The World Association of Newspapers and World Editors Forum have called on China to immediately release three journalists who are being held in violation of Chinese laws against lengthy detentions without trial.

The journalists – two reporters and a photographer – were arrested in June 2007 after reporting on a case of corruption in the Communist Party. Chinese authorities failed to release them, as required by law, when the deadline to proceed with trial expired in December.

Reporters Qi Chonghuai and He Yanjie, and photographer Ma Shiping, were detained by police in the eastern  province of Shandong and charged with "blackmail" and "suspicion of deception". In a letter to Premier Wen Jiabao, the Paris-based WAN and WEF said they were concerned that the charges were fabricated "and the real reason for their arrests is their reporting activities."

The letter called for the immediate release of the trio, and of all other jailed journalists, under reforms promised in China's successful bid for the 2000 Summer Olympic Games.

China recently released three journalists, but at least 30 others and 50 cyber-dissidents are still held in Chinese prisons. The imprisonments are in contradiction of China's pledge, contained in its "Beijing Olympic Action Plan", to follow international standards and criteria.

Read the full letter to Premier Wen.

More information about WAN's campaign for the release of Chinese journalists can be found here.