Beijing Olympics 2008: Winning Press Freedom - World Press ...

Beijing Olympics 2008: Winning Press Freedom
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Panel 2
How are Chinese news media controlled?
moderator: Timothy Balding,
CEO, World Association of Newspapers
The moderator’s introduction:
I believe that most of us here who work for organizations that endeavour to further
human rights have more than once been treated to one or other epithet which
characterize us as at worst simple-minded and culturally and politically ignorant, at best,
naïve idealists with no sense of political realities and nuance -- adepts of what the French
call 'angélisme,' or do-gooders, or innocents abroad. In short, we complicate the lives of
the diplomats and politicians who really grasp what's going on and understand the levers
of change and how they operate.
Today, with China, the shoe has never been so firmly and clearly on the other foot, as
politicians and their appointees, though increasingly wriggling in discomfort, continue to
maintain their cosy conversations behind closed doors
The experience of China and the Olympics is, in fact, yet one more example of the terrible
naivety and short-sightedness of those in leadership of our governments, our sports
organizations and our businesses as they deal with repressive regimes like the one in
place in Beijing. History, if nothing else, amply demonstrates that dictators do not
voluntarily and spontaneously give up power, do not loosen the chains, do not remove the
gags, after sudden illumination and conversion to belief in freedom and other human
rights. They do so when they are forced to, generally through a combination of intense
internal and external opposition and dissent.
The idea that awarding the Games to China would, alone and in itself, change the
repressive politics of that regime and usher in a new era of respect for human rights was
thus condemned, in my view, from the outset, particularly in the absence of forceful,
aggressive, binding, monitored demands on human rights by the international community.
There was nothing much more, in fact, than a pious and rather innocent hope.
In this session, we shall look at how the media continue to be controlled in China. I would
particularly like to welcome and salute the courage of Gao Yu, who has flown here from
China to share her experience and views. It is precisely people like her, prepared to stand
up for their opinions, who, if sufficiently numerous, will one day change China.
Such change simply will not, cannot, happen without such extraordinary, brave individuals,
who make the momentous choice to go into resistance against lies, injustices and
repression of human rights. It is our duty, and should be that of our governments, our
businesses and our organizations, to support people like her in every possible way. It is
not only a duty, but a necessity, if we really do want to contribute to a better future for
the great Chinese people