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.
The man argued that he was not doing anything wrong since the Chinese Epoch Times is a free newspaper. But the newspaper’s management says taking over 35 of its newspapers and throwing them in the garbage is not reasonable, even if the paper is free.
Cases of newspaper theft and vandalism of Chinese Epoch Times newspaper boxes have been reported in most major cities in North America, including Montreal, Toronto, and New York. In a case in Los Angeles in February 2005, police arrested a man for removing over 1,000 newspapers daily from boxes.
Prior to his arrest the man, identified as Mr. Lum, attempted to run over a Chinese Epoch Times cameraman with his pick-up truck. A dramatic 10-minute armed standoff with police ensued before the man was arrested.
In California it is unlawful for anyone to remove, take, or appropriate more than 25 copies of the current issue of a free or a complimentary newspaper if done with the intent to deprive others of the opportunity to read or enjoy the newspaper.
The perpetrator in Vancouver was issued a stern warning—should he commit a crime against the Chinese Epoch Times in the future, the newspaper would lay charges.
“The man involved was spoken to and understood that he could be charged with an offence if he commits a crime against The Epoch Times,” said Constable Lindsey Houghton, Vancouver police media relations officer, in an e-mail.
Ms. Liao says her office often receives tips from readers and members of the community regarding people who have been seen either vandalizing boxes, using the paper for purposes other than reading, and/or stealing papers.
She believes it is very important for those involved in damaging her business and the rights of their readers and advertisers to receive a warning. “The most important thing for us is that we want them to stop,” she said.
Ms. Liao also thanked the police and public for their assistance and hopes they can help the Chinese Epoch Times to prevent further incidents.
“The Epoch Times is valuable,” she says. “Only in The Epoch Times can people find the valuable info related to everyone in China … they do business there. They want to know what is really going on.”
“Most people believe that people have a right to read the newspaper,” she said.
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