New reports of China Olympics censorship
p2pnet news view Politics | Freedom:- “This type of censorship would have been unthinkable in Athens, but China seems to have more formalities,” said Mihai Mironica, a journalist with ProTV in Romania.
“If journalists cannot fully access the Internet here, it will definitely be a problem.”
She’s quoted in an Associated Press article on the latest example of Chinese censorship blocking coverage of the Beijing Games.
Chinese Net police are, “keeping in place blocks on Internet sites in the Main Press Center and venues where reporters will work,” says the story, going on:
“The blocked sites will make it difficult for journalists to retrieve information, particularly on political and human rights stories the government dislikes. On Tuesday, sites such as Amnesty International or any search for a site with Tibet in the address could not be opened at the Main Press Center, which will house about 5,000 print journalists when the Games open Aug. 8.”
Says AP»»»
The censored Internet is the latest broken promise on press freedoms. In bidding for the Games seven years ago, Chinese officials said the media would have “complete freedom to report.” And in April, Hein Verbruggen and Kevan Gosper – senior IOC members overseeing the Games – said they’d received assurances from Chinese officials that Internet censorship would be lifted for journalists during the Games.
China routinely blocks Internet access to its own citizens.
Gosper, however, issued a clarification, says the story, adding he said the open Internet extended only to sites that related to “Olympic competitions.”
A 71-page Human Rights Watch report, “documents how foreign correspondents and their sources continue to face intimidation and obstruction by government officials or their proxies when they pursue stories that can embarrass the authorities, expose official wrongdoing, or document social unrest”.
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Associated Press- China reneges on promise of unblocked Net for Olympic journalists, July 30, 2008
intimidation and obstruction – China censoring Olympic coverage, July 30, 2008
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July 31st, 2008 at 12:10 pm
I’d say that between the censorship, the attempts at whitewashing an unwholesome polluted city and atmosphere, the ridiculous costs they have raised the internet service to in trying to keep the locals out of the reporter internet services, and the cost of obtaining entry into China, that the Olympic committee ought to have enough grounds to cancel the whole Olympic games for the year in China.
It should be marked up to a failed attempt to do the right thing, interfered with by politics. I know that I will not be interested in this year’s Olympic games, who wins, nor what they win. Call it a protest against China but I will not be viewing them. I have no interest in supporting this sort of government.
July 31st, 2008 at 3:18 pm
China is obviously betting that the IOC will be too weak to cancel the games, and they are right. Bunch of wimps.
August 1st, 2008 at 7:19 am
This is the year of the Chinese Olympics … where everybody loses.
August 14th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
You are there to report on the games and that is all ass!