(CPJ/IFEX) – CPJ is deeply disturbed by the forced closure on 12 March 1999 of “Fangfa” (Way), an influential Beijing-based monthly magazine. “Fangfa”, which is well-known in academic circles for its frank discussion of political and economic reform, was ordered to suspend operations immediately by the State Press and Publishing Bureau, which oversees the press […]
(CPJ/IFEX) – CPJ is deeply disturbed by the forced closure on 12 March
1999
of “Fangfa” (Way), an influential Beijing-based monthly magazine.
“Fangfa”, which is well-known in academic circles for its frank
discussion
of political and economic reform, was ordered to suspend operations
immediately by the State Press and Publishing Bureau, which oversees the
press on behalf of the Communist Party. The magazine, which has a
circulation of 20,000, was originally licensed in 1988 as a natural
science
publication. It apparently drew the ire of authorities because its
content
had become too diversified. “Our magazine was accused of deviating from
the
assigned field and the proportion of social science articles was too
high,”
an editor of the magazine told the “South China Morning Post” newspaper.
The staff of “Fangfa” was not purged, according to newspaper reports,
and
the magazine may reopen if it adjusts its content to be in line with
Communist Party requirements. But unnamed editors at the magazine say
they
have been warned that the staff could be fired if censorship guidelines
are
not followed.
“Fangfa” has been under increasing scrutiny from official censors over
the
past year for publishing articles that disturbed conservative ideologues
in
Beijing. Among them was an article co-written by a member of the banned
opposition China Democracy Party. The closure of Fangfa is the latest in
a
series of moves to curb the independent press in China. Several liberal
magazines and book publishers have either been closed or had their
staffs
purged in recent months.
CPJ sees the action taken against “Fangfa” as a threat to all
journalists in
China. The kind of free and responsible debate published by the magazine
strengthens reform and promotes democratic development. With Premier Zhu
Rongji scheduled to visit Washington the first week of April, the
message
sent by the closure is that China’s leaders are unable to tolerate even
the
limited debate offered by small circulation publications like “Fangfa”.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to the State Council President:
to
discuss their future openly and without government interference by
immediately lifting the order suspending “Fangfa”‘s operations and
stopping
the ongoing harassment of the independent press in China – suggesting
that
by so doing, he would demonstrate a willingness to honour the commitment
to
free expression his government made last year when it signed the United
Nations Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
Appeals To
Jiang Zemin
President, State Council
Beijing 100032
People’s Republic of China
Fax: +86 10 6512 5810
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
