Chinese writers send Communist Party open letter on press freedom

February 17, 2006

A group of writers for a recently suspended supplement of a mass circulation Chinese newspaper on Friday wrote an open letter to the Standing Committee of the Communist Party criticizing press crackdowns. Thirteen contributors to the weekly ''Freezing Point'' in the China Youth Daily posted their two-page letter on overseas websites to get the attention of party leaders, said Peking University law professor and chief letter writer He Weifang.