BEIJING, China – China has announced that it will ban Internet video Web sites that are not run by the government, further tightening its grip on the Internet.

China already outlaws criticism of the state. Starting January 31, only state-owned or state-controlled companies can apply for a government permit for Internet broadcasting licenses to use video programming or allow users to upload videos.

The new regulations state: “Those who provide Internet video services should insist on serving the people, serve socialism…and abide by the moral code of socialism.” Websites will not be allowed “to offer material that promotes sex, violence, gambling, religious cults or reveals state secrets,” and providers are required to report questionable content to the government.

These new rules mark a fresh attempt by the Chinese government to limit the internet habits of its increasingly web-savvy population. For decades, officials have been able to ensure that traditional media, including television and newspapers, conform to what they believe Chinese people should know.

China is the world’s second-largest Internet market by users. It already blocks sites such as Amnesty International, and limits the scope of the Google Inc. search engine to exclude anti-government sites on its pages in China.

The status of sites such as YouTube, a popular video-sharing site, remains in question. Few analysts, however, expect popular Chinese video-sharing sites to disappear after January 31.

For more information, please see:

ABC News (AP) – China Limits Providers of Internet Video – 3 January 2008

The New York Times – CHINA: Restrictions on Web Video and Audio – 4 January 2008

Forbes – China Clamps Down On Internet Video – 3 January 2008

By Juliana Chan
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

SEOUL, South Korea – Kim Woo-choong, 71, the founder and former chairman of the collapsed conglomerate Daewoo Group, was pardoned Monday under a traditional New Year amnesty. Mr. Kim was one of 75 people to receive a presidential pardon. Others, including businessmen and six death-row inmates, received reduced sentences or had suspended rights restored.

Daewoo, which was once the country’s second largest conglomerate, collapsed in the 1997-1998 Asian financial crisis with over $80 billion in debt and leaving the South Korean government to spend over $32 billion to rescue its component companies. Mr. Kim fled the country in 1999 and has been accused of “ordering his executives to inflate the group’s assets between 1997 and 1998 to obtain bank loans.” He returned in 2005 from Vietnam “to make peace with his past.” He was arrested soon after landing.

Mr. Kim was convicted of accounting fraud that involved borrowing illegal loans from banks, as well as smuggling funds overseas. He was sentenced to prison for eight and a half years in 2006 for embezzlement and accounting fraud. One month later, however, the court suspended the sentence because of Mr. Kim’s health issues.

The justice ministry said Monday’s presidential amnesty pardoned 21 businessmen, two former spy chiefs convicted of illegal wiretapping of political and business leaders, and six death-row inmates who had their sentences commuted to life imprisonment. South Korea has placed a moratorium on executions since the last hangings on December 30, 1997.

For more information, please see:

AFP – SKorea pardons tycoon over huge financial collapse: ministry – 31 December 2007

BBC News – South Korea pardons Daewoo boss – 31 December 2007

Financial Times – Korea pardons Daewoo fraudster – 1 January 2008

By Juliana Chan
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

BEIJING, China – In an attempt to “purge the nation’s airwaves of social pollution,” China communist government has banned television and radio advertisements for push-up bras, figure-hugging underwear, and sex toys.

This comes days after banning “sexually provocative sounds” on television.

According to the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT), among other targets are commercials featuring experts of famous people demonstrating the efficacy of medicines.

Further, this measure is just the latest in a slew of bans imposed by the government.  Other measures have included canceling reality shows featuring sex changes and plastic surgery, and banning advertisements for sexual aids that claim to boost performance in bed and talent contests during prime-time.

A SARFT notice explained that not only do these ads mislead consumers, harm people’s health, pollute the social environment, and corrupt social mores, it also affects the credibility of public broadcasting and the image of the Communist Party and the government.  Tian Jin, the deputy head of the regulator, said that advertisement management and television stations must reinforce their political consciousness and responsibility to society.

This comes weeks before the 17th Party Congress meeting where national leaders are appointed and policy is set for the next few years.

