Apple Computer subcontractor sues journalists for critical report on working
conditions

(RSF/IFEX) - The following is an RSF open letter to Steve Jobs, Apple
Computer CEO:

Dear Mr. Jobs,

Reporters Without Borders, an organisation that defends press freedom
throughout the world, urges you to intercede with your [IPod] subcontractor
in China, the Taiwanese company Foxconn, and get it to drop its lawsuit
against reporter Wang You and editor Weng Bao of China Business News (Diyi
Jingji Ribao).

These two journalists were responsible for an article on 15 June criticising
work conditions at a Foxconn plant. At Foxconn's request, the Shenzen
intermediate people's court froze their assets - apartments, bank accounts
and cars - on 10 July. Foxconn then brought a lawsuit accusing them of
"smearing its reputation" and demanding 30 million yuan (3 millions euros)
in damages.

We know that Apple is already aware of this case. After the London-based
Daily Mail newspaper ran a story about it on 11 June, your company reacted
by investigating conditions at Foxconn's plants and discovered that your
supplier had indeed violated several aspects of your code of conduct,
including those concerning the length of the working week and days off.

We believe that all Wang and Weng did was report the facts and we condemn
Foxconn's reaction. We therefore ask you to intercede on behalf of these two
journalists so that their assets are unfrozen and the lawsuit is dropped.

We trust you will give this matter your careful consideration.

Sincerely,

Robert M¨¦nard
Secretary-General
Reporters Without Borders

For further information, contact Vincent Brossel at RSF, 5, rue Geoffroy
Marie, Paris 75009, France, tel: +33 1 44 83 84 70, fax: +33 1 45 23 11 51,
e-mail: , Internet: http://www.rsf.org

http://www.peacehall.com/news/gb/eng...08300446.shtml