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IOC caves in to China's demands on internet censorship

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:11:54 +0100

The International Olympic Committee has said that there won't be uncensored internet access at Olympic media venues.

In a statement Kevin Gosper, International Olympic Committee (IOC) press commission chair, said: “I regret that it now appears BOCOG has announced that there will be limitations on website access during Games time (…). I also now understand that some IOC officials negotiated with the Chinese that some sensitive sites would be blocked on the basis they were not considered Games related.”

In reaction to the IOC statement, Mark Allison, East Asia researcher for Amnesty International said: "The International Olympic Committee and the Organizing Committee of the Beijing Olympic Games should fulfil their commitment to ‘full media freedom" and provide immediate uncensored internet access at Olympic media venues. Censorship of the internet at the Games is compromising fundamental human rights and betraying the Olympic values.

Foreign journalists working from the Olympics press centre in Beijing are unable to access the Amnesty International website. A number of other websites are also reported to have been blocked.

The IOC has on many occasions highlighted the loosening of restrictions on foreign media in China as an example of the promised improvement in human rights by the Chinese authorities through the hosting of the Olympics. On 1 April, Kevin Gosper said that the continued blocking of some websites would "reflect very poorly" on the hosts. On 17 July Jacques Rogge, IOC President, said "there will be no censorship of the internet."

"This blatant media censorship adds one more broken promise that undermines the claim that the Games would help improve human rights in China," said Mark Allison.

On Monday 29 July, Amnesty International published the report "Olympic Countdown: Broken Promises" which evaluates the performance of the Chinese authorities in four areas related to the core values of the Olympics: persecution of human rights activists, detention without trial, censorship and the death penalty. They all relate to the 'core values' of 'human dignity' and 'respect for universal fundamental ethical principles' in the Olympic Charter. The new report showed there has been little progress towards fulfilling the Chinese authorities' promise to improve human rights, but rather continued deterioration in key areas.

Have your say on censorship and other human rights issues in China on Amnesty International's The China Debate website.

Chinese authorities’ broken promises threaten Olympic legacy

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 17:41:15 +0100

The Chinese authorities have broken their promise to improve the country’s human rights situation and betrayed the core values of the Olympics, according to a new Amnesty International report.

Published to mark the 10-day countdown to the Games, the report evaluates the performance of the Chinese authorities in four areas related to the core Olympic values of ’universal fundamental ethical principles’ and ‘human dignity’: these include persecution of human rights activists, detention without trial, censorship and the death penalty.

The Olympics Countdown: Broken Promises concludes that in most of these areas human rights have continued to deteriorate since the previous Amnesty International report The Olympics Countdown: Crackdown on Activists Threatens Olympic Legacy, which was published in April this year.

In the run-up to the Olympics, the Chinese authorities have locked up, put under house arrest and forcibly removed individuals they believe may threaten the image of “stability” and “harmony” they want to present to the world.

“By continuing to persecute and punish those who speak out for human rights, the Chinese authorities have lost sight of the promises they made when they were granted the Games seven years ago,” said Roseann Rife, Asia-Pacific Deputy Director at Amnesty International.

“The Chinese authorities are tarnishing the legacy of the Games. They must release all imprisoned peaceful activists, allow foreign and national journalists to report freely and make further progress towards the elimination of the death penalty.”

Reports have just confirmed that foreign journalists working from the Olympics press centre in Beijing are unable to access amnesty.org, the Amnesty International website. In addition, The China Debate, a site recently launched by Amnesty International as a forum to discuss human rights has been blocked in China.

A number of other websites are also reported to have been blocked, including Taiwan newspaper Liberty Times and the Chinese versions of both Germany's Deutsche Welle and the BBC.

This flies in the face of official promises to ensure “complete media freedom” for the Games. Internet control and censorship is increasing as the Olympics approach. Many other sites, including several reporting on HIV/AIDS issues in Beijing, have been targeted.

