For China, the arrest was a substantial victory, said Paul Chambers, director of research at the Institute of South East Asian Affairs at Chiang Mai University in Thailand, and an author of the book “Cashing In Across the Golden Triangle.”

“The capture of Naw Kham sends a message that no group or state is going to be allowed to mess around with China on the Mekong River,” Mr. Chambers said. “Everyone now knows the top dog on the Mekong is China.”

In some ways, China’s operation to scoop up the drug lord echoed Gen. John J. Pershing’s endeavor to capture Pancho Villa, the Mexican revolutionary leader who in 1916 killed 18 Americans in New Mexico, Mr. Chambers said.

[…] But there were two distinctions.

“No. 1, the Chinese caught Naw Kham,” Mr. Chambers said, alluding to Pancho Villa’s skill in dodging General Pershing’s army. “And No. 2, for smart diplomacy, they gave the credit to Laos.”

The article also notes the suspected involvement of elite Thai soldiers in the Mekong killings, and explains China’s decision not to use a drone strike against Naw Kham, which anti-narcotics chief Liu Yuejin says boiled down to legal restraints and sovereignty issues. At The Guardian, Glenn Greenwald sarcastically blasted Chinese “softness” in bending to these concerns, and criticized the tone of the Times’ coverage:

What kind of weak, soft, overly legalistic government worries about trivial concerns like international law and “sovereignty issues” when it comes to drone-killing heinous murderers for whom capture is difficult? Why not just shoot Hellfire missiles wherever you think he might be hiding in weaker countries and kill him and anyone who happens to be near him? Or if you are able to find him, at least just riddle his skull with bullets, dump his corpse into the ocean, and then chant nationalistic slogans in the street and at your political conventions. Who would ever want to give a trial to such a heinous and savage foreign killer of your citizens, particularly if it means risking the lives of your soldiers to apprehend him?

[…] In contrast to the strong and just US – which not only boldly drone-kills whomever and wherever it wants without regard to irritating trivialities like sovereignty but even tried (unsuccessfully) to pressure the Afghan government to execute its accused “drug lords” with no trials – the weak and soft Chinese are actually celebrating their own impotence. As the New York Times put it in February: “‘We didn’t use China’s military, and we didn’t harm a single foreign citizen,’ Mr. Liu bragged after the arrest in April 2012.” Note the word “brag”: the Times has to infuse something negative into the success of the Chinese in avoiding killing foreign civilians and relying on law enforcement processes rather than military strikes to apprehend an elusive killer.

© Samuel Wade for China Digital Times (CDT), 2013. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: drones, international law, Laos, manhunt, Mekong river, Myanmar, sovereignty, thailand
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Naw Kham’s wry smile belied his macabre circumstances. “I haven’t been able to sleep for two days. I have been thinking too much. I miss my mum. I don’t want my children to be like me,” the 44-year-old Burmese druglord, chained to a chair, told a Chinese TV interviewer.

On Friday – two days after the interview – the Burmese freshwater pirate was executed for allegedly murdering a crew of Chinese sailors on the Mekong river in October, 2011. His last moments were aired on state television.

In the two-hour live broadcast, black-clad police officers hauled Naw Kham from a detention centre in southern China, bound him with ropes and chains, and bundled him on to a bus bound for the execution site. Three of his alleged henchmen followed in similar fashion. They were each killed – off camera – by lethal injection.

Though a rumored live broadcast of the actual executions failed to materialize, the TV coverage attracted heavy criticism. “It’s hard to see how that spectacle doesn’t violate [the] prohibition on parading condemned in the streets,” tweeted human rights researcher Joshua Rosenzweig, referring to a 1984 ban introduced to avoid unfavorable foreign media coverage. Human Rights Watch’s Nicholas Bequelin commented that China had “just wiped away any perception that it was making progress on the death penalty issue.” Within China, reactions to the broadcast were deeply polarized. From Andrew Jacobs at The New York Times:

“Rather than showcasing rule of law, the program displayed state control over human life in a manner designed to attract gawkers,” Han Youyi, a criminal law professor, wrote via microblog. “State-administered violence is no loftier than criminal violence.”

[…] In one segment, Liu Yuejin, director general of the central government’s Narcotics Control Bureau, cast the executions as a pivotal moment for a newly confident China and for ethnic Chinese across the globe. “In the past, overseas Chinese dared not say they were of Chinese origin,” said Mr. Liu, who led the task force that spent six months hunting the culprits. “Now they can hold their heads high and be themselves.”

Supporters of the program were many, and enthusiastic. One blogger suggested that death by lethal injection was too lenient, adding “These beasts should be pulled apart by vehicles.”

