Freedom of information |
“In reality, China systematically violates all these freedoms through policies of censorship, surveillance and punishment. Every publication and all news goes through a sophisticated screening process and requires the consent of the Communist Party. The general public has little knowledge about the outside world since the information inflow and outflow are strictly screened and monitored by the authorities. Most of the journals and media are state-owned and feed people with news laden with official party ideology and propaganda.” Excerpt from the 62nd Session of the UN Commission on Human Rights (2006)
Books by the Dalai Lama, or books deemed to be politically challenging to China are also banned. In universities, professors cannot lecture on politically sensitive topics, and many reportedly are required to attend political education sessions.

In 2005 China introduced new restrictions on internet content, relating to “politics, economics, military affairs, foreign affairs and social and pubic affairs”. China’s new internet regulations launched in September 2005 put even further restrictions on information by preventing the distribution of any uncensored news in both websites and e-mail. China currently employs 30,000 internet police to monitor and crack down on any dissent in people’s e-mails or on websites.
As in Tibet, websites such as the BBC, Free Tibet Campaign, Phayul.com are banned throughout China, as are thousands of sites relating to issues such as democracy, Taiwan, Dalai Lama or human rights. Those reporting or writing on sensitive issues or challenging the state are at enormous risk of dismissal from work, arbitrary detention or imprisonment.