Despite new media regulations that were supposed to allow for freer reporting for foreign journalists, they continue to be prevented from covering “sensitive issues”, including talking to those who suffer human rights violations. The Foreign Correspondents Club of China (FCCC) documented approximately 180 incidents of reporting disruptions in 2007. This has now increased to 260.

Amnesty International also believes that local activists and journalists working on human rights issues in China are at particular risk of abuse during the Games. Chinese journalists operate in a climate of censorship, unable to report on issues deemed sensitive by the authorities, and many still languish in jail for reporting on such issues.

Housing rights activist Ye Guozhu continues to serve his four-year sentence for “picking quarrels and stirring up trouble” because of his opposition to the seizure and demolition of property to make way for new construction projects for next month’s Olympic Games.

Ye Guozhu’s prison sentence was due to expire on 26 July. Instead the Chinese authorities say, he will remain imprisoned until at least 1 October, after the end of the 2008 Olympic Games.

China is still the world’s top executioner. The Supreme People’s Court (SPC) initiated a review of the death penalty that is believed to have resulted in a significant drop in executions. A senior official said that in the first half of 2008 15 per cent of death sentences were rejected by the SPC.

However, the authorities continue to refuse to disclose the full number of those sentenced to death and executed -- the total figure remains a state secret. Estimates put the number of those executed every year in the thousands. Around 68 offences – including non-violent crimes such as drug-related offences – are punishable by death in China.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) President, Jacques Rogge, recently claimed the IOC’s ‘quiet diplomacy’ had led to several human rights reforms, including the new regulations for foreign media.

“We welcome the IOC’s recognition of its role on human rights, but given the current reality, we are surprised at their confidence that foreign media will be able to report freely and that there will be no internet censorship,” said Roseann Rife. “And they must speak out when the authorities violate the wider Olympic principles.”

“Additionally, world leaders who attend the Games need to raise their voice publicly for human rights in China and in support of individual Chinese human rights activists. A failure to do so will send the message that it is acceptable for a government to host the Olympic Games in an atmosphere of repression and persecution.

Have your say on human rights issues in China on Amnesty International's The China Debate website.

Amnesty International website blocked at Olympic venue

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 16:54:02 +0100

Foreign journalists working from the Olympics press centre in Beijing are unable to access amnesty.org - the Amnesty International website. A number of other websites are also reported to have been blocked.

As Amnesty International prepares to launch a new report evaluating the Chinese authorities’ human rights performance in the run-up to the Olympics, this flies in the face of official promises to ensure “complete media freedom” for the Games.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has on many occasions highlighted the loosening of restrictions on foreign media in China as an example of an improvement in human rights brought about by the hosting of the Olympics. On 17 July Jaques Rogge, IOC President, went as far as to claim that ‘there will be no censorship on the internet.’

The Olympics Countdown: Broken Promises is to be published online today at 21:00 GMT, Tuesday 29 July at 05:00am Hong Kong time.

The follow-up to China: The Olympics Countdown: Crackdown on Activists Threatens Olympic Legacy which was released in April this year, the new report shows that there has still been little progress towards fulfilling the Chinese authorities’ promise to improve human rights, but rather continued deterioration in key areas.

Blocking Amnesty International’s website, along with a number of others, is a clear example of the Chinese authorities' broken promises.

On Tuesday 1 April 2008, Kevin Gosper, Vice Chair of the IOC co-ordinating commission, was at a meeting in Beijing where he urged the Chinese government to honour the commitment in the host city contract to allow free internet access to the media attending the Games.

Gosper said that the continued blocking of some websites would "reflect very poorly" on the hosts. "This morning we insisted again," Gosper added. "Our concern is that the press is able to operate as it has at previous Games - at Games time. I'm satisfied that the Chinese understand the need for this and they will do it.

Have your say on censorship and other human rights issues in China on Amnesty International's The China Debate website.

Ye Guozhu must be released immediately

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:34:20 +0100

Amnesty International today demanded the immediate release of housing rights activist Ye Guozhu, who was arrested and sentenced in December 2004, after he applied for permission to hold a demonstration against forced evictions in Beijing.

