(RSF/IFEX) – The following is the full text of an open letter sent to U.S. President Bill Clinton by Reporters sans frontieres, ahead of his official visit to China toward the end of this month. The letter expresses concern over the poor state of press freedom in China and calls on President Clinton to, among […]
(RSF/IFEX) – The following is the full text of an open letter sent to U.S.
President Bill Clinton by Reporters sans frontieres, ahead of his official
visit to China toward the end of this month. The letter expresses concern
over the poor state of press freedom in China and calls on President Clinton
to, among other things, work for the release of the at least 12 journalists
currently in prison, including Gao Yu.
“Open letter to Bill Clinton
President of the United States of America
“Paris, 22 June 1998
“Sir,
“You are due to go to the People’s Republic of China on 25 June for a state
visit lasting one week. Reporters Sans Frontières, an international
organisation for the defence of press freedom, wishes to take this
opportunity to remind you of the circumstances facing journalists in that
country.
“To the best of our knowledge, at least 12 journalists are currently in
prison in China, simply because they did their work honestly or expressed
their opinions peacefully. We have called for their immediate and
unconditional release. In particular, we would like to draw your attention
to the case of journalist Gao Yu. Arrested on 2 October 1993, she is
serving a six-year prison sentence for `revealing state secrets to people
outside China’. According to our information, she is suffering from serious
cardiac problems that are putting her life in danger, especially as the only
drugs she is allowed are those brought to her my relatives during their
monthly visit.
“Reporters Sans Frontières is aware that Chinese journalists are
increasingly being allowed to investigate instances of police violence and
corruption. We welcome this progress, but it does not go far enough. China
should adopt legislation concerning respect for press freedom, and ratify
unreservedly international agreements such as the Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights, article 19 of which states that: `Everyone shall have the
right to hold opinions without interference.’
“Reporters Sans Frontières asks you to remember Gao Yu and the other
imprisoned Chinese journalists during your talks with Chinese officials, and
in particular with President Jiang Zemin, and urges you to use your
influence to secure their release. We also ask you to do everything in your
power to persuade China, as it has undertaken to do, to sign and ratify the
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and to adopt legislation as soon as
possible that guarantees the right to informed and to be informed.
“I remain, Sir,
“Yours truly,
Robert Ménard
General Secretary”
