#PressFreedom
Press control in #Belarus: Press Cards of Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse Revoked; Award-winning Swedish Journalist Expelled

The anti-govenment demonstrations in Belarus continued. There were many protests and human chains formed in various districts. However, the local government started to restrict news reporters last week, detaining almost 50 reporters who worked at the demonstration site. The reporters from Associated Press, Reuters, AFP Reuters and other foreign media have their press cards cancelled.

According to the Belarusian Association of Journalists (#BAJ), the local police detained nearly 50 journalists on 27 August 2020, including many well-known foreign media. Their documents were checked and four of them were detained for refusing to hand over their smartphones for inspection. They were accused of organizing illegal demonstrations and must be detained until they are brought to the court. Meanwhile, Swedish journalist, Paul Hansen, who won the World Press Photo Contest Award was deported. He was banned from entering the country for five years.

Until yesterday, the actions of local government which limited news reporting were expanded. At least 17 people’s press cards were cancelled, including the reporters from Associated Press, Reuters, AFP Reuters, BBC and US Congress-funded Radio Liberty. The Radio France International (#RFI) quoted Anatoly Glaz, an official of the Belarusian Ministry of foreign Affairs, that the relevant decision was made in response to anti-terrorism and anti-extremist forces.

BBC and the Associated Press issued a statement of condemnation. The US embassy in the local area also issued a statement, showing concerns that journalists are being unfairly targeted. Attempts on supressing freedom of press, opposition voices and detaining citizens who exercise freedom of assembly and speech were not supported. Dominic Raab, the British Foreign Minister, also condemned the authorities for suppressing press freedom and demanded to stop targeting journalists.

The anti-government demonstrations in Belarus started last month. Citizens protested for the president election result and police brutality. They claimed that the president, Alexander Lukashenko, had manipulated the election. Russian president, Vladimir Putin, said that they have reserved police force to intervene for the situation in Belarus when necessary, but there is no such need as of now.

Source: Stand News #Aug30

#BelarusianAssociationJournalists #AFP #Reuters #AP #MediaControl

Reuters: US planned to ban technology sales to 89 PLA-related Chinese companies

The Trump administration will announce restriction to 89 Chinese military related entrepreneurs from purchasing U.S. goods and technology, Reuters reported, according to a draft copy of the list it've seen. The list covers areospace and other industries, including Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) and 10 related entities.

According to Reuters, the relevant list was compiled by the U.S. Department of Commerce, including 89 China and 28 Russia companies recognised by U.S. as a “military end users”. U.S. suppliers must obtain permission to sell commercial products to these companies. The Reuters quoted the draft, that controlling the flow of U.S. technology to the listed companies is “vital for protecting U.S. national security interests”.

Source from: Stand News #Nov23

#Reuters #UnitedStates #China #Russia #USChinaRelation #PLA

The US Bans Cotton Imports from Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps for Involvements of Uyghur Forced Labour

The US put pressure on China for its human rights issues in Xinjiang again on Wednesday (Dec 3) local time. The US was to ban the import of cotton products from the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC) and has accused the corps for subjecting imprisoned Uyghurs to forced labour.

The US Customs and Border Protection announced the new arrangements for the withhold release order to ban cotton and cotton products from XPCC. Reuters reported that the Trump administration was seeking to consolidate its harsh stance against China in the final few weeks of Trump’s presidential term, to make it harder for President-elect Biden to resolve the tense relationship between the two nations.

The withhold release order allows the authority to confiscate products allegedly produced by forced labour, in order to tackle human rights abuses. The US considered a total ban on cotton and tomato products imported from Xinjiang, but the ban was opposed by US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, and the Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin, and was hence changed to a ban on imports from designated enterprises.

