrate with any measure of free press. Not to say that would be bad, but it would be.

The bastards that run that country would never survive a true revealing of the labor camps, executions, intimidations, theft of land from farmers, etc.

This visit is a waste of fuel. I do wish it were different though. I had such high hopes during Tienanmen.

[w4rma]

3. I disagree. (nt)

[NOLADEM]

4. Care to elaborate?

:-)

[w4rma]

5. A free press hasn't torn any country apart in the history of the world. nt

[msongs]

2. he oughta raise the topice with Bush and Cheney first nt

[samsingh]

6. they should start here

[struggle4progress]

7. China should ask Britain about the Official Secrets Act and the press