Chang Ping, 42, was fired by the Southern Metropolis Daily. Censors also block his personal blog. A petition is launched on his behalf.

Guangzhou (AsiaNews/Agencies) – At least, 3,000 people have signed a petition protesting the dismissal of Chang Ping from the Southern Metropolis Daily. The authorities followed this by shutting down his blog.

Chang is known for his articles and liberal views on a wide range of politically sensitive issues, including democracy, media censorship, the failures of government policy and Tibet.

On 27 January, the Chang published a statement on the Internet saying he was fired from the Guangzhou-based Southern Metropolis Daily. The former editor, 42, did not lose heart but continued instead to write his blog on tianyi.com.

On Saturday though, he found that censors had blocked his blog as well. Online references to his articles and name were also deleted.

The journalist said that after he lost his job, his blog readership shot up in just a few days, topping 10,000.

Soon after, his friends launched an online petition, criticising his dismissal. So far, 3,000 people have signed it, including Ye Du, another Guangdong-based newspaperman, who simply wrote, “There is no press freedom in China.”

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