Traffic Police in Zhejiang Beat, Detain Editor After Newspaper Publishes Critical Report

More than 10 traffic police officers stormed a Communist Party newspaper office in Taizhou, Zhejiang province, and beat and detained Wu Xianghu, a deputy editor at the Taizhou Evening News, after a scuffle between Wu and a senior police officer over the paper's recent report about unreasonable traffic license charges, according to an October 22 South China Morning Post (SCMP) report (subscription required). A newspaper employee confirmed to the SCMP that the beating required Wu to be hospitalized for "severe injuries."

The beating, which was also reported in China's state controlled news media, including Xinhua, the Beijing News, and the Legal Evening News, occurred when Li Xiaoguo, a senior officer in the Jiaojiang traffic police department, went to Wu's office to confront him about an October 19 report on unreasonable charges associated with acquiring drivers' licenses in Taizhou's Jiaojiang district. Li claimed the article was false and demanded an apology. Wu explained that the article was accurate and the city's Communist Party Central Committee had examined and approved it for publication. A witness said the two began arguing, and heard Li exclaim, "Today I am not a policeman." The two began to scuffle, at which point Li then summoned his subordinates. At least 10 traffic police came to Wu's office and dragged him to the elevator, kicking him on the way down (Chinese news media reported "over 10" officers, but according to the SCMP, local officials confirmed that Li mobilized 40 to 50 police officers and about a dozen police cars to converge on the newspaper office).

The SCMP reported that the police continued to beat Wu while they took him to the police station, but the domestic news media said the police only held him in a police vehicle for five to six minutes. Both sources reported that the police released Wu as a result of exhortations from the newspaper's manager and editor-in-chief, and that authorities have suspended Li from duty pending an investigation.