06 May 2008
Chinese editor fired over Tibet commentaries
(Reuters) Renowned Chinese columnist Zhang Ping, who writes under the pen name Chang Ping, was sacked as deputy chief editor of the Southern Metropolis Weekly magazine, the Paris-based Reporters Without Borders said. The group said that Zhang's departure was "because of his editorials about Tibet", including the controversial piece: "How to find the truth about Lhasa?". "We deplore this unfair removal of a well-known member of the liberal press", the group said. Zhang declined to comment when reached by telephone. A further source, requesting anonymity, confirmed the sacking but declined to provide further details. Zhang's articles were published mainly in his magazine's sister newspaper, the Southern Metropolis Daily, and called on the government to allow more media freedom in covering the unrest in Tibet and to review its policy on Tibet.