16 May 2011 | Asia and Pacific, China
Last Friday, a newspaper editorial musing on the missing artist Ai Weiwei was blocked online. The editorial, which was appeared in the Southern Metropolis Daily, marked the third anniversary of the Sichuan earthquake, an event that Ai investigated. The Guardian translated part of the editorial that reflected on Ai and the deaths of schoolchildren in the disaster:
On the day of mourning we called them home and wished them peace. We gathered together all the human evidence of them we could. We read their names together … We did so much, and yet we did too little … We can but present the steel zodiac, offer up porcelain sunflower seeds, symbolic memorials to your lives once so tangible.
The sunflower seeds clearly refer to Ai’s ongoing installation at Tate Modern. David Bandurski, editor of China Media Project pointed out that in a bold move, one of China news portals, Tencent, had republished the editorial on their online editorial pages. But today (May 16) the editorial can no longer be found on the site.
Last night Lu Qing, Ai’s wife, was taken to an undisclosed location and allowed to see her husband. During the 15 minute conversation she received assurances that Ai has access to his diabetes medication and is receiving regular food and care. He wasn’t in handcuffs and despite the fact that prisoners are usually shaved he still has his signature beard.
9 May 2011 | Asia and Pacific, China
China has set up a new office wielding the whip of internet censorship, as if current levels of online control weren’t enough.
China’s State Council Information Office (the government’s propaganda arm) said was creating a new agency, the State Internet Information Office, under its jurisdiction to control all facets of life on the web.
Its duties are manifold, ranging from directing online content management, licensing online news providers, online gaming, video, promoting major news websites, register domain names and managing online marketing for the government. It will also investigate websites and punish violators.
Responding to criticisms, an unnamed government officer was quoted by the State news agency Xinhua as saying these remarks were “untenable” and were spread with an aim to “tarnish the image of China.” The new body, it said, would help regulate the Internet in ways similar to many other countries, and control vulgarity, fake news and online gambling.
According to the New York Times the growth of the internet in China has “spawned a sort of land rush for regulatory turf by government agencies that see in it a chance to gain more authority or more money, or both.” At least 14 government units, it says, have their finger in internet control in some form of another.
It suggests that this new agency may cause some infighting between it and these other units.
6 Apr 2011 | Index Index, minipost, News and features
An Istanbul court has ordered the seizure of all of investigative journalist Ahmet Sik’s work on his incomplete book The Army of the Imam. His manuscript explores the connection between the police and the group headed by Turkish Imam Fethullah Gülen. Sik was close to finishing the work when he was arrested in March. Gülen is now living in exile in the USA. It has been alleged that the book will appear online on 11 April.
4 Apr 2011 | Index Index, minipost
The Burmese government’s censorship board director, Tint Swe, has announced that the country’s censorship policy will be relaxed in accordance with its new constitution. Journal and magazine publishers will no longer need to submit their articles to the censors for approval before publication. However, news stories and articles about politics and business will still need prior approval.