Some critics said the broadcast, and the subsequent public gloating, displayed an ugly side of China and would hurt its image abroad. To Murong Xuecun, a well-known Chinese author, the program revealed a national psyche, fed by decades of Communist Party propaganda, that craves vengeance for the years of humiliation by foreigners. “It proves that hatred-education still has a market in China,” he said in an interview.

At Bloomberg World View, Adam Minter described the spectacle as a “graphic extension” of a broader political strategy:

[…] Over the last two years the Chinese government has found itself embroiled in increasingly dangerous sovereignty disputes with its Southeast Asian and Japanese neighbors. So far, diplomacy has been the preferred course of action. Yet on China’s decidedly nationalistic and highly influential microblogging platforms, diplomacy — especially on sovereignty issues — is unpopular and viewed as a sign of weakness.

In response, the Chinese government and its official media tribunals have carefully ratcheted up the aggressive rhetoric, especially toward Japan, since the fall of 2012, reminding Chinese that they will not be bullied by outside forces. Rather, if there will be any bullying, China will be doing it.

A 2012 Reuters investigation into the Mekong murders described the web of trafficking in drugs, humans and endangered animals in Southeast Asia’s “Golden Triangle”, and Naw Kham’s legendary or perhaps mythical place in it. The report also highlighted the possible involvement of an elite Thai anti-drugs unit in the killings.

China’s Global Times recently revealed that authorities had considered killing Naw Kham with a drone strike instead of capturing him. See more on China’s drone programs, and more on the death penalty in China, via CDT.

© Samuel Wade for China Digital Times (CDT), 2013. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: CCTV, death penalty, diplomacy, drug trafficking, execution, Golden Triangle, human rights watch, Japan, legal system, Mao era, Mekong river, murders, Murong Xuecun, Myanmar, Southeast Asia, territorial disputes, thailand
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The translations are by Rogier Creemers of China Copyright and Media.

20 September 2006, 10:32, Chai Yue

All websites, interactive segments are requested not to set up discussion themes on the coup in Thailand, tidy up existing themes.

20 September 2006, 17:08, Chai Yue

Please close trackers on articles related to the appointment of Shinzo Abe as the Prime Minister of Japan. This may also not be discussed in forums, etc.

21 September 2006, 10:49, Municipal Network Management Office

(1) In recent days, posts on “Shanghai Anchorperson’s Divorce History” circulated online, all websites are requested to earnestly clean this up, timely delete this post and posts with similar content.

(2) On the Thailand military coup and follow-up reporting, only transmit reporting of facts and articles with objective circumstances, do not make comments. Online reports must clearly indicate the source of the information, it is strictly prohibited to gather news by oneself, it is strictly prohibited to directly edit or translate foreign media information, it is strictly prohibited to post foreign media information on forums and blogs.

22 September 2006, 8:10, Chai Yue

All websites, please immediately delete the article “Female University Student Confessions: My Affair with ‘Three-Treasure Minister’ Zhang Zonghai.”

25 September 2006, 13:17, Yang Le

All websites, concerning the matter of Chen Liangyu being removed from office, only transmit Xinhua and People’s Daily Net copy; it may be placed in the second or third position of the important news section, do not make it into a large header; do not make special subjects; do not open trackers.

25 September 2006, 13:34, Yang Le

Trackers may be opened on the matter of Chen Liangyu, and it may be discussed in forums, but:

(1) It is not permitted to attack the Party or the government;

(2) It is not permitted to wildly guess at reasons, or guess without limit;

(3) It is not permitted to sow discord or contradiction between the Central government and local governments;

(4) It is not permitted to sow discord and contradictions between Central leaders,

(5) It is not permitted to sow discord and contradictions between Central leaders and past Central leaders;

(6) It is not permitted to sow discord and contradictions between Central leaders and local leaders.

25 September 2006, 15:37, Yang Le

All websites: Please immediately remove the photo of Chen Liangyu from the news content page.

25 September 2006, 16:14, Yang Le

All websites: When transmitting information about Chen Liangyu being removed from office, please do not link to or transmit the CV of Chen Liangyu. Please process this immediately. Delete his photo.

26 September 2006, 14:09, Yang Le

All websites, on the Gan Yisheng answers to the questions of Reuters of this morning, please use the article as revised by China Net as standard, renovate it after revision.

28 September 2006, 17:07, Yang Le

All websites:

(1) For reports concerning SK-II, Landai and other Japanese cosmetics, reports from non-standard sources may not be reprinted.

(2) Corresponding reports are not to be put on the main page of websites, are not to be reprinted in the important news section of news centers (channels, columns), forums and blogs are no longer to actively discuss this topic, this sort of articles and posts is not to be recommended on the front page.

(3) No longer produce special subjects or columns on this matter, please push existing special subjects to the back stage, newly reported articles are no longer to link to the original special subject.

