|
September 2, 2007 (Sunday) － Issue No. 116 |
|
|
Chinese Regime Tightens Its Media Control |
|
|
FBI
Questions Chinese Student Leaders at Eastern U.S. Universities |
|
|
|
|
|
Hong
Kong Tourist Spot Records Over 5000 CCP Withdrawals in a Half Year |
| CCTV
Airs Special Documentary Series—'Believe in Made in China' Faced with criticism from the international society, the CCP claimed the criticism to be "demonizing" the products made in mainland China, and "loud demands made by politicians."....…Full Article |
|
San Diegans Support 25 Million Chinese in Their Struggle for Freedom These two Chinese words are "Tui Dang," which mean “quit the party.” These two words have sparked the daily withdrawal of an average of 30,000 Chinese people from the CCP. The CCP not only controls what people can do and say, it also manipulates how the world's people perceive it......…Full Article |
|
|
According to the Hong Kong-based Information Center for Human Rights and Democracy, China has further tightened its control over media in the run-up to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)'s 17th National Congress. It is estimated that over one hundred radio stations throughout the country have been shut down. In Nanjing City alone, there have been 12 radio stations that have been shut down, as authorities are concerned that the contents of their programs could possibly incite politically-fueled incidents in the run-up to the 17th National Congress—local radio talk show listeners cited recent topics regarding sex and the supernatural. Ex-China Ocean News reporter, Zan Aizong from Zhejiang Province, said that whenever there was an important meeting convening in China, the government would tighten its media control before and after the event. "Some programs would be heavily edited in the run-up to every CCP National Congress, often by adding many advertisements," said Zan. "But after the National Congress concluded, programming would return to normal. Before the 16th National Congress convened, a friend of mine working at a radio station once informed me that programming would be cleaned up." The Hong Kong-based Information Centre for Human Rights and Democracy added that since last July, the Chinese government has stepped up efforts to jam the broadcast of programs from overseas radio stations. It is believed that the Chinese military has been involved with this large-scale jamming operation, and the operation is expected to last until the end of the 17th National Congress. "The jamming operations have been around for a long time," said Zan. "For instance, when I lived in Beijing a couple of years ago, I couldn't access programs from overseas radio stations whatsoever. It was impossible to tune in to these stations. Only those who live in remote farm villages may be able to tune in to them, as the space is so vast and so expansive that the jamming would be less effective. As a result, people might be able to access the on-line programs, yet the jamming is always there. As much as they are able, they will never let the so-called 'unwanted voices' be heard in China." In terms of the effectiveness of the Chinese government tightening its control over media in the run-up to every important meeting or holiday in China, Zan thinks it is limited. "The Chinese
people are not idiots. The Chinese authority has lied for so long.
At this point, people wouldn't believe anything it said even if it
wasn't jamming these signals," said Zan of the Chinese authority's
effectiveness in controlling the media. "People are fed up with
the programs broadcast by China National Radio and the China Central
Television as well as the coverage of the People's Daily and the Xinhua
News Agency. The Chinese people have awakened."Zan added that
nowadays with the Internet, text messages and simple word of mouth
have become popular methods of conveying information in Chinese society.
He says that people now find out what's important through their computers
and cell phones. As a result, they no longer rely on the official
government media.
Back On Aug. 22, Mr. Xu Shuiliang, chief editor of the Chinese Net Digest, and a senior democracy activist, told The Epoch Times that in the past couple of months, the FBI has interviewed several leaders of Chinese Student and Scholar Associations (CSSA) at universities throughout the eastern United States. The FBI also sent out many undercover agents to the universities. Currently almost every leader of a CSSA in the eastern U.S. universities is under surveillance. Mr. Wang from New York City (who refused to disclose his full name) told the reporter that in the last few days, because of the pressure from the FBI's investigation, several of Beijing's special agents who were stationed at the Chinese associations in New York have escaped to China. Mr. Xu said when the FBI started investigating similar cases in the past, Chinese special agents who were undercover among democracy activists also fled back to China. This time the FBI's investigation was very intense, and Beijing's special agents were especially intimidated. Mr. Xu said the FBI was apparently paying more attention to the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) special agents. This is a result of independent news sources, like The Epoch Times , exposing the CCP's secret activities in the United States. Mr. Xu said that Americans can't fully understand how evil the CCP can be, and hence independent media needs to continue to expose it. This will help the United States take action against the special agents and learn more about the real situation of the CCP and China. Leaders of CSSA Are the CCP's Undercover Special Agents Mr. Xu said almost all CSSAs are under the control of Chinese Consulates and become part of the CCP special organizations. The CSSAs are not officially connected to the CCP but they work under the cover of social recreational activities. This dates back to when the CCP was established, as it has always used underground groups such as union workers or students to achieve its goals. FBI's Investigation Shocks the CCP Special Agents Mr. Xu thinks FBI's movements have had a major effect on stopping the CCP's special agents. Many Chinese students wish to stay in the United States after they finish studying. Once the US government discovers their activities and takes measures, the students' study and career will be in jeopardy. Hence the FBI's investigation intimidates the leaders of the CSSAs. Independent Chinese Media Reports Gain FBI's Attention The FBI recently put an advertisement in a Chinese newspaper that circulates in San Francisco, trying to collect information on CCP special agents' illegal activities from the Chinese population. On July 26, 2007, FBI Director Robert Mueller said at a hearing at the US Congress, that China's espionage is creating a substantial threat to the United States. Mr. Xu thinks the FBI's attention on China's special agents comes from The Epoch Times ' on-going efforts to expose them. Mr. Xu believes
