At least 210 journalists and intellectuals have signed an open letter calling for the impeachment and resignation of Hubei governor Li Hongzhong, who hit the headlines last week for snatching a recorder from a journalist on the sidelines of the National People's Congress.
The letter, which began to circulate yesterday, said many were further disappointed by Li's refusal to apologise. Li said earlier that he snatched the recorder because he was not sure about the identity of the reporter as she stuttered when asked about the media she represented.
But media reports said Li angrily grabbed the recorder from Beijing Times journalist Liu Jie after he was asked about the case of pedicurist Deng Yujiao , who stabbed an official to death for trying to rape her. The incident is a public embarrassment to the Hubei government.
The letter described Li's action as a 'violent and gross display'.
'Judging from Li Hongzhong's statements and actions, he has forsaken civilised politics and approaches his civic duty with ego and arrogance. In the incident of the snatching of the pen recorder, the victim by and far is not just the one reporter involved,' it said.
Among those who signed the unusually harsh letter were famous blogger Bei Feng , writer Sha Yexin , journalists Chang Ping and Guo Yukuan , and academics Cui Weiping and Hu Yong . It said Li's poor governance had led to series of public order crisis in Hubei last year, including a riot in Shishou city in June.