CHINA: Korean photographer's imprisonment raised in bilateral talks
(July 10, 2003) July 9, 2003
(博讯boxun.com)
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The Honorable Zhang Fusen
Minister of Justice, People's Republic of China
Ministry of Justice
No. 10 Chaoyangmen South Avenue
Beijing 100020, People's Republic of China
Via facsimile: 861-065-205-316
Dear Minister Zhang:
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is writing once again to draw
your attention to the unjust imprisonment of South Korean photographer Jae
Hyun Seok, whose appeal may be heard later this month. Seok, a well-known
free-lance photojournalist who worked regularly for The New York Times and
Geo magazine, among other publications, was arrested in January in Shandong
Province while documenting the plight of North Korean refugees. On May 22,
he was sentenced to two years in prison on charges of human smuggling.
Seok's imprisonment is a matter of international concern, and was raised
this week during high-level talks between South Korean and Chinese
officials. South Korean foreign minister Yoon Young Kwan made a formal
request of his Chinese counterpart, Minister Li Zhaoxing, asking your
government to release Seok. This request was made on the sidelines of South
Korean president Roh Moo Hyun's state visit to Beijing, where talks have
centered on North Korea.
Chinese authorities arrested Seok on January 18, in Yantai, Shandong, while
he was photographing North Korean refugees attempting to board two fishing
boats bound for South Korea and Japan. Seok was documenting the boatlift
operation as a part of a journalistic project, according to colleagues and
friends who had spoken to him before he left for China.
CPJ believes Seok is still being held in Yantai Prison while he awaits his
appeal. Although he has had occasional access to legal counsel, he is not
allowed to receive other visitors, including family members.
As an independent organization of journalists dedicated to the defense of
our colleagues worldwide, CPJ urges your government to release Jae Hyun Seok
immediately and unconditionally. Seok has committed no crime under
international law. He was simply carrying out an important journalistic
obligation to report the news.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter. We await your
response.
Sincerely,
Ann K. Cooper
Executive Director
CC:
President Hu Jintao
Premier Wen Jiabao
Li Zhaoxing, Minister of Foreign Affairs
Kim Ha Joong, South Korean Ambassador to China
Han Sung Joo, South Korean Ambassador to the United States
Clark Randt, U.S. Ambassador to China
All-China Journalists Association
Human Rights in China
Seoul Foreign Correspondents Club
American Society of Newspaper Editors
Amnesty International
Article 19 (United Kingdom)
Artikel 19 (The Netherlands)
Canadian Journalists for Free Expression
Freedom Forum
Freedom House
Human Rights Watch
Index on Censorship
International Center for Journalists
International Federation of Journalists
International PEN
International Press Institute
Lorne W. Craner, United States Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human
Rights, and Labor
The Newspaper Guild
The North American Broadcasters Association
Overseas Press Club
Reporters Sans Fronti鑢es
Sergio Vieira de Mello, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
The Society of Professional Journalists
World Association of Newspapers
World Press Freedom Committee
(博讯boxun.com)
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