2006年9月北京网管办发出的禁令（三）

2006年9月20日10时32分 柴玥

各网：互动环节请不要设置泰国政变讨论主题，已有话题清理一下
2006年9月20日17时08分 柴玥

安倍晋三将任日本首相的有关稿件，请关闭跟帖。论坛等也不要讨论。
2006年9月21日10时49分 市网管办

一：近日在网上流传有《上海主持人的离婚史》的帖文，请各网站认真清查、及时删除此帖文及类似内容帖文。

二：泰国军事政变及后续报道，只转发报道事实及客观情况的稿件，不作评论。网上报道要清楚注明消息来源，严禁自采新闻，严禁直接编译境外媒体消息，严禁将境外媒体消息贴发在论坛、博客之中。
2006年9月22日8时10分 柴玥

各网：请马上删除《女大学生忏悔录：我与“三宝部长”张宗海的情事》一稿。
2006年9月25日13时17分 杨乐

各网：关于陈良宇被免职一事，只转新华网、人民网的稿件；可放要闻二三条位置，不放大头条；不做专题；不开跟帖。
2006年9月25日13时34分 杨乐

陈良宇的事，可以开跟贴，论坛中可以讨论，但

1、不准攻击党和政府，

2、不准乱猜测原因、无端猜测、

3、不准挑拨中央政府和地方政府之间矛盾；

4、不准挑拨现任中央领导之间矛盾；

5、不准挑拨现任中央领导与以往中央领导之间矛盾；

6、不准挑拨中央领导与地方领导之间矛盾
2006年9月25日15时37分 杨乐

各网：请马上把陈良宇的照片从新闻内容页面上撤下来。
2006年9月25日16时14分 杨乐

各网：转发陈良宇免职消息时请不要链接或转载陈良宇的简历。请马上处理。删除他的照片
2006年9月26日14时09分 杨乐

各网：今天上午干以胜对路透社提问的回答，请按照中国网修改后的稿子为准,修改后刷新一下。
2006年9月28日17时07分 杨乐

各网：

一、关于SK-Ⅱ和兰黛等日本化妆品的报道不得转载非规范稿源报道。

二、相关报道不上网站首页，不在新闻中心（频道、栏目）要闻区转载，论坛、博客不再作主动讨论话题，此类文章、帖文不向首页推荐。

三、不再就此事制作专题、专栏，已有专题请压至后台，新的报道稿件不再与原先专题链接。

These translated directives were first posted by Rogier Creemers on China Copyright and Media on December 7, 2012 (here).

© Anne.Henochowicz for China Digital Times (CDT), 2012. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Beijing, Beijing Internet Instructions, censorship, Censorship Vault, Chai Yue, Chen Liangyu, Directives from the Ministry of Truth, Gan Yisheng, Internet censorship, Japan, Ministry of Truth, people's daily, Reuters, Shanghai, Shinzo Abe, thailand, Xinhua, Yang Le
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The translations are by Rogier Creemers of China Copyright and Media.

8 September 2006, 16:46, Beijing Municipal Information Office

I. Reprinting instructions concerning the 5th anniversary of 9/11

This year is the 5th anniversary of the “9/11″ terror attacks suffered by the United States, the U.S. will organize a number of remembrance activities. All websites are required to pay attention: to report related remembrance activities, only reprint People’s Daily Net and Xinhua Net copy; do not make special subjects; timely block and delete acclaims for terror attacks and other harmful discussions; it is strictly prohibited that misleading and inciting discussions that link terrorism with the Islamic religion emerge online.

II. Notice concerning strengthening online propaganda work on building Socialism and a harmonious society

The Politburo of the CCP Central Committee has decided to convene the 6th Plenary Meeting of the 16th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party in Beijing, in October of this year, the main theme of the 6th Plenum is researching the question of building Socialism and a harmonious society. In order to create a good online public opinion atmosphere for the convention of the 6th Plenum, and stimulate the construction of a harmonious society, hereby, the following requirements for online propaganda work are notified:

(1) Guiding ideology

Building Socialism and a harmonious society are the major strategic tasks put forward by the Communist Party starting from the total arrangement of the Socialist undertaking with Chinese characteristics and the overall picture of completely constructing a relatively well-off society. Online public propaganda and reporting must earnestly implement the important principles, policies and deployments made by the Party Center in the area of building a harmonious society, give prominence to propagating the new progress, new results and new experiences up and down the entire country in the area of building a harmonious society, and new achievements obtained in economic, political, cultural, and social construction, and other aspects, in order to create a good online public opinion environment for the convention of the 6th Plenum.

