She recounts the story below:

We left Chengdu early to get to the quake villages before officials woke up, to hopefully get some interviews in before they caught us. Sure enough, 20 minutes into one interview, they arrived. We went to the police station, they grilled us and the driver, called the (foreign affairs) and propaganda people of Dujiangyan. We stayed at least two hours and they then told us to go register at the Dujiangyan propaganda department — we had to do that to be able to report in the area.

So we did, not very optimistic they would let us continue. But the guy at the department, to our surprise, asked us where we wanted to go, and took us there. We went back to the village where I had interviewed the woman, finished her interview and interviewed another mum. Needless to say officials were present in our interviews, so it wasn’t very free (one of the mum’s mothers told me how well the Communist Party was looking after them!). So it’s not like we got great quotes or anything. And these mums weren’t the ones who have been vocal about the schools. I’m pretty sure if we’d tried to interview them, we would have got nowhere.

But still, I thought it was a sign of them trying to open up in their way, in an area that has been under such lockdown.

Nine Hong Kong reporters arrived at the Chengdu courthouse around 7 a.m.
We wanted to interview the lawyer and relatives of Sichuan earthquake activist Tan Zuoren outside the courthouse, before the trial was scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. Around 9 a.m. police ordered us to enter the courthouse. When we refused to go, they used physical force, and shoved us into a holding room.
One reporter who was carried in was slightly injured in a scuffle.

The authorities said they wanted to check our media credentials. Around 10 a.m., after the verdict was issued, the authorities returned our credentials and released us. We went outside the courthouse and tried to interview the lawyer about the five-year prison sentence for subversion, but uniformed police kept pushing us around. They said we were violating regulations by blocking the sidewalk. Despite the disruptions, we were eventually able to complete the interviews.

1. Katri Makkonen, a journalist with Finnish TV, was pushed and shoved while attempting to report in Fuxin, Deyang County. She said 10 people in plain clothes attempted to grab her team’s equipment and to drag the cameraman out of the car. The assailants broke a microphone in the scuffle. Nobody was hurt. The TV crew were followed when they left. “We almost lost our camera. It was very violent,” said Makkonen. “People should be very careful there.”
2. Jamil Anderlini of the Financial Times reported two violent incidents in Sichuan within less than 24 hours. In the first, on May 5, his crew was stopped from reporting in Fuxin while attempting to interview parents of children who died in the earthquake. An unidentified man tried to grab Anderlini’s video camera, then punched him in the arm. The FT crew retreated to its car after being surrounded by 10-12 men, one of whom then tried to punch the Chinese news assistant through a half-open car window. Uniformed police eventually broke up the scene and the team was followed out of town.
3. On May 6, the FT journalists arrived at the Mianyang government office to pick up its local reporting passes where they saw a local woman petitioning outside. When Anderlini attempted to film an interview with the woman, an unidentified man arrived and ripped the video camera from its tripod, tearing off the bottom of the camera. Anderlini asked the local propaganda office for compensation, but was told police would have to handle it. The team left the area. The propaganda office told the FT police could stop any interview for any reason, and that “the reason the police were so violent with us was they were trying to protect us from the petitioner.”

Reports from the field include aggressive police and official interference with correspondents and their sources. In several cases, local authorities have insisted that journalists register in advance before doing their work. Such demands fly in the face of the new regulations for foreign media, which eliminated the need for prior permission to visit public areas and conduct interviews.

We have heard that guided media trips are planned to the affected areas. When offered as an option to augment independent reporting, such trips are welcome — but they are not a substitute. Journalists should have the choice of whether to travel alone or with the assistance of the authorities.

The open reporting environment for Chinese and foreign journalists in the immediate aftermath of the quake contributed to the global outpouring of sympathy and aid to the victims last year. We call on the Sichuan authorities, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other agencies to respect China’s regulations by providing unfettered access this year.

“The detentions and permit requirements in Sichuan are a disappointing step backwards by the authorities,” said FCCC president Jonathan Watts. “Reporting restrictions are a barrier to understanding the circumstances and needs of the people trying to recover from last year’s disaster. They should be lifted.”

