Standard, HK: [The Epoch Times] newspaper claims Beijing clampdown as it nears final deadline

Staff reporter

Weekend: May 14-15, 2005

The [The Epoch Times] said Friday's edition of The Epoch Times could be its last for some time, and accused Beijing of clamping down on free speech.

In a front page report Friday, the newspaper claimed the printer had come under threat by the central government. It also said the international journalist group Reporters Sans Frontieres has declared its full support for the newspaper, as have many local readers who have telephoned the editorial office.

It quoted the journalists' group as saying the suppression of the newspaper was also the ''suppression of an independent voice.''

In a full-page letter on the back page, it initiated a signature campaign, calling on readers to support its continued publication.

Various commentaries carried by the paper Friday were also highly critical of the central government.

Chief editor Amy Chu said earlier the group had approached about a dozen local printers without success and had looked at printing offshore.

If it does not find a printer this weekend, it will be forced to suspend publication, as well as its Web site, from Monday.

The freesheet, launched in 2001, is published five days a week with a print run of 50,000.

It has a number of Falun Gong practitioners on its editorial staff.

http://www.thestandard.com.hk/stdn/std/Metro/GE14Ak06.html