British journalist detained by Beijing police after covering Free Tibet protest

British journalist detained by Beijing police after covering Free Tibet protest

www.guardian.co.uk

Police in Beijing roughed up and detained a British journalist after he covered a Free Tibet protest close to the city's main Olympic zone earlier today.

The incident appeared to be the clearest breach yet of the host nation's promise of free media access during the Games.

John Ray, of Independent Television News, said he was pinned down by police, dragged along the ground and pushed into a police van.

He said the authorities had also confiscated his equipment, pulled off his shoes, filmed him and accused of trying to unfurl a Tibetan flag.

(visit the link for the full news article)


Related News Links:
www.timesonline.co.uk
www.telegraph.co.uk

This journalist clearly had no involvement in the protest, yet was dragged to the ground, had his equipment confiscated and was accused of trying to unfurl a Tibetan flag. Man, the Chinese are really trying to stop the media covering the protests.

Authorities say demonstrators are breaking Chinese laws and are not protesting in designated areas.

This sounds a bit like the designated 'free speech zones' in the US and areas where protest is banned in the UK. It appears the whole world is going the in the same direction....

www.guardian.co.uk
(visit the link for the full news article)