Foreign Media in China Harassed on Tibet

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS | The New York Times
April 07, 2008

Western reporters in China have received harassing phone calls, e-mails and text messages, some with death threats, supposedly from ordinary Chinese complaining about alleged bias in coverage of recent anti-Chinese protests in Tibet.

The harassment began two weeks ago and was largely targeted at foreign television broadcasters, CNN in particular. But the campaign broadened in recent days after the mobile phone numbers and other contact information for reporters from The Associated Press, The Wall Street Journal and USA Today were posted on several Web sites, including a military affairs chat site.

''The Chinese people don't welcome you American running dog. Your reports twist the facts and will suffer the curse of heaven,'' said one e-mail received by the AP. One text message said: ''One of these days I'm going to kill you.''

Those sending the messages and making the calls say they are ordinary Chinese, a claim that could not be verified.

Spokesmen for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the government's State Council Information Office and the national police ministry did not respond to telephone calls and faxed questions Monday seeking comment about the threats.

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