#US #China #Xinjiang #ForcedLabour #XPCC #XinjiangProductionandConstructionCorps #Trump #Uyghurs #Uighurs #Cotton #Tomato #Reuters

Source: Stand News #Dec03

https://bit.ly/38j2xOQ

US media: #BGI and the People’s Liberation Army collaborate to collect DNA data

According to reports of The Reuters and current affairs program "60 Minutes" of CBS, BGI Group – the world’s largest biotechnology company, is ties to the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), including working with PLA supercomputer experts on research that range from respiratory pathogens to brain science. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, BGI sells millions of COVID-19 test kits in Europe, America, and Australia. US security officials have warned American labs against using Chinese test kids, concerning China on gathering foreign genetic data for its own research, though BGI strongly denied.

By searching over 40 publicly available documents and research papers in Chinese and English, the Reuters showed the links between BGI Group and PLA are closer than previously understood, reflecting how China integrates private technology companies into military-related research under President Xi Jinping.

Source: The Stand News #Jan30

https://bit.ly/3rGBGVj

#China #CBS #Reuters #Biotechnology #BGIGroup #COVID19 #WuhanVirus #Military #60Minutes #PLA

Reuters: First Time Since 4th June for EU Ambassadors Agreed to Sanction China

According to a Reuters report, EU ambassadors agreed on the 17th March for applying sanction to four Chinese officials and one entity, being the first time for the EU to sanction China since 4th June 1989. The sanction list will be formally announced on 22nd March after passed by the EU Foreign Minister.

According to the report, the sanctioned Chinese officials are all related to the Uyghurs Muslims' human rights violation. The content of the sanction included the implementation of travel bans and asset freezes. The Reuters report also stated, although the sanction is only symbolic, they reflect the EU’s tendency to be tough on China.

Source from: The Stand News #Mar18

https://bit.ly/3cycivU

#China #EU #Uyghurs #Muslims #HumanRights #Reuters #Sanctions #4June

Military cuts off the internet again; Public “flower strike” mourns the dead; Demonstrators support the “federal army” and burn the military charter

Two months and one day since the coup in Myanmar, the death toll has reached at least 543. The military cuts off the national internet again, optical fibre fixed network also significantly slowed down. Today (2nd April) is nearly the Myanmar New Year and Songkran. But the local area did not splash water to celebrate the New Year as previous. Instead, the public filed the bus stops with flowers, using “Flower Strike” to mourn the deads who were shot and killed by the military. The candle night ceremony yesterday had many people raised to support the organisation of the anti-coup, Federal Army, using force against the military government. There were also demonstrators who burnt the Myanmar version of “Charter 08” drafted by the military.

According to Reuters, demonstrators tried to use different methods for replacing the network, including underground stations, communication platforms that do not need to be connected, SMS news, etc. There were also some demonstrators who encouraged people to use the old technology again, “listen to the underground broadcasts together and phone each other!”

The netizens posted some photos which raised three fingers with flowers on Twitter and stated that “we will never forget the heroes who died for us, and never forgive the military”.

Source: Stand News #Apr02

https://bit.ly/3wHJdqb

#Myanmar #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar #FlowerStrikeMynamar #PoliceBrutality #Reuters #Twitter

Myanmar Demonstrators Burnt Chinese Factories; The Military Attacked “Protest Camp” and Killed 11 People

More than two months since the coup in Myanmar, according to the statistics of the local organisation assisting political prisoners, the death toll has reached at least 581. A Chinse factory in Yangon was burnt by the protesters today (7th April) while some protesters raised the slogans of boycott Chinese brands “Xiaomi” and “Huawei”. The military also attacked Hpruso Township in Kayah (Karenni) State, a “Tarhan protest camp” occupied by protesters, making 11 people died.

According to Reuters, some protesters raised the slogans with boycott Chinese brands in Yangon and burnt the flag of China to protest that China has been friendly to the military government who initiated the coup. Because of that, the protesters burnt 32 Chinese factories in Yangon last month, and today they burnt a Chinese clothing factory called JOC.

