By Hyo-Jin Paik
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia
BEIJING, China – Within the past week, Chinese intellectuals and a government news agency posted two similar media declarations on the Internet. Both declarations stated the need for more open media, acceptance of new media technologies, and interaction between journalists and audiences.
However, the “Internet Human Rights Declaration” drafted by 15 Chinese intellectuals stipulating ten specific items, including freedom of speech online, disappeared from online viewing soon after its first appearance.
Within two days, the Declaration had been blocked from viewing, and searches of the document on the web, including on China’s biggest search engine called Baidu.com, ended in failure. This is contrary to President Hu Jintao’s promise at the World Media Summit for more media freedom and protection.
Bei Feng, journalist and one of the drafters of the Declaration, said Chinese government’s increasing severity with Internet censorship is what prompted the drafting of the Declaration.
Ling Cangzhou, another journalist and drafter of the document said the Declaration’s purpose is to “bring the Chinese people’s attention to the current state of the internet and to stimulate thought on free speech and free media.” Ling added that the Declaration was drafted within the scope of China’s constitution.
Contrarily, others feel that China has made progress in protecting free speech online. For example, criticism of the government can now be found on the web as 300 million Internet users of China have newly but firmly established a culture of “Internet activism” where grievances towards the government are expressed online. Nevertheless, Chinese officials do maintain a tight control over the Internet, and they do block or filter certain sensitive keywords.
Although China has an iron grip over its web users, online freedom of speech is being encouraged by the authorities because it helps the officials gain a first-hand understanding of the current public sentiment.
Ironically, there has also been a new movement where Chinese bloggers, despite worries that this could give the authorities the leverage for stricter Internet censorship, are asking for greater government intervention online against those who spread false information online to protect individual’s rights.
For more information, please see:
Asia Times – China torn over Internet freedoms – 8 October 2009
Global Voices Advocacy – China’s Internet: Two Media Declarations – 15 October 2009
Guardian – So, Comrade, tell me: why did you censor my website? – 6 October 2009
