Freedom of expression is alive and kicking in the Special Administrative Region. Priyanka Boghani reports
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China’s Central Propaganda Department has placed a blanket ban on covering the explosion at Xinjiang, Western China, including the state-owned Xinhua News Agency who had allegedly already reported that the explosion was caused by a bomb. The explosion killed seven people in the Uighur Autonomous Region, on August 19. According to the International Journalists’ Federation, Chinese authorities are sensitive about reporting in this area as it was home to riots and ethnic tension in 2009.
Chinese Artist Ai Weiwei has claimed that he was attacked by plainclothes policemen. Ai, who was nominated for an Index on Censorship Freedom of Expression Award in 2009, says he and an assistant were on their way to report a previous assault when they were set upon by up to 10 men, who tore their clothes and attempted to take their photographic equipment.
Dissident Yu Jie is ignoring threats of prison to publish a book describing Premier Wen Jiabao as “China’s best actor”. Dinah Gardner reports
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