By Haian Nayouf
New book on Voice of Tibet cannot be silenced
The French Reporters without Borders (RSF) has issued a new book on press freedom and freedom of speech in China. Entitled “Silenced: China’s Great Wall of Censorship,” the new book was written by Oystein Almeand Morten Vagen, and it takes the reader on a fascinating and disturbing trip behind the scenes of censorship in China. It also tells the story of Voice of Tibet, the radio station China couldn’t silence.
In China and Tibet freedom of speech and opinion is suppressed, said RSF in a press release on its website.
“No dissident voices are tolerated, and all media and communication channels are controlled and used as tools in the Party’s quest to maintain its power monopoly,” they added.
The book shows how many are demanding more openness and freedom, warning that the ongoing media crackdown is “sowing the seeds of disaster for political and social transition.”
Furthermore, the book says that China is approaching a crossroads: Will the Communist Party elite allow the masses more freedom, or will they continue to “strike hard”? Does access to the Internet, mobile phones and foreign broadcasts empower the people and provide tools for change, or will censorship and fear continue to rule the Chinese and Tibetan people?
A free CD-ROM follows the book, containing more pictures, audio and video recordings.
The Index for Free Expression found last year that approximately an eighth of China’s Internet cafes have recently been closed down by the Chinese authorities.
Between October and December 2004 the official Chinese news agency reported that 12,575 were closed down. They said this was to create a “safer environment for young people in China.”
Most of the cafes were found to be illegal under laws introduced in 2002, which stopped them from operating less than 200 meters from elementary and middle schools.
