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Today's Paper | May 03, 2024

Published 03 Mar, 2011 04:49pm

Is this what Chinese call “freedom to speak”?

Chinese police threatened to revoke the visas of dozens of foreign journalists if they continue “illegal” reporting from sites where overseas websites have called for anti-government demonstrations. Some Chinese language websites are calling for more protests this Sunday, and for people to shout: “We want to eat, we want work, we want housing”.

Police have rounded up dozens of dissidents since online messages from abroad urged pro-democracy gatherings inspired by the “Jasmine Revolution” in Tunisia.

Some foreign reporters were also harassed or beaten up by police or plainclothes security last Sunday in Beijing's Wangfujing shopping street, one of the designated protest sites. Police are now telling foreign reporters they might lose their government-issued journalist cards and residence visas if they continue to report from certain bustling parts of central Beijing without getting permission three working days in advance. Police smothered the area and no demonstration happened. – Photos by Reuters.

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