15 April 2008
Journalists group appeals to China for unrestricted coverage around Olympics
(AP) The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) appealed to Chinese authorities to stop what it called interference with news coverage leading up to the Beijing Olympics. The group said foreign journalists have been threatened for reporting on the disturbances during the torch relay around the world and the unrest in Tibet. 10 members of the IFJ began a four-day visit to China to make its case in person. The Brussels-based group is to meet with Chinese government and media officials as well as with foreign correspondents. The group said in a statement that some foreign journalists "have found themselves threatened in the wake of Chinese anger over foreign media coverage of disturbances in Tibet and the Olympic torch rally". "Our aim will be to get China to deliver on its promises of ending repression of journalists in the country and to open itself to independent media coverage around the Games". There was no immediate comment to the allegations by Beijing but in a recent statement, the government said it tries to protect the foreign press inside China.