(2) Focus propaganda points

a. Meticulously explain and interpret our Party’s strategies and policies in building Socialism and a harmonious society, the important speeches of Central leading comrades concerning harmonious society construction, the newest achievements of theoretical circles’ research concerning harmonious society construction published by Central focus news and network media, and deeply analyze the major significance of building a harmonious society for our country’s developments.

b. Starting from both the macro-level and the micro-level, give prominence to introducing the new measures, new progress and new achievements of harmonious society construction nationwide and in all localities.

c. Integrated with welcoming National Day, look back on the course of our 57 years of development, give prominence to our Party’s wise decisions in concepts to govern the country and the development path, and its important navigational function.

d. Give prominence propagating our Party’s confronting the problem of influencing the harmony of Chinese society with a positive attitude, correctly dissolving social contradictions, expanding the harmonious factors to the largest extent, and reducing the inharmonious factors to the largest extent.

e. Qianlong Net must strengthen reporting concerning propaganda of Beijing Municipality in the area of harmonious society construction; commercial websites must appropriately expand propaganda strength concerning the harmonious society construction achievements in Beijing.

(3) Work arrangements

a. From 15 September, Qianlong, Sina, Sohu, NetEase, TOM and China Net shall again publish a corresponding special subject on building a harmonious society on the main page of the news website “focus subject” or “hot subject” areas (the original special subject may be used). Before 1 October, it may be placed in a relatively low position in the focus subject section; after 1 October, it is to be put in a high position, on the second or third line; from three days before the 6th Plenum begins until three days after the meeting concludes, it must be placed on the first position of special subjects, and special subject entry points are to be set up on the main page of the website and the news section.

b. Renew special subject content, timely reprint reports and comments of Central and municipal focus media and news websites concerning harmonious society construction.

c. Before and after the 6th Plenum, strengthen propaganda and reports around the process of the meetings; strengthen deep interpretation of the reports and decisions passed at the meeting, and the speeches of General Secretary Hu Jintao.

d. Vigorously excavate news events reflecting the “harmonious society,” and use them to substantiate the special subject.

e. Revolving around harmonious society construction topics, set up constructive discussion topics, and guide netizens to participate in discussion on harmonious society construction.

(4) Work requirements

Propaganda keys must be strictly grasped, persist in giving first place to positive propaganda. News information sources must be standardized, strengthen guidance, supervision and control over online public opinion. All websites cannot exaggerate or play up topics existing in harmonious society construction and are not allowed to engage in online surveys under the guise of harmonious society construction topics, online attacking discussions and harmful information must be timely deleted. If any website has good propaganda suggestions, they must report the propaganda policy and plan to our office for examination and approval in advance. Contact person: Municipal Network Management and Network Propaganda Office, Lin Lingsi, telephone: 85120188, ext. 852; 13164291104, e-mail: linlingsi@vip.163.com

III. Notice concerning doing online propaganda and reporting for the 57th National Day well

1 October of this year is the day of remembrance for the 57th anniversary of the foundation of the People’s Republic of China, in order to even better propagate the glorious course that our country has marched for 57 years, and create a joyous and auspicious holiday atmosphere, hereby, the following is notified concerning online propaganda and reporting work for the 57th National Day:

(1) Guiding ideology

Forcefully propagate the increase in our country’s comprehensive national strength since the founding of the nation and especially since reform and opening up, the social development progress, the improvement in people’s living standards and the rise in international position; forcefully propagate the prominent achievements obtained by our country in political, economic, cultural and social construction and other areas; forcefully propagate that the correct leadership of the Chinese Communist Party is an important guarantee for our country to become strong and prosperous; forcefully propagate the new progress and new achievements of the people of all ethnicities in the entire country of establishing and implementing the scientific development view, completely constructing a relatively well-off society, building a Socialist harmonious society, and constructing a new Socialist countryside in these new times, to create a good holiday atmosphere for the 57th National day.

(2) Propaganda focus points

a. Forcefully propagate the huge achievements of our country since founding the nation and especially since reform and opening up in the aspects of political, economic, cultural, and social construction, prominently report the achievements gained in our country’s economic construction in the last half-year.

b. Vigorously report the celebration activities organized in all localities in the entire country around the 57th National Day, all sectors and all industries’ actual activities to present gifts for the 57th glorious anniversary of the motherland, to create a united, warm, and joyous holiday atmosphere.

c. Grasp the key theme of propaganda and reporting on the Golden Week travel well, guide netizens to have a healthy, happy and safe National Day vacation, put an end to the emergence of propaganda and reports that propagate luxury and waste, and environmental destruction.

d. Integrate Mid-Autumn Festival, and ensure propaganda and reports that gives high regard to China’s traditional holidays and carries forward the excellent cultural traditions of the Chinese nation.

e. Qianlong Net will strengthen propaganda and reporting over corresponding activities to celebrate the 57th National Day in Beijing City and on economic and social construction achievements, and sets up a special section; commercial websites must appropriately expand propaganda strength concerning activities related to the 57th National Day in Beijing City.

