Magazine criticising Li Peng seized (China)

scmp ^ | January 5, 2002 | JASPER BECKER in Beijing

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All copies of a magazine containing an article attacking the wealth of National People's Congress chairman Li Peng and his family have been confiscated.

Copies of the November 24 edition of Securities Weekly were seized before vendors could sell them. The magazine is a weekly economic journal with a circulation of about five million. It is run by the China Securities Market Design and Co-ordination Office.

Sources who have seen the offending article say it was written by Ma Hailin, an officer in the People's Armed Police, and that he had since been arrested. It reported allegations against Mr Li and his family relating to the privatisation of China's power sector.

Mr Li spent years of his career in the state-run power industry and his wife, Zhu Lin, has also held several influential posts in the industry.

"We ran a letter saying the article was in part baseless and misleading," said Lao Sheng, a Securities Weekly staff member.

Ten days ago, Ms Zhu took the unusual step of publicly denying she owned any shares, bonds or companies.