NOTE: The FCCC has received the following reports:

On April 1, a French journalist was working in Dujiangyuan on a story about a family whose daughter was killed in a school collapse when he and the family were stopped and detained by both uniformed and plainclothes police. The parents were released. The reporter was forced to go the police station and informed he needed to register to report in the area.

On April 2, a German reporter was barred from Yingxiu while attempting to cover the area ahead of the first anniversary of the quake. The reporter was in a public cemetery amid a group of Chinese journalists interviewing relatives of the dead when authorities approached him and told him he had failed to register. They led him away from the cemetery.

On April 6, a German television crew working in Shifang and nearby areas was physically prevented from filming and detained for over five hours. When the crew was waiting to meet the father of a child who died in a school collapse, unidentified men grabbed the man in front of the journalists.

The FCCC has already received several reports of interference in areas affected by the earthquake. Summaries of the reports are below. For detailed descriptions see the Incident Reports section.

If you run into difficulties registering or reporting, please let us know by sending an email to admin@fccchina.org. If you experience interference we will send you a link to our new online incident reporting form.

Registration contacts for earthquake affected areas:

Sichuan:
四川省人民政府新闻办公室： 028-86600343，86600501
四川省人民政府外事办公室新闻处： 028-84388114
Chengdu:
成都：陈程 成都市人民政府新闻办公室新闻联络处处长 028-86639404，13908078567
Mianyang:
绵阳：张杰 绵阳市人民政府新闻办公室副主任 13508116966
洪常青 绵阳市人民政府新闻办公室干事 15908223675
Deyang:
德阳：涂升珂 德阳市人民政府新闻办公室新闻处处长 0838-2313126，13550648261
Guangyuan:
广元：王万仁 广元市人民政府新闻办公室主任 138808121440
张学兵 广元市人民政府新闻办公室外宣科科长 13508068126
Aba Prefecture:
阿坝州： 蒋祖权 阿坝州人民政府新闻办公室外宣科长 13990411007

Recent Incidents

On April 6, a German television crew working in Shifang and nearby areas was physically prevented from filming and detained for over five hours. When the crew was waiting to meet the father of a child who died in a school collapse, unidentified men grabbed the man in front of the journalists’ hotel and took them away in an unmarked car. He was later released.

On April 2, a German reporter was barred from Yingxiu while attempting to report conditions leading up to the first anniversary of the quake. The reporter was in a public cemetery amid a group of Chinese journalists interviewing relatives of the dead when authorities approached him, told him he had failed to register, then led him away from the cemetery.

On April 1, a French journalist working in Dujiangyuan on a story about a family whose daughter was killed in a school collapse was stopped and detained by both uniformed and plainclothes police. The parents were released. The reporter was forced to go the police station and informed he needed to register to conduct reporting in the area

QUOTE: “Before arriving in Yingxiu I had tried to obtain permission by calling the Sichuan Province waiban foreign affairs office, the Chengdu waiban and the Aba local waiban repeatedly over several days. Nobody had mentioned the need to obtain permission. They had only informed me that the special permit (te qu zheng) for the disaster area was not being issued anymore.”

DESCRIPTION: I was talking to relatives of victims of the Sichuan earthquake schools at the public cemetery (gong mu) above the ruins of Yingxiu. The cemetary was full of Chinese journalists taking photos and relatives mourning. I was a silent bystander until some relatives approached me and insisted on telling me their story. I was apprehended by one plainclothes official and one policeman while talking to relatives of schoolteachers and children who died in Yingxiu elementary school on May 12, 2008. I was told that I had no right to be in Yingxiu and that I should have obtained permission before coming. I was then led away from the public cemetery, made to fill out a form to “register,” and told to leave Yingxiu immediately. A plainclothes agent escorted me to the car and also took down the driver’s details. Throughout the incident the official remained very polite and friendly, and I did as I was told without resistance. Before arriving in Yingxiu I had tried to obtain permission by calling the Sichuan Province waiban foreign affairs office, the Chengdu waiban and the Aba local waiban repeatedly over several days. Nobody had mentioned the need to obtain permission. They had only informed me that the special permit (te qu zheng) for the disaster area was not being issued anymore.