(3) Work arrangements

a. All Qianlong, Sina, Sohu, Netease, TOM, and China Net must roll out a “Celebrate the 57th Anniversary of the Foundation of the People’s Republic of China” (the name may be somewhat changed) in the special subject section of the news centre, starting from 25 September, and maintain it until 15 October.

b. This special subject production must fully give rein to the initiative and creativity of all websites, all websites, apart from having to transmit National Day speeches from Central leaders and Central organizations’ important National Day activities, may set up National Day propaganda and reporting plans by themselves, but relevant plans must be reported to the Network Management Office Network Propaganda Office for examination and approval before 20 September. Contact person: Network Management Office Network Propaganda Office, Lin Lingsi, telephone: 85120188, ext. 852; 13164291104, e-mail: linlingsi@vip.163.com

11 September 2006, 9:51, Beijing Municipal Information Office

All businesses: Please make the title “Beijing Network Media Zunyi Declaration” into the special subject entry point for the “Glory of the Zunyi Conference”, and put the entire text of the Qianlong Net information “Qianlong Net and other Beijing Media Issue the ‘Beijing Network Media Zunyi Declaration’” in the header of the special subject (http://news.qianlong.com/28874/2006/09/11/183@3412457.htm), at the same time, issue the title “Beijing Network Media Zunyi Declaration” on the main page of websites. All specialist websites: please reprint the “Qianlong Net and other Beijing Media Issue the ‘Beijing Network Media Zunyi Declaration’” on the main page of websites and the header of the first page of the news centers or the first page of forums (http://news.qianlong.com/28874/2006/09/11/183@3412457.htm).

11 September 2006, 15:12, Beijing Municipal Information Office, Yang Le

Everyone, now, the special subject “ideological and moral education of the youth” is to go online, and put up from today until the 17th, put it in the second line of the main page of websites and the second line of the important news section of the news centre, juxtapose it with the special subjects on running the web in a civilized manner and the Long March.

12 September 2006, 15:10, Network Management Office, Duty Manager

All websites, please search for and delete the text “Doctoral Students Uncover and Report Scandal in the Chongqing University Economics and Management Faculty” from forums and blogs. The said post states: “I am Li Qiongfang, a research student of Chongqing University President Zhang, I am now in the third year of my doctorate, at present, we live in the dark Chongqing University, pass our days in extreme difficulty, look forward to all walks of society paying attention to our fate, and paying attention to the widely existing problems in Chongqing University…” Chongqing University has issued a statement concerning this matter that states: Chongqing University states that in the past few days, there were domestic websites who published a post that so-called “Doctoral Students Uncover and Report Scandal in the Chongqing University Economics and Management Faculty,” and many echoing posts have emerged. Against this, Chongqing University states the following: (1) After checking and verification, Chongqing University has never had a doctoral student called Li Qiongfang; (2) The phenomena listed in these posts are pure fabrications, and maliciously defame Chongqing University and corresponding lecturers; (3) Our school’s doctoral student recruitment and training has strict management structures and financial structures, and the phenomena of bribe-taking, embezzlement of student allowances, wilful delay of student training segments and graduation alluded to in the posts have never taken place; (4) In order to guarantee the training quality of doctoral students, the provisions of the school’s “Chongqing University Graduate Student Management Regulations ‘Trial,’” the “Chongqing University Regulations on Graduate Student Applications for Master and Doctoral Degrees and Publishing of Academic Dissertations (Trial Draft)” and document CQU No. (2005)40 have been strictly implemented in the Economics and Management Faculty’s training of doctoral students; (5) The school has reported this case to the public security organs, the public security organs have accepted it. The school will continue to adopt legal methods to clarify the facts and safeguard the reputation of the school and the rights and interests of lecturers and staff. Chongqing University President’s Office, 30 August 2006

12 September 2006, 15:12, Network Management Office, Duty Manager

All websites: Please immediately link to the Dayu Net special subject “Large Campaign for Online Donations – Themed Disaster Relief Activities to Help the Chongqing Disaster Areas to Cross the Crisis” in the special subject column of the website’s news center, and leave it there for six months.

12 September 2006, 15:12, network Management Office, Duty Manager

(1) Please immediately delete the article  “Prestige of Japanese Prime Ministerial Candidate Under Attack Because of Buying Spirits in China.”

(2) Please push the article ” 164 Million Embezzled in Beijing Railway Bureau” to the back stage.

(3) All websites are requested to pay attention: In the time before and after the day of remembrance of the Mukden Incident, please do not open trackers on reports involving Japan. Forums are also not to guide discussions, do not make reports involving Japan into main posts.

