25 Dec 09 | Index Index, minipost, Uncategorized
Prominent dissident Liu Xiaobo was sentenced to 11 years’ imprisonment on 25 December. He was charged with subversion after his part in the drafting of Charter 08, a document calling for free speech and the rule of law. Western journalists and diplomats were prohibited from attending the trial, which was condemned by free expression and human rights campaigners.
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23 Dec 09 | Index Index, minipost, News and features
A hit television series has been prevented from continuing according to newspapers in China. The drama “Snail House” was set in a fictional mainland city and the plot centered on rising housing prices and the “fangnu,” or mortgage slaves, as they work non-stop to repay their loans. The series captured national headlines because of its relevance to real life in mainland China. The fate of the show remains unclear. One recent government website posting said some TV stations that air the series may continue, but that no others may start it or show reruns prompting outcry amongst viewers. Read more here
15 Dec 09 | Index Index, minipost, News and features
China has banned individuals from registering internet domain names and launched a review of millions of existing personal websites in the toughest government censorship drive so far on the internet reports the Financial Times. China has banned the registration of domains for personal use unless they are operated by licensed businesses or state-approved organisations. It is part of the government’s “fight against pornographic websites” according the the official China Daily. Read more here
10 Dec 09 | Index Index, minipost, News and features
China has closed one of the country’s largest file-sharing sites. The State Administration of Radio Film and Television said the site BTChina did not have a license to distribute audio and video content. Another popular website, the Chinese translation cooperative Yeeyan, has stopped publishing in recent days. The government says the main targets are pornography, online gambling and other sites deemed harmful to society. Critics, however, say that often acts as cover for detecting and blocking sensitive political content. Read more here