The Chinese authorities say they will now not free Ye Guozhu when his four-year prison sentence expires on 26 July. Instead he will remain imprisoned until at least 1 October, after the end of the 2008 Olympic Games.

"Ye Guozhu is being kept in prison to prevent him from speaking out about the people, like himself, who were forcibly evicted from their homes in Beijing to make room for the Olympics," said Amnesty International.

"This is in complete contradiction of the promises China made to improve human rights before the start of the Games."

According to Ye's family, the Chaobai prison authorities telephoned them on 22 July, informing the family that they should not go to the prison to receive Ye Guozhu on 26 July, the original date for his release.

The prison authorities were reported to have said that Beijing Xuanwu district police had taken Ye away. The Xuanwu District police later said that for the good of the family and to keep them out of trouble during the Games, the police would take care of Ye Guozhu.

They would not however, allow him to return home until sometime after 1 October 2008. The police refused to let the family meet Ye Guozhu or tell them where he is now being detained.

Ye Guozhu, considered by Amnesty International as a prisoner of conscience, was convicted of “picking quarrels and stirring up trouble” because of his opposition to the seizure and demolition of property to make way for new construction projects for next month’s Olympic Games.

Ye Guozhu’s restaurant and living quarters were among many properties seized when officials of Beijing’s Xuanwu District, along with developers, forcibly evicted a large number of city residents. He received no compensation.

Olympics promises for human rights – the China Debate

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 19:30:42 +0100

Amnesty International has launched a new website for people to have their say about the human rights situation in China in the countdown to the Beijing Olympics. When bidding for the Games, the Chinese authorities made commitments that hosting the Games would help improve human rights.

Amnesty International has asked people to let them know whether you think they have fulfilled their promise.

The China Debate, launched on Thursday, aims to encourage an open, constructive and balanced discussion about human rights in China and the legacy the Beijing Olympics will leave behind.

To stimulate discussion, The China Debate presents video and expert opinions that focus on four key areas relevant to upholding the Olympic value of the "preservation of human dignity":

repression of activists
detention without trial
censorship
death penalty

Users around the world will be able to post their comments as well as video, pictures and soundbites. The site is available in English and Chinese.

Video: Aerial art petition to Chinese authorities

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 11:34:11 +0100

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A global day of action on Saturday 12 July used human aerial art to call on the Chinese authorities to ensure a positive human rights legacy for the Beijing Olympics.

Thousands of Amnesty International supporters from around the world teamed up with Circle Up Now, to create large images on the ground which are only fully visible from above.

An open letter to the President of the People’s Republic of China

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 15:45:06 +0100

Hu Jintao
President of the People’s Republic of China
The State Council General Office
2 Fuyoujie
Xichengqu
Beijingshi 100017
People's Republic of China

1 July 2008
AI Index: ASA 17/087/2008
Ref.: TG ASA 17/2008.015

Your Excellency

With one month remaining until the much-anticipated start of the XXIX Olympiad in Beijing, I ask you to take five steps toward the “development of human rights” pledged by the Beijing Olympics Bid Committee in 2001. Over the last year Amnesty International has collected hundreds of thousands of voices from around the world echoing this call. I join them in urging you to take this historic opportunity to act.

Amnesty International recognizes the Chinese government’s efforts to address some longstanding human rights concerns. I am particularly encouraged by the apparent progress made in reducing the use of the death penalty through the Supreme Peoples Court review process. I also appreciate recent statements by a number of Chinese officials, including Chief Justice Xiao Yang, that China is following the global trend towards abolishing the death penalty. Amnesty International also welcomes the news that 1,157 people held in connection with the protests in Tibetan-populated areas of China last March have been released. The official commitment to “full media freedom” and regulations for foreign journalists represents another step towards realising greater freedom of expression for journalists.

These developments notwithstanding, the preparation for the Olympics has actually had a negative impact in some areas of human rights. Official persecution of human rights activists continues, particularly those making connections between ongoing human rights violations and China’s hosting of the Olympics, including Ye Guozhu, Hu Jia and Yang Chunlin who are serving prison sentences solely for having expressed their views peacefully. The “clean-up” of Beijing through the extended use of Re-education Through Labour is a worrying development, particularly as it ignores domestic calls for reform of this arbitrary system of detention.