18 September 2006, 15:13, Beijing Municipal Information Office

Today, the post of the so-called “Provisional Rules on Implementing Policies Concerning Military Cadres Transferred to Enterprises” has been issued on some forums and websites, these so-called “rules” are pure rumors. Whenever they emerge, they must be immediately deleted, websites may also not upload this information.

20 September 2006, 9:00, Chai Yue

(1) Please immediately close all trackers concerning reports on the coup d’état in Thailand.

(2) The auction house Sotheby’s has claimed that it will organize an auction having articles from China’s Cultural Revolution and “June 4th” in the near future. Please do not report this auction. It must also be prevented that relevant information is spread on interactive segments.

(3) Please delete the article “South Korea Scrambles for the Su Reef in the East China Sea – Chinese Side Strengthens Maritime Patrols and Management.”

2006年9月北京网管办发出的禁令（一）

2006年9月8日16时46分 北京市新闻办

一：关于911五周年的转载提示

今年是美国遭受“911”恐怖袭击五周年，美国会举行一些纪念活动。各网请注意：相关纪念活动的报道，只转载新华网、人民网的稿件；不做专题；及时封堵、删除为恐怖袭击喝彩等有害言论；严禁网上出现将恐怖主义与伊斯兰教挂钩等误导性、煽动性言论。

二：关于加强构建社会主义和谐社会网上宣传工作的通知

中共中央政治局决定于今年10月在北京召开中国共产党第十六届中央委员会第六次会议，六中全会的主要议题是研究构建社会主义和谐社会问题。为给六中 全会召开营造良好的网上舆论氛围，促进和谐社会建设，现提出网上宣传工作要求通知如下：一、 指导思想构建社会主义和谐社会是中国共产党从中国特色社会主义事业的总体布局和全面建设小康社会的全局出发提出的重大战略任务。网上宣传报道要认真贯彻落 实党中央在构建和谐社会方面作出的重要方针、决策和部署，突出宣传全国上下在和谐社会建设方面的新进展、新成果和新经验，经济、政治、文化和社会建设等方 面取得的新成就，为六中全会召开营造良好的网上舆论环境。二、 宣传重点 1. 详细介绍、解读我党在构建社会主义和谐社会方面的战略决策，中央领导同志关于和谐社会建设的重要讲话，中央重点新闻和网络媒体刊载的理论界关于和谐社会建 设研究的最新成果，深入分析构建和谐社会对我国发展的重大意义。 2. 从宏观和微观两方面入手，突出介绍全国和各地在和谐社会建设方面的新举措、新进展、新成就。 3. 结合迎接国庆，回顾我国57年发展历程，突出我党在治国理念和发展道路上的明智抉择和重要导航作用。 4. 突出宣传我党以积极态度面对影响中国社会和谐的问题，正确化解社会矛盾，最大限度地增加和谐因素，最大限度地减少不和谐因素。 5．千龙网要加强对北京市在和谐社会建设方面的宣传报道；商业网站要适当加大对北京市和谐社会建设成果的宣传力度。三、工作安排 1.从9月15日起，千龙网、新浪网、搜狐网、网易网、TOM网、中华网应在新闻中心首页“焦点专题”或“热点专题”区重新推出构建和谐社会相关专题（可 启用原有专题）。10月1日前，可放在焦点专题较低位置；10月1日以后，将位置调高，放在第二、三位置上；六中全会开始前三天至会议结束后三天，放在专 题第一位置，并在网站首页和新闻中心首页设专题入口。 2.更新专题内容，及时转载中央和市属重点媒体和新闻网站关于和谐社会建设的报道和评论。 3.六中全会前后，围绕会议进程强化宣传报道；加强对会议所通过报告、决议和胡锦涛总书记讲话的深度解读。 4.积极发掘体现“社会和谐”的新闻事件，将其充实到专题中。 5．围绕和谐社会建设话题，开设建设性讨论话题，引导网民参与和谐社会建设的讨论。四．工作要求必须严格把握宣传基调，坚持正面宣传为主。要规范新闻信息 稿源，加强网上舆论引导和监控。各网不能夸大、炒作和谐社会建设中存在的话题，不可以借助和谐社会建设话题搞网上调查，对网上攻击性言论和有害信息要及时 予以删除。各网站如有好的宣传建议，须将宣传策划方案提前报送我办审批。 联系人：市网管办网宣处 林灵思 电话：85120188转852； 13164291104 E-mail: linlingsi@vip.163.com

