|
Chinese security
rough up Taiwanese journalist at Boao
By Peng Hsien-chun / Staff reporter, in BOAO, CHINA
A Taiwanese correspondent coverrng vice president-elect Wu Den-yih¡¦s (§d´°¸q) visit
to China¡¦s Hainan Island for the Boao Forum was treated roughly yesterday by
Chinese security, who stripped away a photojournalist¡¦s press pass and took him
away by force. It was only after a protest lodged by the Taiwanese press corps
that the journalist was released.
The incident occurred when Taiwanese press hastened to take a close shot of Wu,
who was visiting a fruit farm run by a Taiwanese firm in Haikou. During the
rush, the Taiwanese photojournalist was suddenly struck on the face by the
security agent¡¦s elbow.
A quarrel erupted between the two and another security agent stripped away the
photojournalist¡¦s press pass and told personnel to detain him.
The photojournalist¡¦s seizure went unnoticed by other Taiwanese reporters,
occupied with their coverage of Wu. It was only moments later the press team
realized something was wrong and they demanded to know where the detained
journalist was taken.
Facing a line of Taiwanese video cameras, one security agent said the
photojournalist ¡§was merely taken to the car¡¨ before heated words were
exchanged.
The negotiations and a protest lodged by the Taiwanese press corps, combined
with an intervention by China¡¦s Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO), resulted in the
photojournalist¡¦s release and his press pass being returned.
After the journalist¡¦s release, personnel in Wu¡¦s entourage inquired what had
happened.
¡§The Hainan TAO failed to manage the Taiwanese press well,¡¨ two Chinese
officials were heard saying.
|