Source: Stand News #Apr07

https://bit.ly/3gvFxlu

#Myanmar #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar #China #Protest #Xiaomi #Huawei #Reuters #JOC #Yangon #Karenni

Hungary prevents the EU from discussing Hong Kong related bills, members of the European Parliament denounced as “Trojan Horses” for China 
 
According to the report from South China Morning Post, EU withdrew the proposal which related to China tighten Hong Kong governance, since they cannot get the recognitions from 27 member countries. Reuters stated that the proposal was rejected by Hungary. Hungary is considered to have close relations with China, and it is one of the countries that have signed the “One Belt One Road” agreement, and China was the biggest overseas investor of Hungary in 2020. SCMP quoted from a member of the European Parliament, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is being a “playing a double game” and attempting to profit by travelling between the EU and China. He described Hungary is “Trojan Horses” of China.  
 
SMCP stated, this proposal originally scheduled for EU action, to respond to the “major electoral reforms implemented in Hong Kong”, saying that these reforms are different from Hong Kong’s ultimate promise of universal elections. The proposal listed 12 concrete actions, including comprehensive review the relations between EU and Hong Kong, discuss China’s “Extradition Law” with member countries, coordinate relations with Hong Kong with the United Nations and G7, review the rule of law in Hong Kong, respond to the Hong Kong version of the “National Security Law” which also applicable to local people in European Union, and strengthen cooperation with civil society to promote freedom of speech, and liaise with business and civil society organisations to “build a new platform for Hong Kong”.  
 
This is not the first time that Hungary stops EU for taking actions to China. There were reports from last month which stated Hungary stops EU for announcing a statement condemning China’s implementation of the National Security Law in Hong Kong. The report quoted Senior EU diplomat and indicated, “The point of view of Hungary is, EU and China already have so many problems”.  
 
Source: Stand News #May06 

https://bit.ly/3uMxMfe

#Hungary #EuropeanUnion #HongKong #China #UnitedNations #SMCP #Reuters #ExtraditionLaw #NationalSecurityLaw  

Samoa Suspends Beijing’s Port Plan;
Prime Minister-Elect: Samoa Has Long Owed China a Heavy Debt

Fiame Naomi Mataafa, the Prime Minister-elect of Pacific Island Samoa, promised to suspend the port plan led by Beijing, costing about 100 million USD. She also pointed out that a small country with huge debts to China does not need such a large port.

Prime Minister-elect Fiame Naomi Mataafa defeated opponents last month, becoming the first woman prime minister in Samoa. She indicated that Samoa would keep a favourable relation with China, but there are more pressing issues to deal with at the moment. The port plan has already caused controversy in China and is one of the most influential issues in the local election in April.

Mataafa stated in a Reuters interview, “Samoa is a small country. Our seaports and airports cater for our needs. It's very difficult to imagine that we would need the scale that's being proposed under this particular project when there are more pressing projects that the government needs to give priority to.”.

Source: Stand News #May20

https://bit.ly/3vAxBnQ

#Samoa #Beijing #China #Debts #PacificIsland #Port #Mataafa #Reuters

Australian-Chinese writer who has been arrested for more than two years, was charged with espionage and tried in Beijing. His wife and Australian ambassador to China were refused to attend 
 
Australian-Chinese writer Yang Hengjun detained by the Chinese authority for more than two years and charged with espionage. The case was being heard in Beijing No.2 Intermediate People’s Court this morning, and it is expected that it will take at least one day for deliberation. Fu Guanhan, Australia ambassador to China attended but being refused to listen due to pandemic reason.  
 
Some reporters at the scene posted photos outside of court on the social platform Twitter before the trial, however there were multiple police being alerted. After Australia ambassador to China Fu Guanhan was refused to attend the court hearing, he told the out-of-court media, “Unfortunately, we have just been refused entry into the courtroom on the grounds of epidemic, but the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also stated that the case involves national security, so we are not allowed to listen”. Reuters quoted the friends of Yang and stated, Yang’s wife Yuan Ruijuan was also being refused to enter. 
 
