Several journalists from international organisations were assaulted and intimidated recently, foreign press associations of China said on Tuesday, adding that the incidents were cause for growing concern.
In a statement, The Beijing-based FCCC, along with its sister organisations in Hong Kong and Shanghai, said the incidents represent a "clear risk of serious physical harm to journalists merely carrying out their professional duties in China."
On July 28, a Shanghai-based journalist from Japan's Asahi Shimbun was said to have been beaten by police while covering a demonstration in Jiangsu province. Equipment, reported to be worth thousands of dollars, was confiscated by authorities and hasn't been returned.
On August 10, policemen, apparently in civil dress, allegedly assaulted a reporter for Hong Kong's Asia Television as he filmed members of the public being arrested outside a courthouse in the eastern city, Hefei. The reporter was covering the murder trial of Gu Kailai.
A day later, a German television crew in Henan province was alleged to have been attacked by a mob, accused of being spies and detained for nine hours at a chemical factory before being released.
On August 13, two reporters from Poland and the US reporting in Ordos were intimidated.
{{/usCountry}}On August 13, two reporters from Poland and the US reporting in Ordos were intimidated.
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