三：关于做好国庆57周年网上宣传报道的通知

今年10月1日是中华人民共和国成立57周年纪念日，为更好宣传我国57年来走过的光辉历程，营造喜庆祥和的节日氛围，现对有关国庆57周年网上宣 传报道工作通知如下：一、指导思想大力宣传建国以来、特别是改革开放以来我国综合国力的增强、社会的发展进步、人民生活水平的改善和国际地位的提高；大力 我国在政治、经济、文化和社会建设等方面取得的突出成就；大力宣传中国共产党的正确领导是国家强盛的重要保证；大力宣传新时期全国各族人民树立和落实科学 发展观、全面建设小康社会、构建社会主义和谐社会、社会主义新农村建设的新进展、新成就，为庆祝国庆57周年营造良好的节日氛围。二、 宣传重点 1. 大力宣传我国建国以来尤其是改革开放以来，在政治、经济、文化和社会建设方面取得的巨大成就，突出报道我国上半年经济建设所取得的成果。 2. 积极报道全国各地围绕国庆57周年举办的庆祝活动，各行各业为祖国57岁华诞献礼的实际行动，营造团结、热烈、喜庆的节日氛围。 3. 把握好黄金周旅游宣传报道基调，引导网民过一个健康、快乐、安全的国庆假期，杜绝出现宣传奢侈浪费、破坏环境的宣传报道。 4. 结合中秋节，做好对重视中国传统节日、弘扬中华民族优秀文化传统的宣传报道。 5．千龙网要加强对北京市庆祝国庆57周年有关活动和经济社会建设成就的宣传报道，并设立专区；商业网站要适当加大对北京市国庆57周年有关活动的宣传力 度。三．工作安排 1.千龙、新浪、搜狐、网易、TOM、中华各网站要从 9月25起在新闻中心专题区推出“庆祝中华人民共和国成立57周年”专题（名称可有所变化），时间持续到10月15日。 2.本次专题制作充分发挥各网站的主动性和创造性，各网站除必须转发中央领导国庆讲话和中央组织的重要国庆活动外，可自行设计国庆宣传报道方案，但有关方 案需在9月20日前报网管办网宣处审核批准。联系人：市网管办网宣处 林灵思 电话：85120188转852； 13164291104 E-mail: linlingsi@vip.163.com
2006年9月11日09时51分 北京市新闻办

各门户：请以“北京网络媒体遵义宣言”的标题作为“遵义会议放光芒”的专题入口，并在专题头条位置全文转载千龙网消息《千龙网等北京网媒发表<北京网络媒体遵义宣言>》（http://news.qianlong.com/28874/2006/09/11/183@3412457.htm），同时在网站首页出“北京网络媒体遵义宣言”的标题。各专业网站：请在网站首页、新闻中心首页或论坛首页的头条位置转载《千龙网等北京网媒发表<北京网络媒体遵义宣言>》（http://news.qianlong.com/28874/2006/09/11/183@3412457.htm）
2006年9月11日15时12分 北京市新闻办杨乐

各位，现在将“未成年人思想道德教育”专题上线，从今天挂到17日，放在网站首页2条和新闻中心要闻区2条位置，与文明办网，长征专题并列。
2006年9月12日15时10分 网管办值班

各网：请在论坛、博客中查找并删除《读博士生揭报重庆大学经管院黑幕》一文。该帖文称：“我是重庆大学张校长的研究生李琼方，现在是博士三年级，目 前我们生活在黑暗的重庆大学，日子过的非常艰难，期待社会各界关注我们的命运，也关注中国大学普遍存在的问题……” 重庆大学已经就此事发表示声明：重庆大学声明近日，国内有网站登出所谓《重庆大学经管学院博士招生的黑幕》的帖子，并出现了相关的附和帖子。对此，重庆大 学严正声明如下：一、经查实，重庆大学从未有过叫李琼方的博士生。二、这些帖子所罗列现象纯属无中生有，是对重庆大学及相关教师的恶意中伤。三、我校博士 生招生和培养有严格的管理制度、财经制度，从未出现过帖子中所称的受贿、克扣学生津贴、有意拖延学生培养环节和毕业时间的现象。四、为了确保研究生的培养 质量，经管学院培养博士生是严格执行学校《重庆大学研究生管理规定（试行）》、《重庆大学研究生申请硕士、博士学位发表学术论文的规定（试行稿）》、重大 校（2005）40号文的规定。 五、学校就此事已向公安机关报案，公安机关已受理。学校将继续采取法律手段，澄清事实，维护学校声誉和教职工权益。重庆大学校长办公室 2006年8月30日
2006年9月12日15时12分 网管办值班

各网：请马上在本网站新闻中心的专题栏目中链接大渝网“网上募捐大行动??帮助重庆灾区共渡难关主题赈灾活动”专题，并保留半个月。
2006年9月12日15时12分 网管办值班

