Descriptions are easy to find, but the reasons for censorship are not
simple. Fear and control are dominant themes.
If you haven't already done so, visit the Amnesty International
website http://web.amnesty.org/
Search their library by location (China, Peoples Republic of) and by
topic (try "freedom of expression"). Reasons given by the Chinese
gov't for censorship of expression often involve allegations of
sedition, subversion, "inciting separatism" and "illegally acquiring
state secrets." Reasons for arrest are often vague, but seem to be
intended to repress dissent. Documents found here include information
on the "strike hard" campaign against "heretical organizations" such
as Falun Gong.
AI's perspective is that "...the legislation on state secrets is being
used to prevent public debate of issues which have little to do with
national security, and to imprison people for the non-violent and
legitimate exercise of their rights to freedom of expression and
association."
There are other perspectives out there, of course. Tomur Dawamat, a
vice chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) in 1997, seemed
concerned with a perceived threat by the West to split up China and
dilute its strength, advocating that his countrymen "...oppose all
conspiratorial schemes to undermine ethnic unity and separate the
motherland." Visit http://www.tibet.ca/ to find articles that quote
PRC leaders and dissidents.
Here's a website that sells books on the political history of China,
some of which may shed some light on the "why's" of censorship and
repression:
http://www.chinabooks.com.au/currentstock/histcontemp.htm
Good luck, Julia. |