that although the FBI has been keeping an eye on the CCP's activities
in the United States and it's movement among the students, they don't
really know how the CCP works. The FBI didn't expect or realize that
the CCP could be this evil, or that it turned so many people into
its agents in America. The Epoch Times' reports have the attention
of the US government and the FBI. Back According to several Chinese media outlets, Xue Liang, the spokesman for China's Ministry of Agriculture told reporters that as of August 22, outbreak of the highly pathogenic blue-ear pig disease had spread through 26 provinces, infecting 257,000 pigs. 68,000 pigs have died of the disease and 175,000 of animals thought to be carriers were caught and killed. The epidemic is worse in regions along China's Yangtze River. Xue claimed that despite the epidemic, China pays much attention to the prevention and control of the blue-ear pig disease. At the beginning of May of this year, the Ministry of Agriculture worked with 12 companies to quickly produce vaccines in an urgent campaign to stop the spread of blue-ear. Officials report that the epidemic is currently under control nationwide. But specialists say that no effective vaccines have yet been discovered for blue-ear. In fact, some experts suspect that the disease currently seen throughout China is not blue-ear at all. Professor Steven McOrist from the Department of Veterinary at the University of Nottingham in England explains that while the blue-ear virus can make animals sick, the disease doesn't normally cause death. The World Organization for Animal Health in Paris claimed that China refused to provide their labs' tissue samples from the sick pigs, and they believe that the CCP's behaving in the manner is irresponsible. The organization fears that the disease could spread to other countries, harming farmers everywhere, or worse. While the head
of the Center for Animal Disease Prevention in China, Zhang Zhongqiu,
said the highly pathogenic blue-ear pig disease won't harm people
like SARS did, not everyone is convinced. Back Since The Epoch Times published the series of social commentaries titled Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party in November of 2004, as of August 18, 2007, the number of withdrawal declarations registered on the Epoch Times website has surpassed 25 million. Even though the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has poured a tremendous amount of resources into preventing The Nine Commentaries and the news about the withdrawals from spreading in China, both still manage to spread throughout the country through various channels. Recently, a CCP Withdrawal Service Center at Victoria Peak in Hong Kong reported that it has recorded over 5000 withdrawals within half a year. Everyday, tens of thousand of visitors pour into Hong Kong from mainland China for shopping and sightseeing. Not long ago, the Global Service Centers to Quit the CCP (GSCQCCP) set up over a dozen centers at tourist attractions throughout Hong Kong in order to assist mainland tourists with quitting the CCP, Communist Youth League (CYL), and the Young Pioneers. The one established at Victoria Peak is one of these. Before 6 o'clock every evening, volunteer helpers such as Zhou Shen and Aunt Liao will arrive at the service site pushing a small cart. They then start setting up photo and television displays, and handing out materials such as copies of The Nine Commentaries. Their goal is to persuade tourists from the mainland to withdraw from the CCP. Each day, Zhou Shen tells the visitors, "The CCP has already murdered over eighty million of its own people. Withdraw from the Communist Party now to ensure your own well-being and safety!" She is one of the youngest volunteer helpers among those who look after this center. "This service site has been here for over 5 years now," said Zhou, a Falun Gong practitioner herself, as she pointed at the crowded sea of tourists getting off tour buses for a glimpse of Hong Kong glittering in the night. "You will find more mainland visitors here than anywhere else." "The CCP is censoring information so the people don't know the truth. The CCP hasn't stopped murdering, and it hasn't stopped harvesting live organs from Falun Gong practitioners. We will continue to tell the truth to Chinese people here until the day those cruelties stop," said Zhou. After The Epoch Times published The Nine Commentaries in late 2004, the service site added it to their handout materials in order to help the Chinese people understand the evil nature of the CCP. At the same time, volunteers here started providing the service of helping visitors register their "three withdrawals" from the party on the spot. Visitors were very happy to hear that they can make their withdrawal declarations in Hong Kong. Some people have lived through other persecutions by the CCP, and they immediately withdrew from the party. For the large majority of people, the service center provides an alias for them, but some people actually make their declarations using their real names. The number of
people withdrawing from the CCP has grown rapidly. Last November,
this service site purchased a fairly thick notebook to keep records
of withdrawal declarations, including the name, date, and details
of the "three withdrawals." The notebook was quickly filled
and a second one was needed. They recently took a count, and the number
of withdrawals had already surpassed 5000.Even Zhou was very surprised
