June  5, 2007

CHINA:Correspondent for website Boxun accused of "running a gang"

Sun Lin, correspondent in Nanjing, eastern China, for the news website Boxun, who was arrested on 30 May 2007, has been accused of "running a gang", according to a report in the official Nanjing Morning News. Police said that 20 other suspected members of his organisation had been arrested and found to be in possession of weapons.

Reporters Without Borders said the charges against Sun Lin were unconvincing and considered that his arrest was really linked to reports he had posted on the Boxun news website, which is banned in China. "It is commonplace for pro-democracy activists to be the subject of completely trumped-up charges based on common-law crimes," the worldwide press freedom organisation said. "The authorities are apparently trying to silence Sun Lin, who was working on sensitive subjects such as police brutality and cases of expropriation".

Sun Lin's wife, who was arrested at the same time as him, has still not been released. They are believed held in Nanjing prison. The online journalist posted an article in May on the system of accreditation for journalists covering the Beijing Olympics in 2008 (read about Reporters Without Borders position on the Beijing games - http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=22401). According to Boxun, Sun Lin was reportedly beaten by police on the day of his arrest and he has been denied visits from his family.

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