China breaks word, censors world media
We read:
"Communist officials have outraged the International Olympic Committee and the world's media by barring unfettered access to the internet -- reneging on a key pre-Games promise to open China's doors to the world. Having already restricted access to Tiananmen Square during the Games, which begin in eight days, China yesterday brazenly defied the IOC and admitted it would censor the internet.
International media were yesterday unable to access websites connected to the Falun Gong, Amnesty International or the Tiananmen Square massacre.
IOC officials, led by Australia's Kevan Gosper, were last night trying to resolve the furore but Chinese officials were unrepentant. "It was my express belief that there would be open, free and uncensored access to the internet during the Games," Mr Gosper told The Australian.
Beijing officials insisted the media had all the internet access they needed. "Our promise was that journalists would be able to use the internet for their work during the Olympic Games. So we have given them sufficient access to do that," said Sun Weide, spokesman for the Olympic organising committee.
Source
Communists will be Communists, I guess. It's a good reminder of what they are, though. Those murderous old guys are not letting go.
13 comments:
Ancient Chinese Saying: "Do not expect a cat to bark."
Anyone who thought the Chinese government would be "more open" as a result of hosting the Olympic Games is a fool at best. The Chinese government is all about keeping the Chinese people under control, not about impressing the international community. They couldn't give a flea's ass about whether the world is outraged at their human rights abuses, let alone whether some journalists have access to the Internet.
They said what they did in order to get the Olympics to be there. Now that it's too late to move elsewhere they're going to tighten the screws any way they like.
well, technically it was no lie at all...
The press will get the internet access they need to report their stories about the sports events, which pretty much means they can email home :)
I don't see how access to porn sites and news about anti-government groups in China would be relevant to sports reporters, but maybe that's just me.
The Olympic Games is more for the glorification of the country hosting it than the glory of sport - (eg. Hitler's propaganda exercise - and now China's)
Is this any different than our media being controlled by the Left? Why no complaints about that?
The Olympics are supposed to be non-political. Why in the world the committee ever granted them to a place like China I'll never understand. But, since they did it, the only real solution is to pull the Olympics out of China. Yep - cancel them altogether. I realize that will make a lot of people unhappy, and be devistating for the athetes. But the committee needs to make a stand. Either play by the rules or don't play. Just because Hitler got away with it is no reason to let every other country do whatever they want irregardless of the regulations. At the very least it will make future Olympic sites sit up & take notice.
BTT
It is pompous of us to expect American style freedom outside of America. If you intend to be in a foreign country, exoect to play by there rules. Our Constitution does not trump their sovereignty.
Yeah, I know - "their"
well, technically it was no lie at all...
"China's insistence on Internet censorship violates assurances given to the IOC at various points, most recently in April. "We were satisfied by the assurances we received across a number of areas -- media service levels, including Internet access, brand protection, environmental contingency plans for improved air quality, and the live broadcast feed," said IOC Coordination Commission Chairman Hein Verbruggen [cq] during his final pre-games visit to Beijing in April. "
Source: http://www.networkworld.com/news/2008/073108-ioc-caves-to-china-internet.html
China had promised unfettered access to the internet by news agencies and now has gone back on that promise. In fact, the agreement was that the access was the same or greater than that of the Sydney and Athens games.
I don't see how access to porn sites and news about anti-government groups in China would be relevant to sports reporters, but maybe that's just me.
The start of the marathon - the signature and final event of the Olympics - starts in Tiananmen Square. How can you cover the start of that race without mentioning or examining the history of the site? Yet the Chinese have blocked access to sites mentioning the 1989 protests and deaths, as well as blocked access to filming in the square, as well as interviewing anyone in the square as well as ariel photography of the square.
The Olympics do not happen in a vacuum. Do you not remember Cathy Freeman in the Sydney Olympics? She was the last torch bearer before the lighting of the official Olympic flame. She is also an Aboriginal woman - a group of people that had been treated less than fairly in Australia's past. Yet her being given the honor of lighting the torch highlighted that Australia was trying to move forward while acknowledging the past. Without the context of who Cathy Freeman is, no one would have known outside of Australia what the signifigance of her climbing the stairs was. Think about how differently the story of her ascent and honor would have been if websites talking about the history of the Aborigial people, and the injustices they have endured were blocked.
It will never happen, but the games should stop right now. The atheletes should ban together and agree that they will not participate in the openning ceremonies. No ruler or leader of any nation should go either.
Another headline said it best "In China, Freedom's Just Another Word for Nothing Left to Choose."
if only Obama would go talk to them, then they would change their ways
"if only Obama would go talk to them, then they would change their ways"
Yea. But can Obama say merci beaucoup in Cantonese?
"How can you cover the start of that race without mentioning or examining the history of the site?"
If the Games are unpolitical, no political commentary should be part of such a "history of the site", and I'm sure the ChiComs allow access to tourist information :)
Of course any reporter worth his pay would do any such research well in advance, not a few hours before the start of the event, and most likely have his "background" stories recorded already, ready to air at any time.
During the Moscow games stories about the Soviet system were aired as part of coverage despite there being no internet at all.
If those reporters are any good they'll know what to do before they set out...
I don't like the ChiComs one bit, and have been opposed to them hosting the games since before the IOC chose them, but I see no need for those press weenies to have any internet access at all except for email so they can send reports home and maybe VOIP so they can call home without having to use expensive hotel phones or satphones.
Millions of people get by with less, until recently they wouldn't have had even as much, and anything that prevents press mosquitoes from ruining an event by introducing unrelated stuff is a good thing IMO.
If the Games are unpolitical, no political commentary should be part of such a "history of the site",
The games are not "unpolitical." They never have been.
Of course any reporter worth his pay would do any such research well in advance,
For general background that would be true. However, for up to the minute stories, commentary and other incidents, that would not be the case.
During the Moscow games stories about the Soviet system were aired as part of coverage despite there being no internet at all.
While I understand what you are saying, the fact of the matter is that those stories were prepared when newsrooms kept large archives of files and photos in file cabinets. Those archives have changed now. The access to information has changed now.
but I see no need for those press weenies to have any internet access at all except for email so they can send reports home and maybe VOIP so they can call home without having to use expensive hotel phones or satphones.
You do realize, of course, that this goes far beyond "press weenies." This was a promise made by the Chinese government that was clearly broken. They have also issued strict rules on spectators that were contrary to original agreements with the IOC.
prevents press mosquitoes from ruining an event by introducing unrelated stuff is a good thing IMO.
What is "unrelated?" I am not sure that I agree that the history of a city or a venue is "unrelated." After all, that history was a part of the bid for the Olympics itself. Is the story of an atheletes life "unrelated?"
The bottom line to me is that the Chinese made an agreement and have now broken it. While they have nacked off somewhat, their breaking the agreement is still not acceptable.
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