Staff from the Chinese Epoch Times newspaper in Vancouver have been working overtime in recent weeks conducting stakeouts to catch vandals and newspapers thieves who appear to be bent on damaging their business.
This week a man was caught on camera removing stacks of newspapers from a box and throwing them in a nearby garbage bin. Last week, staff recorded a man on video taking entire bundles of newspapers home.
Chinese Epoch Times staff believes the paper is being targeted because some people don’t like their independence and uncensored approach.
Founded in 2000, the Chinese Epoch Times is an independent Chinese media that, unlike many other media, does not shy away from topics sensitive to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
Running their business has not been easy. Seen by the CCP and its supporters as a detractor, it has been a challenge for the Chinese Epoch Times to win advertising revenue from Chinese clients who worry about raising the ire of the Party. Despite a lack of real repercussions, Chinese are generally very sensitive to a perceived need to toe the party line.
And the Chinese Epoch Times, which is affiliated with English language and 15 other language editions globally, does not toe any economic or political lines. The Epoch Times prides itself on being broadminded, reporting fairly, and upholding human rights and freedoms should the need arise.
It was out of the desire to protect people’s right to read the Chinese Epoch Times that Vancouver general manager Christina Liao asked her staff to keep watch on a box at Victoria Street and 41st Avenue for vandals and thieves. In one week alone, staff members were forced to replace one box four times due to vandalism.
On March 11, Chinese Epoch Times distributor Ms. Sun witnessed a man removing piles of newspapers and throwing them in a garbage bin. Ms. Sun quickly took a picture and confronted the thief, saying, “Stop stealing newspapers” as she approached.
To her surprise the individual punched at her camera, damaging it, before fleeing. Ms. Sun followed the man into a nearby store where she called 911 and was able to talk to a Chinese-speaking police officer. She said that once the perpetrator realized she was speaking to the police, he swiped at the phone, knocking it to the ground.
