Press freedom limits protested

In a statement, the ATJ charged the NSB with trying to limit freedom of press workers covering a visit to Taipei by Chen Yunlin, chairman of the Association for Relations across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS).

On Sunday, the day before Chen’s arrival, a Central News Agency cameraman was manhandled by NSB agents, while he was covering a function of Chen’s advance party at the Grand Hotel in Taipei.

Cheng Chieh-wen, the cameraman, was dragged for more than 10 meters.

Because of the confused arrangements for taking pictures, reporters had rows with NSB agents at the Grand Hotel yesterday, the ATJ statement said.

“We wish to condemn the agents for manhandling the cameraman and demand that they apologize to him,” said Chuang Feng-chia, ATJ chairman.

There should be no encroachment on freedom of the press, Chuang went on. “Whereas all press workers were given press passes, any attempt to limit their coverage by the NSB agents under the pretext of security is an act of seriously encroaching on freedom of the press,” he pointed out.

Chuang said the ATJ demands that the Government Information Office assure the media of “smooth interaction” to “respect the right of press coverage for the next few days.”

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