At first it seemed like it was going to be another often seen example of the authorities trampling on press freedom. Last month, the finance magazine Caijing ran an article describing how Anyuanding Security Services was believed to be being paid by local government officials to abduct and lock up regular citizens who travelled to Beijing to complain about injustices they experience in their hometowns.
However, rather than investigate the claims over these so-called black jails—which authorities have repeatedly said don’t even exist—media reports said police actually raided the magazine to try to get it to reveal its sources.
But this time, the story didn’t end there. After much speculation—and anger—on the internet, other publications took up the story, including the Southern Metropolis Daily, which reported that officials paid up to $45 a day for citizens to be detained.
And this week, according to state media, it seems the police buckled. The China Daily reported that police in Beijing were investigating the security company and that the chairman, Zhang Jun, and General Manager Zhang Jie had been detained.
China Daily reported: ‘The company’s label had been removed and its website was shut down on Sunday. However, the company denied their service includes “allocating petitioners”, and said its business is still going.
‘“I don't know about anything reported by the media. I'm in charge of bodyguard recruitment, and we're still doing business. I don't know if our company does any business like the media reported,” said a man surnamed Yu who works for the company.’
Hats off to Caijing for running the piece in the first place and not backing down—and to the police for apparently changing tack in this case.
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P V N Rao
God bless the citizens of China if what is reported is true. One simply does not understand what is the use of the fast development which is consuming billions and billions of dollars if the citizens needs are not taken care of. This only proves that only and only will a country prosper if there is freedom of press, expression of one’s thoughts fearlessly. For that matter India scores very high compared to China in this matter. India may not be fully developed but the pace of development that is taking place with the citizens participation and their rights not being trampled upon and with the laws and the governing systems in its place the Indian Government deserves full praise. The recent verdict which the courts have given on a matter of utmost importance and the calm and maturity exhibited by the entire populace of the country is point worth to be noted by one and all in the World.
John Chan
O yes, it is true, those things have been reported with photos in the Media in China, otherwise the rest of the world will have hard time to find out. This is one of the many problems facing China right now. One of the effective tools to fight those crimes is to give more access to the Chinese journalists and lawyers in China, as well as their protection against officialdom’s harassment. At the same time all those negative news are routinely used by the west to undermine China. The long term solution is eduction in moral, social responsibilities, patriotism, etc. The problems in China are serious challenges to the resolve and wisdom of China’s leadership on how to bring China forward to become a modern, just, and harmonious society, at the same time without following the USSR’s footstep.