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A Danish reporter got a bit more than he bargained for during a Chinese state visit in Denmark when he tried to pass on a message to visiting Chinese regime leader Hu Jintao. The reporter was arrested by Danish police when he tried to hand out this flyer on the street. It has a picture of a Tibetan man self-immolating. The Chinese characters read: What do you want to do now Mr. Dictator?
The reporter is from Ekstra Bladet. His colleague, Dan Rasmussen, says local reporters have been surprised at how the Danish authorities have treated the press during Hu Jintao's visit.
[Dan Rasmussen, Reporter Ekstra Bladet]:
"This is not normal in Denmark—we have freedom of speech in Denmark so usually we can ask questions to anybody and we can say what's on our mind and say what we want to anybody."
The arrest was not the only instance of Danish authorities limiting the press during Hu's visit. The International Press Center under the Danish Foreign Affairs Ministry revoked press credentials for NTD to attend official events during Hu's trip. A press officer told NTD that the Chinese Embassy had to issue the credential--despite the fact that NTD is an independent media based in New York.
[NTD Public Relations Manager]:
"Is there any way we can get accreditation?"
[Ulrik Fonsmark Andreasen, Press Officer, Danish International Press Center]"
"No It's too late."
[NTD Public Relations Manager]:
"But we have applied already, we have applied on time."
[Ulrik Fonsmark Andreasen, Press Officer, Danish International Press Center]: 5:41
"But we can still consider you a Chinese media...so therefore...it has nothing to do with....yeah, it...it should go to the Chinese Embassy."
The embassy did not respond when Danish reporters tried to contact them.
[Dan Rasmussen, Reporter Ekstra Bladet]:
"We have not been able to get in contact with anybody, not even the Chinese Embassy. So what we would first of all like to speak with the President, and second of all ask them what they think of Danish police arresting one of our journalists."
Hu Jintao left Denmark on Saturday without speaking to any reporters. A delegation of more than 200 people accompanied Hu, and the trip concluded with new trade deals topping more than 3 billion US dollars.
NTD News, Copenhagen, Denmark.