Journalists are to come under the protection of the People's Courts
in Yunnan. Their freedom to pursue their legitimate role in
promoting the cause of public accountability will be guaranteed by
the courts at all levels. The news came in a recent announcement by
Zhao Shijie, president of the Higher People's Court of
Yunnan
Province.
Journalists will be backed by judicial protection in six key
areas:
- People's Courts will protect reporters who meet with abuse or
whose human rights come under attack when they are going about
their lawful business of gathering news or providing news coverage.
Those who violate these rights can expect prosecution followed by
punishment according to the law if found guilty.
- If journalists are obstructed by the tactics of whitewash and
cover-up, the People's Courts will uphold their investigative
rights to gather news.
- People's Courts will protect the legitimate rights and
interests of both media organizations and individual
journalists.
- In the event of a legal dispute between a media organization
and a party whose actions have been publicly exposed by that
organization, the People's Courts will seek a resolution of the
dispute through mediation. The outcome will be impartial and based
in law, and the media organization will have a right to have its
reputation protected.
- If journalists are subjected to false accusations as they carry
out their role of investigating and reporting, the People's Courts
will protect their legitimate rights and interests.
- People's Courts at all levels will work proactively with
journalists to support them in covering the work of the courts
especially where administration of justice is concerned. Obstacles
to routine reportage will be removed.
Zhao Shijie spoke of the differences in approach taken by the press
and the judicial system. They work in different ways and may well
apply different criteria in reaching a view on the rights and
wrongs of a particular case. What's more, different journalists may
report the same case quite differently.
Therefore the time has come for both the People's Courts and the
media to work towards establishing a proper balance between the
needs of the Press and those of an independent system of
justice.
A
green channel' is to be introduced in People's Courts at all levels
in Yunnan Province. This will facilitate press coverage of the work
of the courts themselves. When journalists encounter problems they
will now have access to a new mechanism for raising their concerns
or making suggestions. The courts will consider these and respond
within a prescribed time.
(China.org.cn translated by Zhang Tingting on June 23, 2003)