While the Chinese government clearly issued strict censorship orders about Tibet coverage to all Chinese websites, Xiamen-based writer/blogger Lian Yue (连岳), who is known for his advocacy for environmental protection in Xiaman, writes on his Eighth Continent blog, translated by CDT:
1、If there is a power that wants to block information, then we should assume this power is bad.
2、If this power actually blocked the information, then this power should be assumed to be worse.
3、If the power which blocked information now publishes only one-sided information, then we should assume this information is false.
4、For all untrue information, the power which blocks information should be held most responsible.
5、The power which blocks information has no credibility to judge related information that flows around.
6、Information blocking is the only reason for making the divide deeper and the situation worse, since people in different positions are all talking from their own perspectives, and cannot be verified.
7、Ultra-nationalism is an emotion, not reason; therefore censorship is a bed for such emotion, fostering extreme-Tibetan, extreme-Han, Japan hatred, Taiwan hatred and other extreme emotions.
8、Mainland China is a place full of such extreme emotions. This extreme emotion supports the power, and likely prevents reform of the power.
9、Only sufficient information and sufficient expression can dissolve such extreme emotion. Trying to control so-called “dangerous speech” is the biggest danger.
10、Therefore, allowing the media to freely enter Tibet to report is a critical way to solve this problem.
March 21, 2008.