“They said I was detained because I was in a ‘forbidden area,’ though it is a tourist spot, with propaganda banners welcoming ‘friends from all over the world’ and strongly promoting ‘tourism, for the people, by the people.’ The local PSB chief explained ‘if a Chinese journalist went to Mr. Sarkozy’s office, he should register.’”

DESCRIPTION: I went to the home of a family that lost their daughter in the earthquake when her school collapsed. The couple, the driver and I drove about one kilometer to the location where their village will be rebuilt. On the way we stopped to look at a public propaganda billboard showing the estate project. A speeding, unmarked car slammed on its breaks and skid in front of our car, blocking our way. It was followed by a police car and a second unmarked car. Three plainclothes officials and two police officers came out and surrounded us. A plainclothes officer asked for everyone’s ID. He then asked me to register by filling in a detailed form.

“I actually had a positive impression about the relocation and allowance system, but after the detention, I started to have doubts, and had a very bad overall impression. If they had let me do my job and hadn’t harassed my sources, I would probably have written a much more positive article.”

I asked who he was, he said he was with ‘Gongan,’ the Public Security Bureau . When I asked why I should register, he said “in your country if police ask you to register, you have to register,” without giving reasons for the arrest. I asked if it was illegal to be here, he said no. I asked if I did anything illegal, he said he stopped me for my ‘safety’, stating that it was a dangerous place after the quake. The two other plainclothes officers approached and introduced themselves as the heads of the local PSB. It was 16.45 and they had a very strong smell of alcohol. They behaved agressively. They took the couple and shouted at them, then released them. They then saw that I have a journalist visa, and took the driver and me to a nearby police station. After several phone calls and cups of tea, they asked for my journalist card. I had left it at the hotel. After further other phone calls, they said could release me if I gave the number of my press card. I gave it to them. After further calls, they said that the Waiban foreign affairs officials were coming, and we had to wait for them. I asked why, they replied because they couldn’t speak english (we were speaking fluently in chinese for 90 minutes, and were even writing inchinese.) Three different people interrogated me about my conversation with the couple and how I knew them. Meanwhile, they interrogated my driver in a separate room. Three young officials arrived later on, and asked me again the same questions. They said I was detained because I was in a “forbidden area,” though it is a tourist spot, with propaganda banners welcoming ‘friends from all over the world’ and strongly promoting “tourism, for the people, by the people.” The local PSB chief explained “if a Chinese journalist went to Mr. Sarkozy’s office, he should register.” After a third interrogation session by polite Waiban officials and more phone calls and tea, they had me sign a detailed form in Chinese. It even stated parts of my conversation with the couple that I hadn’t mention to them. Since there was nothing in the form against the couple, the driver or me, I signed it. The Waiban official head then offered me to provide me with “comprehensive and official” written material about relocation and allowances in the area, and to come back anytime I want to conduct interviews, provided I register with them and follow their guidance. Finally, the Waiban and Gongan cars escorted our car to the next city. On the way, the driver stopped at the couple’s house to retrieve a teacup he had forgotten. The PSB officer first stopped him, then escorted him inside. The driver later told me they barred him from talking with the couple. A text message later sent to the couple remain unanswered. The whole detention lasted about 3.5 hours. Comments: Conducting my reporting prior to the incident. I actually had a positive impression about the relocation and allowance system: the couple told me that although they were distressed by the earthquake, they were well compensated, and the government system of relief was relatively transparent and efficient. Other new housing estates I saw were well constucted, other people interviewed were generally satisfied with the allowances and relocations. But after the detention, I started to have doubts, and had a very bad overall impression. If they had let me do my job and hadn’t harassed my sources, I would probably have written a much more positive article. Also, during my detention, several refugees came to the police station to sort out their problems (disputes, administrative duties etc.) Although some of their issues seemed urgent, the police didn’t give them priority. My detention was also a waste of personnel resources and time that could have been used for the sake of the local people. The Foreign Affaris officials were aware of the regulations and used them against me. I carried only my passport and journalist visa, but didn’t carry my press card.