Amnesty International calls on you to grasp the opportunity of the Olympic Games to implement the following five recommendations—supported by many inside and outside China—before the Games begin:

Release all prisoners of conscience - including Ye Guozhu, Hu Jia, Yang Chunlin and any others detained in connection with the hosting of the Olympics solely for expressing their views peacefully;

Prevent the police from arbitrarily detaining petitioners, human rights activists and others as part of a pre-Olympics "clean-up";

Publish full national statistics on the death penalty, commit to a reduction in the number of capital crimes – especially those for non-violent offences – and introduce a moratorium on executions in line with UN General Assembly resolution 62/149 adopted on 18 December 2007;

Allow full access and freedom of reporting for both Chinese and international journalists in all parts of China in line with promises of "complete media freedom" in the run-up to the Games;

Account for all those killed or detained in the wake of the March 2008 protests in Tibet, particularly 116 people officially acknowledged to still be in custody, and ensure that those detained for their involvement in peaceful protests are released and that others receive a fair trial.

I believe that delivering on these five points will go a long way towards the Games being remembered not only for positive achievements on the sports field but in the field of human rights as well.

Yours sincerely

Irene Khan
Secretary General

Thousands to call for positive Beijing Olympics legacy in global aerial art events

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 17:35:54 +0100

On the eve of the anniversary of Beijing being granted the 2008 Olympics, thousands of Amnesty International supporters in over 20 locations across the world will team up on 12 July 2008 with Circle Up Now. Together they will create visual representations of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), as a reminder to the Chinese authorities of their human rights promises.

Event will be held on (organized chronologically according to GMT time):

USA, WASHINGTON DC

When: Friday 11 July 12:00pm (16:00 GMT)
Where: 600 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, Washington DC
Contact: Wende Gozan Brown P: +1 212 633 4247 M: +1 347 526 5520 wgozan@aiusa.org

INDIA, UTTAR PRADESH

When: Saturday 12 July, 11:00am Local time (05:30am GMT)
Where: AMU campus, Aligarh
Contact: Mohibul Haq +91 9219742321 mohibulhaque@gmail.com

INDIA, UTTARAKHAND

When: Saturday 12 July 11:00am Local time (05:30am GMT)
Where: Field of Bal Bharti School Kotdwara
Contact: Chitranjali Negi +91 9917 339 213 kabir_210@yahoo.co.in

INDIA, WEST BENGAL

When: Saturday 12 July, 11:30am Local Time (06:00am GMT)
Where: Saullah High School, Jalpaiguri
Contact: Subrata Sarker +91 9733 183 956 sarkersubrata@rediffmail.com

INDIA, MANIPUR

When: Saturday 12 July 11:30am Local Time (06:00am GMT)
Where: Adimjati SC/ST boy’s hostel, Imphal
Contact: Leban Serto +91 9436034426 leban.serto@gmail.com

INDIA, KARNATAKA

When: Saturday 12 July, 11:30am Local Time (06:00am GMT)
Where: Lord’s Buy School field
Contact: Khazi Muzaffar +91 9886108376 dr.qazi_islam@yahoo.com

TAIWAN, TAIPEI

When: Saturday 12 July 14:00 Local time (06:00am GMT)
Where: Hsyin-Yi Plaza
Contact: Gin-Huey Yang +886 972096860 everhope511@gmail.com

INDIA, NEW DELHI

When: Saturday 12 July 12:00 Local Time (06:30am GMT)
Where: Hindu College Campus ground
Contact: Javed Naqi +91 11 9873258274 javed@amnesty.org.in

NEPAL, KATHMANDU

Where: Baudha, Jorpati.
When: 12:00 Local Time (06:45am GMT) (pending on the weather)
Contact: Rameshwar Nepal +977 4364 706 / +977 4365 431 rameshwar@amnestynepal.org

