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Hu `heckler' gives CCTV something to chew on

In an opinion piece published on May 3 ("Shouting for freedom, not heckling," page 8), it was noted that when Falun Gong practitioner and Epoch Times reporter Wang Wenyi (王文怡) interrupted the White House welcoming ceremony for Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤) in Washington on April 20, her protest was heard around the world.

As readers know, Wang was hauled away by White House security, arrested and charged with violating several US laws pertaining to visiting foreign dignitaries. Wang said at the time that she could not pass up an opportunity to confront Hu and US President George W. Bush over alleged reports that China was removing organs from living Falun Gong practitioners and selling them.

Wang, who faces a possible prison sentence of up to six months for shouting her outrage at Hu, also faces possible deportation back to China and a hefty fine, if convicted. A hearing for Wang's case in Washington has been postponed three times already, with the hearing now set for some time later this month.

However, Wang, changing tack, has now said she will press charges in a US court against a male reporter from China who was standing near her during her public protest. According to a report by Yi Ping in the Epoch Times, a Falun Gong newspaper, Wang has been charged under US law with "willfully intimidating, coercing, threatening and harassing a foreign official."

Wang plans to press charges against a Chinese Central TV (CCTV) reporter who allegedly assaulted her during her protest on the White House lawn.

"What [the CCTV reporter] did can be seen by everyone," Wang said in a recent statement.

"A real reporter would point his recorder and camera at me to collect breaking news. [But] he not only covered my mouth, grabbed my banner, and repeatedly pulled my arms, he also pressed the pressure points on my body, first on the left then on the right. Everyone can see this from the [video]," her statement said.

Wang plans to press charges against the Chinese national in Washington, noting in her statement that "I want to let the world see [how] reporters for the Chinese regime's CCTV [behave]. They not only serve as the mouth and voice of the Chinese communist regime, they also deprive people's freedom of speech at crucial moments, both in China and. overseas."

Dan Bloom is a freelance writer based in Chiayi.
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