The Foreign Correspondents Club of China, which has several hundred members here in Beijing, just weighed in with the following statement about today's trip to Tibet for a select group of foreign reporters.
MAR. 26, 2008 -- Chinese authorities have arranged a trip to Tibet from March 26-28 for a small group of international media. This brief, tightly managed trip falls far short of fulfilling China's promise, made during its bid for the 2008 Olympic Games, of free media reporting.
The FCCC calls on the Chinese government to allow all other foreign correspondents who wish to report in Tibet, and Tibetan areas in other provinces, to be permitted to do so at the earliest possible date -- and to enable them to work and travel without government interference.
We also urge Chinese authorities to allow the foreign media group that departed for Tibet March 26 unfettered freedom to report, and to safeguard the Constitutional right of free expression for Chinese nationals who agree to be interviewed. We are extremely concerned about recent reports that sources in Tibetan areas and elsewhere have experienced various forms of intimidation.
Following unrest in Lhasa and other Tibetan communities, foreign correspondents have notified the FCCC of more than 40 violations -- nearly all by local officials -- of the Olympics-period foreign media reporting regulations which began Jan. 1, 2007. Although official efforts to assist journalists who've encountered interference are appreciated, we call on Chinese authorities to improve implementation of the new regulations as quickly as possible.
"We also urge Chinese authorities to allow the foreign media group that departed for Tibet March 26 unfettered freedom to report,"
Are there reports from this group that this is a serious issue? Or is this statement put there prophylactically?
A bit of evidence of respect and understanding of the difficult position Beijing, and China is in over this issue would go a long way.
Posted by: A B | March 26, 2008 at 08:32 AM
Will these jounalists see any more than what Wen can see in homes of poor farmers in northern China ?
Posted by: Bill | March 26, 2008 at 11:30 AM
Bill,
the strongest argument that can be made by a foreign journalist to have access to Tibet is precisely because it helps Hu and Wen, who have trouble getting the truth from their own officials.
Posted by: A B | March 26, 2008 at 01:05 PM
Excellent source of information....we need people like you.
Let loose full functionality of Echelon Satellite Networks. This is the only way to DISRUPT COMMAND AND CONTROL CENTER OF OCCUPATION ARMY IN CHINA.
Read on:
http://intelligenceinputs.blogspot.com
http://futureweapons.blogdrive.com
Only NON-VIOLENT WAY TO END OCCUPATION OF TIBET !
Posted by: Dying Smiling Monk | March 26, 2008 at 01:13 PM
Excellent source of information....we need people like you.
Let loose full functionality of Echelon Satellite Networks. This is the only way to DISRUPT COMMAND AND CONTROL CENTER OF OCCUPATION ARMY IN CHINA.
Read on:
http://intelligenceinputs.blogspot.com
http://futureweapons.blogdrive.com
Only NON-VIOLENT WAY TO END OCCUPATION OF TIBET !
Posted by: Dying Smiling Monk | March 26, 2008 at 01:15 PM
At last a bit of backbone from the world press...pull no punches!
Posted by: Stan | March 26, 2008 at 02:51 PM
YouTube, you rock!
Here is a new addition I just found out:
http://www.youtube.com/user/speakercn
Posted by: Y | March 26, 2008 at 11:48 PM
In part 3 of the clip, watch how police forces all over the world do their job to contain the violence of a small group who call themsleves "tibetants".
Posted by: Y | March 26, 2008 at 11:51 PM
1245 Thursday
Well it sees that the guided tour has not gone as planned.
I am waiting to see the footage of the minders trying to pull the reporters away from the monks who disrupted their vist to the monastry.
Should be interesting.
Posted by: Paul | March 27, 2008 at 12:49 AM
Here is a link for something interesting to read:
http://www.michaelparenti.org/Tibet.html
I hope Mrs Tang has the access to this site.
Posted by: Y | March 27, 2008 at 01:01 AM
Compared to Communist Chinese dictatorship, yes, Tibetan Feudalism is indeed Shangri-La.
Posted by: Tian Li | March 27, 2008 at 10:03 PM
Well if these reporters can write something remotely close to the following, then they can go to Tibet. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/c5166a3a-ff3d-11dc-b556-000077b07658.html
Otherwise, will let untrained monkeys in to further inflame the situation?
Posted by: Tian | April 01, 2008 at 02:23 AM