DESCRIPTION: When we arrived at the police-checkpoint our passports were confiscated and we were forced to wait more than an hour for 12 county officials who arrived in three cars. One was in a police uniform, eleven were plainclothes. They refused to give their names, and only said they were local representatives of the Public Security Bureau, the propaganda department, and the foreign affairs department. The officials took photos and filmed us. When we opened our car to take out some stuff they even recorded the interior of our car. Then they wanted to search our car for video tapes. We called the Foreign Ministry. The Foreign Ministry officer spoke to a colleague about the legality of a search, and phoned back to tell me the officials were only allowed to search our car for “forbidden or dangerous stuff, but not for videotapes.” The local authorities did not conduct the search. One official told us we were forbidden to travel further due to security reasons. The officials claimed there were snowstorms and a landslide on the other side of the mountain. It was nearly 20 degrees Celsius and we had blue sky. Officials grasped our assistant by the arm and one heavy-armed officer from the special anti-riot squad put his arm around our assistant’s neck and pulled his ear to his mouth. I protested, but I was forced to go away. Our assistant said the policeman recommended we immediately return to Chengdu, which we did. The next day after we checked out of our hotel in Chengdu the hotel called the assistant and accused him of bringing foreigners to their hotel. The hotel said state security had showed up and asked questions about us. Our assistant later said he was scared of bringing inconvenience to his familiy. Meanwhile, the boss of the rental company where we hired our car got a visit from officials at 2 a.m. the same night we were stopped.

“Officials grasped our assistant by the arm and one heavy-armed officer from the special anti-riot squad put his arm around our assistant’s neck and pulled his ear to his mouth. I protested, but I was forced to go away.”

DESCRIPTION: When we arrived at the police-checkpoint our passports were confiscated and we were forced to wait more than an hour for 12 county officials who arrived in three cars. One was in a police uniform, eleven were plainclothes. They refused to give their names, and only said they were local representatives of the Public Security Bureau, the propaganda department, and the foreign affairs department. The officials took photos and filmed us. When we opened our car to take out some stuff they even recorded the interior of our car. Then they wanted to search our car for video tapes. We called the Foreign Ministry. The Foreign Ministry officer spoke to a colleague about the legality of a search, and phoned back to tell me the officials were only allowed to search our car for “forbidden or dangerous stuff, but not for videotapes.” The local authorities did not conduct the search. One official told us we were forbidden to travel further due to security reasons. The officials claimed there were snowstorms and a landslide on the other side of the mountain. It was nearly 20 degrees Celsius and we had blue sky. Officials grasped our assistant by the arm and one heavy-armed officer from the special anti-riot squad put his arm around our assistant’s neck and pulled his ear to his mouth. I protested, but I was forced to go away. Our assistant said the policeman recommended we immediately return to Chengdu, which we did. The next day after we checked out of our hotel in Chengdu the hotel called the assistant and accused him of bringing foreigners to their hotel. The hotel said state security had showed up and asked questions about us. Our assistant later said he was scared of bringing inconvenience to his familiy. Meanwhile, the boss of the rental company where we hired our car got a visit from officials at 2 a.m. the same night we were stopped.

QUOTE: “When we stated we were in our full rights to enter the quarter, the commanding officer came forward and stated bluntly in Chinese that we were not allowed to talk to Tibetans in the area, and that we should leave immediately.”

DESCRIPTION: A cameraman and correspondent were stopped in downtown Chengdu when trying to enter the Tibetan quarter. Police officer Zhao Fan, badge no 072495, told us the area was unsafe, and even dangerous for foreigners, due to heavy traffic and road construction. When we presented with our press cards, the policeman consulted with his commanding officer who was nearby. Mr. Zhao came back to us and told us he was ordered to have us leave. When we stated we were in our full rights to enter the quarter, the commanding officer came forward and stated bluntly in Chinese that we were not allowed to talk to Tibetans in the area, and that we should leave immediately. This officer did not identify himself. The rest of the day we were followed by at least two plain clothes officers, and photographed when we filmed a standup. Zhao Fan spoke relatively good English, and that he acted with courtesy.