For more information, please see:

Yahoo! News (AP) – China bans bra, underwear, sex toy ads – 30 September 2007

Reuters – Bra ads banned ahead of political party meet – 28 September 2007

FOX News – China Bans TV, Radio Ads for Bras, Underwear – 30 September 2007

By Kristy Tridhavee
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

AMCHOK BORA, China – The Chinese government has detained seven Tibetan high school students on suspicion of writing pro-Tibetan independence slogans on the walls of the Amchok Bora village police station and other buildings. The slogans called for the return of the Dalai Lama and a free Tibet.

Relatives that had last seen one of the teenagers reported he was beaten and was bleeding. The teenagers were first held in a police station in Amchok Bora, and were allowed to see their families. However, since then, the students have been moved to the town of Xiahe (Labrang). Since the move, officials in Xiahe have refused to reveal the students’ location, requests from their families to visit, or even to confirm that they are in custody. The state-controlled news media have also been silent on the case.

The names of five of the teenagers are Lhamo Tseten, age 15; Chopa Kyab, age 14; Drolma Kyab, age 14; Tsekhu, age 14; and a second Lhamo Tseten, age 15. The identity of two teenagers is unknown. The identity of the beaten teenager is also unknown. The students attend school in Xiahe (Labrang) county, Gannan prefecture in Gansa province. The Gannan is one of China’s official “Tibetan autonomous” areas.

In 1950 China took control of the Himalayan region in China. In 1959 the Dalai Lama and thousands of his followers fled to India during a failed revolt against the Chinese government. Since then, China has refused to allow the Dalai Lama to return. He is revered as Tibetan Buddhism’s highest spiritual authority.

The arrest of the teenagers has sparked criticism by the New York group, Human Rights Watch. Brad Adam, Asia director of Human Rights Watch, said “Arresting teenagers for a political crime shows just how little has changed inTibet. Beating up a child for a political crime shows just how far hina has to go before it creates the ‘harmonious society’ China’s leaders talk so much about.”

Tension between Chinese officials and Tibet residents has grown more strained as the two parties continue to disagree over issues from cultural and religious policies, forced resettlement of Tibetan herders, environmental degradation, replacement of Tibetan cadres with ethnic Chinese ones, and increased migration of ethnic Chinese settlers to traditionally Tibetan regions.

China is a State Party to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The UN of Convention on the Rights of the Child calls for children’s right to freedom of expression and demands that no child should be subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, or detained unlawfully or arbitrarily. If children are legally should be held as only a matter of last resort and for the shortest period of time. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child also insists that while in detention, children should have the right to contact their families and have legal assistance.

For more information, please see:

BBS News – Teenage Students Held Incommunicado for Graffiti – 23 September 2007

The NY Times –Tibet: Teenagers Held for Pro-Independence Slogans – 26 September 2007

Taipei Times (AFP) – Seven High School Boys Detained for Pro-Tibet Slogans – 22 September 2007

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights –  Convention on the Rights of the Child

Voice of America – Human Rights Watch Urges China to Release Tibetan Students – 20 September 2007

YANGON, Myanmar- Thousands of monks and protesters defied government directives today and continued protesting.  In response, Myanmar military forces fired warning shots in the air, beat the monks, dragged them into police trucks, and used tear gas on the crowd.

Earlier today, the protesters had started a large march toward the city center and the famous Shwedagon Pagoda- this is where the confrontation started.  Other protester were greeted by warning shots at the Sule Pagoda.

According to hospital sources, one person was killed by the gunfire and five other injured.

The world community continues to react.  The United Kingdom’s Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, called for an immediate UN Security Council meeting, stating that there will be no impunity for human rights violators.

The Canadian Press – Buddhist monks, protesters defy Myanmar junta’s ban on assembly – 26 September 2007

Agenzia Giornalistica Italia – Myanmar (Burma): Tear Gas Used on Monks, Dozens Arrested – 26 September 2007

BBC News – Burmese riot police attack monks – 26 September 2007

Asia Times Online – Buddha vs the barrel of a gun – 26 September 2007

Impunity Watch – Myanmar: Curfew Imposed, Assembly Banned – 25 September 2007