U.S.-BASED COMMITTEE TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS CHIDES

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 005142 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EAP AND DRL NSC FOR ABRAMS/WILDER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV SOCI KCUL KOLY CH SUBJECT: U.S.-BASED COMMITTEE TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS CHIDES CHINA AND IOC IN BEIJING PRESS CONFERENCE Summary -------------- ¶1. (SBU) The U.S.-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) held a press conference in Beijing on August 7 to announce the release of a report highly critical of China's record on press freedom in advance of the Olympic Games. The press conference proceeded smoothly without incident, in contrast to a similar event held the day before by Reporters Without Borders (RSF),which reportedly resulted in the detention of several RSF representatives afterward. At today's event, CPJ officials focused on China's failure to live up to its pledge made to the IOC in 2001 that there would be "no restrictions on media reporting and movement of journalists up to and including the Olympic Games." Despite the "very laudable" January 2007 liberalization of rules governing foreign reporters in China, CPJ emphasized the dangers that PRC reporters still face, pointing to the 29 Chinese journalists currently behind bars. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) was also criticized by CPJ for not applying sufficient pressure on the Chinese Government to implement its commitments on press freedom. End Summary. Press Conference Held Without Incident -------------- ¶2. (SBU) The U.S.-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) held a press conference at a Beijing hotel on August 7 to announce the release of, "Falling Short," its highly critical report of China's record on press freedom in advance of the Olympic Games. CPJ Board Chairman and Wall Street Journal Editor-at-large Paul Steiger, CPJ Asia Program Coordinator Bob Dietz and CPJ Asia Program Senior Researcher Kristin Jones read prepared statements and took questions before a crowd of approximately 75 people. The press conference proceeded smoothly without incident, in contrast to a similar event held the day before by Reporters Without Borders (RSF),which according to Reuters and the RSF website resulted in the detention of several RSF representatives afterward. In response to a reporter's question, Bob Dietz said he was unaware whether the CPJ press conference was "legal" but stated his satisfaction with the "unexpectedly large" turnout and lack of interference by Chinese officials who were rumored to be present. (Note: A Reuters �A;correspondent told Poloff he could identify at least one MSS officer who was present at the event.) CPJ Harshly Criticizes Chinese Press Restrictions -------------- -------------- ¶3. (SBU) CPJ officials focused on China's failure to live up to its pledge made to the IOC in 2001 that there would be "no restrictions on media reporting and movement of journalists up to and including the Olympic Games." Paul Steiger was skeptical of a reporter's suggestion that continued development of the Internet would lead to a freer flow of information in China, saying that the Government has proven itself capable of controlling and restricting broad Internet activity, with the help of companies like Yahoo! and Google. Asked if CPJ had held discussions with any PRC Government departments before releasing the report, Dietz said that a recent request for a meeting with the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) had gone unanswered. ¶4. (SBU) Despite the "very laudable" January 2007 liberalization of the rules governing foreign reporters in China, CPJ officials emphasized the dangers that PRC reporters still face, with Kristin Jones calling attention to the 29 Chinese journalists currently behind bars and asserting that the circumstances under which journalists operate outside China's "major urban areas" such as Beijing and Shanghai were much worse due to the "arbitrary powers" of local authorities. Dietz summarized the report's list of recommendations for the Chinese Government, the IOC and foreign journalists working in China. Among the recommendations for the PRC Government, Dietz stressed that Beijing must release the 29 jailed reporters, allow Chinese journalists to enjoy the same freedoms granted to foreign reporters, cease using "state security" charges to intimidate journalists and abide by Article 19 of the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which protects media freedoms and to which China is a signatory. IOC Also Responsible -------------- BEIJING 00005142 002 OF 002 ¶5. (SBU) Dietz was also critical of the IOC's insufficient pressure on China to meet its "pledges" on media freedom in the run up to the Olympics, stating that both the IOC and the Chinese Government are responsible for the lack of progress. One of the report's recommendations calls on the IOC to ensure that Beijing meets "international standards" for press freedoms. Steiger stressed that China is fully capable of meeting press freedom requirements, declaring that "if (the Chinese) want it done, they will make it happen." RANDT