SOUTH KOREA, SEOUL

When: Saturday 12 July 16:00 Local Time (07:00am GMT)
Where: Olympic Park
Contact: JungJu Lee + 82 2 730 4755 (6) activismamnestykorea@gmail.com

TURKEY, ISTANBUL

When: Saturday 12 July 11:00 Local Time (08:00am GMT)
Where: Galatasaray Lisesi Onu, Taksim
Contact: Burcu Turkay, burcu.turkay@amnesty.org.tr, +905332971531

UK, LONDON

When: Saturday 12 July 09:30am Local Time (08:30am GMT)
Where: The Scoop, City Hall.
Contact: Josefina Salomon +44 207 413 5562 M: +44 7778 472 116 jsalomon@amnesty.org

FINLAND, HELSINKI

When: Saturday 12 July, 12pm Local Time (09:00am GMT)
Where: Senate Square
Contact: Meri Mäkihannu +358 40 833 0485 meri.makihannu@amnesty.fi

SWITZERLAND, BERN

When: Saturday 12 July 11:00am Local Time (09:00am GMT)
Where: Schwellenmätteli, Bern
Contact: Manon Schick +41 79 430 14 68

INDIA, KERALA

When: Saturday 12 July 15:00 Local Time (09:30am GMT)
Where: MES School field
Contact: Jayashree +91 9895915479 jayashree.karmajyothi@gmail.com

INDIA, TAMIL NADU

When: Saturday 12 July, 15:00 Local Time (09:30am GMT)
Where: AV Higher Secondary School ground
Contact: Dr. G. Rajaram +91 9994671635 profrajaram@gmail.com

TOGO, LOME

When: Saturday 12 July, 10:00 Local time (10:00am GMT)
Where: Details to follow
Contact: Guy SIEKRO: +228 909 98 05

POLAND, WARSAW

When: Saturday 12 July, 12:00 Local Time (10:00am GMT)
Where: Plac Zamkowy (Castle Square in the Old Town)
Contact: Monika Deptu + 44 691 357 935 monika.deptula@amnesty.org.pl

BURKINA FASO, OUAHIGOUYA

When: Saturday 12 July 10:00 Local Time (10:00am GMT)
Where: Place de la Nation
Contact: Ouedraogo Christian +226 78 21 36 56 songdebkieta@yahoo.fr

NETHERLANDS, COAST OF THE NETHERLANDS

When: Saturday 12 July 12.30pm Local Time (10:30am GMT)
Where: Engelsmanplaat, at low tide near the watch tower
Contact: Yvette Hoogerwerf +31 207 733 669 y.hoogerwerf@amnesty.nl

SWEDEN, MALMOE

When: Saturday 12 July 16:00 Local Time (12:00 GMT)
Where: Turning Torso surroundings
Contact: Mikael Johansson +46 731 501 388 mikaeljohansson@fastmail.fm,

GREECE, ATHENS

When: Saturday 12 July 17:00 (14:00 GMT)
Where: Archaeological Site of Pnyx, Metro Acropolis or Thysio.
Contact: Anna Botsoglou + 30 210 36 00 628 press@amnesty.org.gr

ISRAEL, TEL-AVIV

When: Saturday 12 July 18:00 Local Time (15:00 GMT)
Where: Suzanne Dellal Centre
Contact: Vered Cohen-Barzilay +972 3 525 0005 amnesty5@netvision.net.il

PARAGUAY, ASUNCION

When: Saturday 12 at 11:00 (16:00 GMT)
Where: Plaza de la Democracia (Democracy Square)
Contact: Andres Vazquez P: +595 21 604 329, M: +595 (0) 981 985 383 desarrollo@py.amnesty.org

MEXICO, GUADALAJARA

When: Saturday 12 July 10:00am (15:00 GMT)
Where: University of Guadalajara
Contact: Omar Avilés +52 1 331 289 6698 avilesco@gmail.com

ITALY, FLORENCE

When: Saturday 12 July, 19:00 Local Time (17:00 GMT)
Where: Piazza della Repubblica
Contact: Paola Nigrelli +39 064490224 p.nigrelli@amnesty.it

