NATIONAL ETHNIC PRESS AND MEDIA COUNCIL OF CANADA
Conseil
national de la presse et medias ethniques du Canada.
Canada’s Other Voices.
Toronto,
January 18, 2005
PROTEST
Whereas,
on January 13, the Chinese Embassy in Ottawa suddenly revoked the visas to
two journalists of New Tang Dynasty TV Canada (NTDTV Canada), Danielle Zhu
and David Ren, just two days before the Canadian Prime Minister’s trip
to Asia.
Whereas,
the two journalists, are members in good standing, of the National Ethnic
Press and Media Council of Canada.
Whereas,
NTDTV is an independent, general-interest global television network that
reports on a range of social, political and cultural affairs in China and
Chinese communities around the world;
Whereas,
NTDTV
reports regularly on human rights violations in China including
SARS, persecutions of Tibetans, Christians, Falun Gong practitioners, Article
23 legislation in Hong Kong, etc;
Whereas,
in January 2004, the Chinese Consulate in Toronto sent faxes to some
Canadian government officials discouraging them from attending or support
NTDTV’s Chinese new year celebration gala; and sent faxes to some gala
performers discouraging them from performing for the gala;
Whereas,
in a number of Chinese community events in Toronto and Ottawa, NTDTV
reporters have been barred from participating or reporting, due to
interference, pressure or fear of
the Chinese consulate or Embassy.
We
condemn the Chinese government to stifle the voice of an independent
Canadian media and harassment to and interfering the media’s operation
in Canada.
We
call on the Chinese Embassy to re-issue visas to the two NTDTV journalists
immediately.
And
we call on the Canadian Government to condemn the Chinese government and
its representatives and agents’s harassment to and interference in
Canada to NTDTV, and we demand to take proper action against such
representatives or agents who engage in such activities in contradiction
of the provisions the Canadian Charter of Rights for free press.
For
the NEPMCC
Thomas
S. Saras
President
Telephone
416- 921 4229 Fax 416- 921 0723 Email:saras@nepmcc.ca