Source: Stand News #May27

 https://bit.ly/2SdNhz3
 
#Australia #China #writer #Beijing #Espionage #Pandemic #Trial #NationalSecurity #Reuters  

#Newspaper
#NationalSecurityLaw Charges Over #AppleDaily Editors and Executives Raise Concern Over Hongkongers' Situation Across the World

The Hong Kong police arrest of #AppleDaily senior staff on June 17, 2021 has been widely reported by news outlets across the world. 

On June 19, the newspaper's editor-in-chief #RayLaw and #NextDigital CEO #CheungKimHung were mentioned in court for national security charges and were remanded afterwards. The next trial will take place in August 2021.

June 20, 2021 marks the 26th anniversary of the establishment of Apple Daily in Hong Kong. It is the only pro-democracy Chinese-language newspaper in print in the city.

===

#Reuters

//Five hundred Hong Kong police officers sifted through reporters’ computers and notebooks at pro-democracy tabloid Apple Daily on Thursday, the first case in which authorities have cited media articles as potentially violating the national security law.

“This is a blatant attack on the editorial side of Apple Daily,” Mark Simon, an adviser to Lai who is outside Hong Kong, told Reuters. “They’re arresting the top editorial folks.”

Asked how long he thinks the newspaper can survive, Simon said: “They decide, not us,” referring to authorities.//

Full article:
https://www.reuters.com/article/hongkong-security-apple-daily/update-2-hks-apple-daily-says-police-arrest-five-directors-in-latest-blow-to-tycoon-jimmy-lai-idUSL2N2NZ006

=====

#TheGuardian

//The raids were condemned by journalism and human rights groups.

Steven Butler, Asia program coordinator of the Committee to Protect Journalists, said the arrests destroyed “any remaining fiction that Hong Kong supports freedom of the press”.

“China, which controls Hong Kong, may be able to eliminate the paper, which it sees as an annoying critic, but only at a steep price to be paid by the people of Hong Kong, who had enjoyed decades of free access to information.”//

Full article:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jun/17/hong-kong-police-arrest-editor-in-chief-of-apple-daily-newspaper-in-morning-raids

====

#CNN

//Press freedoms are a fundamental right guaranteed by Hong Kong's Basic Law, the city's mini-constitution. But experts have worried about the usage of the national security law, and there have been indications of pressures on other media in the city. 

A recent ranking of worldwide press freedoms, meanwhile, indicates that the environment in Hong Kong has deteriorated. The international watchdog Reporters Without Borders — which qualifies such freedoms based on data on abuse and acts of violence against journalists along with a questionnaire to experts — ranked Hong Kong 80 out of 180 countries for press freedom, down from 18 out of 138 in 2002.//

Full article:

https://edition.cnn.com/2021/06/16/media/apple-daily-arrests-intl-hnk/index.html

=====

#Bloomberg

//“Hong Kong has been left with little free speech under the national security law, which is really aimed at silencing all dissent,” said Victoria Hui, an associate professor of political science at the University of Notre Dame. “Beijing has reined in Hong Kong and will continue to take whatever it takes to silence any dissenting voices.”

In a letter to readers on Thursday afternoon, Apple Daily said police officers confiscated a “large number of items,” including the computers of 38 journalists, over the course of a five-hour search of the company’s offices.

The newspaper said it now “faces an unprecedented crackdown by the regime,” but vowed its staff would be “standing firm” despite the growing pressure.

“Hong Kong’s press freedom is now hanging by a thread,” the letter said. “Though we are facing a sweeping clampdown on our publication, the staff of Apple Daily will hold fast to our duties faithfully and press on till the end to see the arrival of dawn.”//

Full article:

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-06-16/hong-kong-arrests-apple-daily-editor-on-security-law-scmp-says

#PressFreedom #PoliceState #Censorship #PoliticalProsecution

Image: Stand News

#WhiteTerror #FrozenAsset
#Reuters: HK’s Pro-democracy Newspaper #AppleDaily to shut within days according to #JimmyLai adviser

Source: Reuters #Jun21

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https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30169