MEXICO, MEXICO CITY

When: Saturday 12 July 20:00 Local time (Sunday 13 July 01:00 GMT)
Where: Plaza de las Tres Culturas
Contact: Charlotte Maurier +52 55 56 87 60 10 charlottemaurier@hotmail.com

MALI, BAMAKO

When: Details to follow
Where: La place de l’Afrique à Bamako
Contact: Kader Krouman + 223 490 0920 odetfr@yahoo.fr

For more details about any of the activities or to organize interviews, please contact:

Amnesty International – Josefina Salomon, P: +44 207 413 5562, M: +44 7778 472 116, jsalomon@amnesty.org

Circle Up Now – Nicole Hamze P: +1 888 461 8881, press@circleupnow.org

One thousand protesters unaccounted for in Tibet lock-down

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 17:06:48 +0100

As the Olympic torch relay travels to Lhasa, Amnesty International urged the Chinese government to provide information about the over 1,000 people detained during the protests last March and called for free access to Tibet by independent observers.

The call came as Amnesty International published an update on the situation in Tibet since the outbreak of violence – looking at the continuing violent crackdown against protesters, the situation of those detained, including those reported to have been beaten and deprived of proper health care and adequate food, and the severe censorship facing journalists and Tibetans.

“There is very little information coming out of Tibet, but the information we have paints a dire picture of arbitrary detentions and abuse of detainees,” said Sam Zarifi, Asia-Pacific Director at Amnesty International.

“With the torch relay about to enter Tibetan areas, this should be an opportunity to shine some light on the situation there.”

Official reports only provide information on a small number of those who have been sentenced after questionable trials.

Foreign journalists are still blocked from entering Tibet. Limited reports that have come through friends and family members to the media and Tibetan organizations say police and security forces have confiscated mobile phones, computers and other communications equipment in hundreds of raids on monasteries, nunneries and private homes, physically preventing thousands from communication with the outside world.

Those who dare to find ways of sending information to foreign media or human rights organizations regarding protests and arrests, risk arrest and imprisonment.

“The complete lock-down in Tibet is allowing human rights abuses such as arbitrary detentions, ill treatment and severe censorship to go unreported and unpunished,” said Sam Zarifi.

“Hundreds of people languish in Chinese prisons for peacefully expressing their opinions, in appalling conditions and without their relatives even knowing where they are. The passing of the torch should allow journalists a chance to see the actual situation on the ground and promote the ‘Free and Open Olympics’ promised in the Beijing Olympic Action Plan.”

Chinese authorities have not only detained monks and nuns and other protesters, they have also targeted Tibetan artists who did not have any direct involvement in the on-going protests. What these figures had in common was involvement in efforts to preserve Tibetan culture. Jamyang Kyi, a well-known singer, TV presenter and producer, was arrested on 1 April from her work place at the Qinghai TV station and held incommunicado for at least one month before, it is believed, being placed under house arrest, only after paying a significant fee.

Background Information
Initial protests after March 10 turned violent and targeted ethnic Han Chinese individuals and businesses. But protesters, often led by monks and nuns, are believed to have been mainly peaceful since March 14, when the Dalai Lama exhorted demonstrators to avoid violence.

The Olympic torch relay is travelling through China under great scrutiny and with journalists highly controlled in areas such as the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. The original schedule for the torch relay travelling through Tibet has been changed and it is now reported to be on Saturday 21 June.

NEWS FLASH China: Amnesty International’s reaction to release of 1,157 people in Tibet

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 18:09:01 +0100

In reaction to a report by Chinese media about the release of 1,157 people who were involved in the Tibet protests last march, Amnesty International said:“We are encouraged by the news of the release of 1,157 people and we look forward to receiving information about the trials of the 116 people in custody announced by the Chinese authorities.”

Amnesty International’s statement comes a day after the organization published a report where it urged the Chinese government to provide information about the more than 1,000 people detained during the protests last March who remain unaccounted for and called for free access to Tibet by independent observers.