From RSF: Reporters Without Borders paid tribute to the courage of the Chinese journalists who are protesting against restrictions on freedom of information following the censorship of an editorial in the Guangzhou-based reformist weekly Nanfang Zhoumo on 3 January.
Headlined “The Chinese dream, the dream of constitutionalism,” the original version talked of hopes of change for the New Year and called for a constitutional government. It was purged of its critical content and prefaced by a propagandistic introduction.
The police allowed demonstrations to take place today outside the Nanfang Media Group’s headquarters in what was seen as a sign that the authorities are responding very cautiously to the anti-censorship protests.
“The Chinese media are at a historic crossroads today,” Reporters Without Borders secretary-general Christophe Deloire said. “There have been unprecedented protests against heavy-handed censorship and they show that Chinese journalists, when they act collectively with resolve, are capable of putting pressure on the country’s authorities.