Censors make news

By Jacquelin Magnay
Sydney Morning Herald, August 14, 2008

http://www.smh.com.au/news/off-the-field/censors-make-news/2008/08/14/1218307066384.html

CHINA may be losing the public relations battle to control the international media at the Beijing Games, but within its borders the extensive controls on the local media have been exposed starkly.

A stunningly frank 21-point plan from the propaganda bureau was issued to editors and journalists and orders them to ignore hot international topics and any issues that may reflect negatively on the Olympic Games.

Banned are Tibet, Falun Gong, food safety issues, the three official protest parks and emergencies inside Olympic venues.

The blacklist comes as Chinese security forces assaulted and detained a British journalist yesterday as he was filming a pro-Tibetan rally several hundred metres from the Bird's Nest stadium.

Independent Television News China correspondent John Ray was dragged along the ground, his hands stamped on and his shoes removed before being detained for a short period after witnessing a pro-Tibetan rally at the Chinese Ethnic Culture Park by Students for a Free Tibet. Six of the students were arrested as they waved Free Tibet banners.

But news of the protest has been blacked out from the mainland Chinese press, as has news of the faked opening ceremony song, the Olympic connections of the murdered American tourist and the actress paralysed in rehearsals for the opening ceremony.

The mainland Chinese journalists have been instructed to use the official Xinhua news agency for stories about diplomatic ties between China and other nations, including Australia.

"Over the diplomatic ties between China and some certain nations, don't do interviews on your own and don't use online stories," the instructions state.

"Instead, adopt Xinhua stories only. Particularly on the Doha round negotiation, US elections, China-Iran co-operation, China-Aussie co-operation, China-Zimbabwe co-operation, China-Paraguay co-operation."

The journalists have been told that in the event of an emergency involving foreign tourists they must follow the official line.

But "if there's no official line, stay away from it. Over possible subway accidents in the capital, please follow the official line. Be positive on security measures. There's also no need to make a fuss about our anti-terror efforts," the report says.

The eighth point states: "All food safety issues, such as cancer-causing mineral water, is off the limits."

The 21-point plan was reported in the South China Morning Post, but its existence was denied by the Games organisers.

"There is no such 21-point document," the Beijing Olympic Committee vice president, Wang Wei, said yesterday.

"Chinese media, according to the Chinese constitution, are free to report on the Games."

But yesterday all news reports of the faked opening ceremony song involving the little girl in a red dress were blacked out within China yesterday as Olympic officials staunchly defended the duplicitous act as an artistic decision.

"I didn't see anything wrong with it," Mr Wang said.

"This was a decision of the directors to achieve the most theatrical effect."

But the IOC's executive director of games, Gilbert Felli, said: "I think it is clear that the right information has to be given to the people."

Olympic officials had previously said an actress suffered only a broken leg during a heavy fall from a high stage during the Silk Road segment, denying reporters' questions that she was paralysed. However, the Yangtze
Evening News
yesterday posted details and photographs of Beijing Dance Academy dancer Liu Yan, saying she has lost all feeling in her legs after falling from a flying blanket to a moving platform at rehearsals on July 27.

The paper quotes opening ceremony director Zhang Zimou saying: "You're the deepest pain in my heart, if I could see you stand on your feet again, it would make me much more excited and happier than any praise I've received."

The IOC and China's ministry of industry and information technology, which is in charge of the internet in China, have both declined to comment on the press restrictions.


EDICTS FROM THE PROPAGANDA DEPARTMENT

• No reporting on the pro-Tibet independence movement.
• All food safety issues, such as "cancer-causing mineral water", off limits.
• No interviews allowed at the three protest parks.
• No negative comments about the opening ceremony.
• Follow the official line on international matters ie. no fuss about Darfur or UN reform.
• In case of emergencies involving tourists, follow the official line. If no line, "stay away from it".
• Properly handle coverage of the China Olympic team: don't overhype gold medals or issue predictions on medal numbers, keep a cool head on the team’s performance.
• Refrain from publishing opinion pieces at odds with the official propaganda line of the Chinese delegation.