This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jan/07/chinese-rare-protest-newspaper-censorship
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Chinese stage rare protest over newspaper censorship | Chinese stage rare protest over newspaper censorship |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| Protesters staged a rare protest in China in support of one of the country's most liberal newspapers amid a growing row over press freedom. | Protesters staged a rare protest in China in support of one of the country's most liberal newspapers amid a growing row over press freedom. |
| The dispute has evolved into a political challenge for the country's new leadership after prominent scholars demanded the dismissal of a censor and hundreds of protesters called for democratic reforms. | The dispute has evolved into a political challenge for the country's new leadership after prominent scholars demanded the dismissal of a censor and hundreds of protesters called for democratic reforms. |
| The scholars and protesters were acting in support of Southern Weekly in its confrontation with a censor after the publication was forced to change an editorial calling for political reform into a tribute praising the ruling Communist party. Rumours that at least one of the publication's news departments was going on strike could not be immediately confirmed. | The scholars and protesters were acting in support of Southern Weekly in its confrontation with a censor after the publication was forced to change an editorial calling for political reform into a tribute praising the ruling Communist party. Rumours that at least one of the publication's news departments was going on strike could not be immediately confirmed. |
| Protesters, including students, gathered outside the offices of the newspaper in the southern city of Guangzhou to lay flowers at the gate, hold signs and shout slogans calling for freedom of speech, political reform, constitutional governance and democracy. | Protesters, including students, gathered outside the offices of the newspaper in the southern city of Guangzhou to lay flowers at the gate, hold signs and shout slogans calling for freedom of speech, political reform, constitutional governance and democracy. |
| "I feel the ordinary people must awaken," said one of the protesters, Yuan Fengchu. "The people are starting to realise that their rights have been taken away by the Communist party and they are feeling that they are being constantly oppressed." | "I feel the ordinary people must awaken," said one of the protesters, Yuan Fengchu. "The people are starting to realise that their rights have been taken away by the Communist party and they are feeling that they are being constantly oppressed." |
| Political expression in the public sphere is often viewed as risky in China, where the authoritarian government frequently jails dissidents. | Political expression in the public sphere is often viewed as risky in China, where the authoritarian government frequently jails dissidents. |
| Another demonstrator, the Guangzhou writer and activist Wu Wei, who goes by the pen name Ye Du, said the protest marked a rare instance in which people were making overt calls for political freedom since large-scale pro-democracy demonstrations were crushed in a military crackdown in Beijing's Tiananmen Square in 1989. | Another demonstrator, the Guangzhou writer and activist Wu Wei, who goes by the pen name Ye Du, said the protest marked a rare instance in which people were making overt calls for political freedom since large-scale pro-democracy demonstrations were crushed in a military crackdown in Beijing's Tiananmen Square in 1989. |
| "In other cities, we've seen people march, but most of the time they are protesting environmental pollution or people's livelihood issues," Wu said. "Here they are asking for political rights, the right to protest. The Southern Weekly incident has provided an opportunity for citizens to voice their desires." | "In other cities, we've seen people march, but most of the time they are protesting environmental pollution or people's livelihood issues," Wu said. "Here they are asking for political rights, the right to protest. The Southern Weekly incident has provided an opportunity for citizens to voice their desires." |
| The protest came as 18 Chinese academics signed an open letter calling for the dismissal of Tuo Zhen, a provincial propaganda minister blamed for the censorship. The scholars included legal professors, liberal economists, historians and writers. | The protest came as 18 Chinese academics signed an open letter calling for the dismissal of Tuo Zhen, a provincial propaganda minister blamed for the censorship. The scholars included legal professors, liberal economists, historians and writers. |
| A Peking University law professor, He Weifang, who also signed the petition, said the newspaper needed to be defended from censorship. "Southern Weekly is known as a newspaper that exposes the truth, but after Tuo Zhen arrived in Guangdong, he constantly pressured the paper. We need to let him know that he can't do this," he said. "This incident is a test to see if the new leadership is determined to push political reform." | A Peking University law professor, He Weifang, who also signed the petition, said the newspaper needed to be defended from censorship. "Southern Weekly is known as a newspaper that exposes the truth, but after Tuo Zhen arrived in Guangdong, he constantly pressured the paper. We need to let him know that he can't do this," he said. "This incident is a test to see if the new leadership is determined to push political reform." |
| Six weeks ago, China installed a new generation of Communist party leaders for the next five years, with the current vice president, Xi Jinping, at the helm. Some of Xi's announcements for a trimmed-down style of leadership, with reduced waste and fewer meetings, have raised hopes in some quarters that he may favour deeper reforms to mollify a public long frustrated by local corruption. | Six weeks ago, China installed a new generation of Communist party leaders for the next five years, with the current vice president, Xi Jinping, at the helm. Some of Xi's announcements for a trimmed-down style of leadership, with reduced waste and fewer meetings, have raised hopes in some quarters that he may favour deeper reforms to mollify a public long frustrated by local corruption. |
| The Guangdong provincial propaganda department did not immediately respond to a faxed list of questions. But the Communist party-run Global Times newspaper said in an editorial that no Chinese media outlet should fool itself into thinking it could occupy a "political special zone" in which it is free from government control. | The Guangdong provincial propaganda department did not immediately respond to a faxed list of questions. But the Communist party-run Global Times newspaper said in an editorial that no Chinese media outlet should fool itself into thinking it could occupy a "political special zone" in which it is free from government control. |
| "Regardless of whether these people are willing or unwilling, common sense says: In China's current social political reality, there cannot be the kind of 'free media' that these people hope in their hearts for," the editorial said. | "Regardless of whether these people are willing or unwilling, common sense says: In China's current social political reality, there cannot be the kind of 'free media' that these people hope in their hearts for," the editorial said. |
| China's media have become increasingly outspoken in its reporting on celebrities and sports figures, however, censorship of political issues remains tight. Although government officials typically claim there is no censorship, perceived curbs on press freedom have drawn increasingly vocal criticism from journalists and the public. | China's media have become increasingly outspoken in its reporting on celebrities and sports figures, however, censorship of political issues remains tight. Although government officials typically claim there is no censorship, perceived curbs on press freedom have drawn increasingly vocal criticism from journalists and the public. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. | |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe. |