A journalist from China Central Television (CCTV) was beaten by workers at a coking plant in North China's Shanxi Province on Wednesday, the State Environmental Protection Administration said.

Xu Xiangyu, who was travelling with a pollution inspection team sent by the administration, was grabbed by his collar by the plant boss. The plant boss then asked him to hand over his camera. Xu was taking pictures at the Xuanbao coking plant in Baode County at 3:30 pm.

The plant was thought to have been polluting.

Although Xu showed his press card, the boss, who was unnamed by the administration, snatched Xu's camera and ordered his workers to beat Xu, an administration source said.

One of the workers hit Xu with a shovel and some threw coal balls at him. It was more than 10 minutes later that inspectors, who were alerted by the noise, stopped the workers, the administration told China Daily.

The camera was not reclaimed until Vice-County Magistrate Hao Zhongrong and county bureau director of environmental protection Zhang Jie arrived.

Pan Yue, vice-minister and spokesman of the State Environmental Protection Administration, has urged environmental inspectors on the front lines to try their best to protect journalists who cover environment news.

Meanwhile, the China Forum of Environmental Journalists yesterday issued a statement asking for a quick response from the local governmental and punishment of those responsible.

Close

Today's Top News		Top National News
+Deals on US goods cut trade imbalance ( 2003-11-13) +Chinese and Indian navies take to the water together ( 2003-11-13) +UN grants US$95m to help war on AIDS ( 2003-11-13) +3 children die in mass poisonings ( 2003-11-13) +Quake kills child, 25 people hurt ( 2003-11-14)		+Television reporter attacked in Shanxi ( 2003-11-14) +Bush: Sino-US relationship important to the world ( 2003-11-14) +Cultural heritage needs protection ( 2003-11-14) +Commentary: Don't let hopes go to the clouds ( 2003-11-14) +Math-test error + refusal to admit it = face-saving culture ( 2003-11-14)