by this number. Back In response to recent criticism from the world about the quality of products made in China, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has begun airing a series of special documentaries in China called "Believe in Made in China." Recently the United States and some European countries have found recurring and serious safety problems with products made in China. Faced with criticism from the international society, the CCP claimed the criticism to be "demonizing" the products made in mainland China, and "loud demands made by politicians." The CCP has accused American products of having similar safety problems, and its official mouthpiece, the China Central Television (CCTV), has recently broadcasted a special series "Believe in Made in China." According to a People's Daily Online report, starting August 19, the Economy Channel of the CCTV began airing a week-long special series of programs during primetime. The program shown at 9:35 p.m. on August 19 was titled "Believe in Made in China," which was 90 minutes long. Foreign enterprise executives, and chamber of commerce representatives "highly praised" products made in China and their quality. 'Either Crackdown or Deny' Facing pressure from the international society, China's Ministry of Commerce recently unified their account to say that "the products made in China have been slandered." The AQSIQ director Li Changjiang claimed in the program that products exported from China are being "discriminated against" while the majority of these products actually met international standards. On August 23, the State Council Information Office held a press conference. The Assistant Minister Wang Chao of the Ministry of Commerce said at the conference that many factors from various countries are involved in China's manufacturing. If China's production encounters any damage, it will affect countries around the world. At the press conference, Vice Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng criticized the U.S. for violating its own court's ruling and its custom for 23 years that the U.S. would not initiate an anti-subsidizing investigation on countries with so-called "non-market economies." The Financial Times quoted Russell Leigh Moses, a Beijing-based academic as saying, "the default position of government officials is usually either to crackdown or to deny, and that is what these guys are doing." Internet Users Criticize CCTV's 'Believe in Made in China' In China where tainted products are everywhere, the CCTV appears to be saving face by slapping its own. Internet users in China have been responding with criticism: "Such an empty or pretentious language it is. Deceive oneself as well as others!" "I won't believe in it even if I am beaten to death!" "The slogan 'Believe in Made in China' is definitely a product made in China." On one Internet site, the following was posted: "That is China's biggest tragedy! It is a winner's manner to face oneself, acknowledge one's product quality and then work energetically to catch up with the level of the advanced world. But China is not doing this. Who would like to buy poor-quality products? Would you pay for low-quality goods? Would you like to buy products of inferior quality in the name of patriotism? Back San
Diegans Support 25 Million Chinese in Their Struggle for Freedom Back SAN DIEGO—"Totalitarianism literally means total power. It not only controls what people can do and say, it also manipulates how the world's people perceive it," said Chunlin Li of the San Diego Chapter of the Global Service Center for Quitting the CCP. "I don't deny that parts of China have certain amounts of material abundance, but you cannot deny that this abundance is built on the utmost social injustice." Li was one of many who spoke at a press conference held in Balboa Park on Saturday, August 25 to commemorate the 25 million people who have withdrawn from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Triggered in December of 2004 by the Epoch Times publication of a book entitled Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party, two words have been quickly spreading throughout China. These two Chinese words are "Tui Dang," which mean quit the party. These two words have sparked the daily withdrawal of an average of 30,000 Chinese people from the CCP. Although members are not allowed to quit, and historically all those who did suffered the most severe reprisal, the CCP has been impotent to retaliate due to the staggering number of withdrawals. Standing in front of Balboa Park's Lily Pond with rows of banners behind them, speakers told about the different elements that created the current state of China. While they covered topics ranging from tainted Chinese trade goods, human rights abuse, and tensions between China and Taiwan, many a passerby stopped to listen. "It's not right, it's slave labor, and it's a crime against humanity, period," said Robert Wiedenfeld as he listened to the presentation. "It's a tragedy that people have to live like that." Jian Hu, also from the San Diego Chapter of the Global Service Center for Quitting the CCP, discussed the state of China's economy. "In 2007 a mid-level Party official earns as many as 3 million Chinese dollars a year on top of his or her salary," said Hu. "About 3,000 Party princelings (the children of high ranking CCP officials) have gathered a wealth of two trillion Chinese dollars, an average of 670 million Chinese dollars each. About 0.4% of the Chinese population possesses 70% of the wealth of the whole nation." Hu continued to outline the corruption that permeates every level of the CCP's political system. He said that according to a survey done in August 2005 by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, roughly 4,000 party cadres have fled China, taking 50 billion US dollars with them. "In today's China, corruption runs rampant, natural resources are being used up, and natural disasters follow one after another," said Hu. "The CCP can no longer make ends meet, so in recent years they've had to speed up the printing of money, resulting in soaring prices." Hu concluded his speech by saying, "We hope all the kind-hearted people in the world will recognize the CCP for what it is and support the withdrawals from this mafia-like, terrorist regime. The Chinese Communist Party is not China, nor does it represent the Chinese people. Only a China without the communist party can be a responsible member of the international community." Back |
|
