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Journalism of Courage
A leading rights group today called on the International Olympic Committee IOC to start pressuring Beijing on its lack of media freedoms and suppression of dissent in the run-up to the 2008 Olympics.
The Paris-based Reporters Without Borders delivered a 4,000-name petition to the International Olympic Committee chief Jacques Rogge in Lausanne demanding that he stop ignoring the lack of free expression in the Communist country. The group said it had repeatedly requested a meeting with Rogge but had never got a reply.
China is the world8217;s biggest prison for journalists, cyber-dissidents and internet users.
Nearly 100 are currently detained with many serving long sentences for expressing their views on such issues as democracy, corruption and the plight of minorities, the group said.
In China, all media outlets are strictly controlled by the ruling Communist P and are expected to represent the voice of the government.
Foreign media are also regularly detained for reporting on stories authorities do not want aired.
8220;The Chinese are still not respecting their undertaking to the International Olympic Committee to let foreign journalists work freely,8221; the statement said.
Designs Welcomed
Beijing: With less than three years to go for the mega event, the Beijing Organising Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad BOCOG has launched two artistic campaigns of contrasting scales. For those who think big, the committee is inviting proposals for public sculptures celebrating the olympics, while for those working on a smaller scale, the committee is running a calligraphy competition. PTI