1.请马上删除《日首相候选人因在华买春事件声誉受打击》一稿。

2.请把《北京铁路局挪用1.64亿》这一条压到后台。

3.各网请注意：在九一八纪念日前后一段时间，对于涉日的报道请不要开跟帖。论坛也不引导讨论，不以涉日报道为主帖贴发。
2006年9月18日15时13分 北京市新闻办

近日，一些论坛网站贴发所谓“企业军转干部落实政策暂行办法（讨论稿）”帖文，此所谓《办法》纯属谣传。一旦发现要立即删除，网站也不得上载这一信息。
2006年9月20日09时00分 柴玥

一：请立即关闭所有关于泰国政变报道的跟帖

二：索士比拍卖行声称将于近期举行一场有中国文革和“六四”物品的拍卖会。关于此场拍卖会，请不要报道。互动环节也要防止有关消息流传。

三：请删除《韩国争抢中国东海苏岩礁 中方加强海洋巡视管理》一稿。

These translated directives were first posted by Rogier Creemers on China Copyright and Media on December 6, 2012 (here).

© Anne.Henochowicz for China Digital Times (CDT), 2012. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: censorship, Chai Yue, Chongqing, Cultural Revolution, Directives from the Ministry of Truth, golden week, harmonious society, Hu Jintao, Japan, Lin Lingsi, long march, Mid-Autumn Festival, Ministry of Truth, Mukden Incident, National Day, netease, netizens, official corruption, people's daily, propaganda, sina, sohu, Sotheby's, south korea, thailand, Xinhua, Yang Le, Zunyi
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The translations are by Rogier Creemers of China Copyright and Media.

11 June 2006, 15:00, Network Management Office, Duty manager

Concerning the matter of the Beijing Vice-Mayor Liu Zhihua, water it down, only reprint Xinhua copy, do not change titles, do not put it on main pages of websites and the important news sections of websites, do not set up special subject sections, do not make corresponding links, do not set up commentary trackers, it may be put in the lower part of the domestic news section in the news center. Forums, blogs, trackers and other interactive segments are not to post or discuss this, do not send short messages.

12 June 2006, 15:52, Network Management Office, Duty manager

Everyone: For reporting the Shanghai Cooperation Summit, only use Xinhua copy, do not transmit copy from other sources; it is especially not permitted to reprint non-standard source copy that discloses the contradictions and disagreements between the member states; do not say that the Shanghai Cooperation Organization is an anti-United States organization; forums and blogs also can only use Xinhua copy for posts, and are not permitted to issue copy with other content, where matters are discovered that do not conform to the above requirements, they are to be deleted without exception;

Reports concerning the situation in Thailand must maintain neutrality, and not comment or play up the political situation, it is not permitted to use or post information from foreign media and websites.

12 June 2006, 16:55, Network Management Office, Duty manager

No website may reprint all sorts of “Protect the Diaoyu Islands” or “Occupy the Diaoyu Islands” activities in the near future, forums and blogs may also not post this sort of information.

13 June 2006, 15:38, Chen Hua

Concerning the matter of Liu Zhihua, without exception use Xinhua copy, everyone is requested to investigate their own websites for whether or not articles from the China Industry and Commerce Times are present, if they are, delete them without exception, the finance and economics channel is to be especially notified.

13 June 2006, 9:59, Network Management Office, Duty manager

Everyone, please place the special subject of “running the web in a civilized manner” on the main page of present websites and in the part for running the web in a civilized manner, in the second line of the important news section of the news center, juxtapose it with the science and technology Olympics and the red meetings, the article of Zheng Peimin may be moved to the backstage.

14 June 2006, 11:12, Chen Hua

In the last few days, posts concerning “college entrance exam questions were leaked in a number of districts in Liaoning” appeared forum, news trackers and blogs, creating a harmful social influence. All websites are requested to not print news and comment related to this matter, it is not to be discussed in forums, and existing articles and posts must be deleted.

15 June 2006, 15:26, Network Management Office, Duty manager

“New Countryside Construction Triggers a Wave of Overseas Fact-Finding Trips, 30.000 Chinese Officials Go to Korea for Study,” published by the Caijing Times is false information. All websites are requested to delete this article, where there are relevant posts in forums, these must also be timely deleted.

15 June 2006, 15:37, Network Management Office, Duty manager

Stressed: For reports on the Shanghai Cooperation Summit, only use Xinhua copy, copy from other sources may not be used without exception, it is strictly prohibited to edit or translate foreign media information; close news trackers on information on the Shanghai Cooperation Summit; discussions on forums and blogs concerning the Shanghai Cooperation Organization are limited to posting of official Xinhua copy, do not open trackers; delete posts in forums that attack the Summit, attack the preparation work for the Summit, believe that this Summit is opposition to the United States, as well as debates on Iran, Pakistan and this Summit.

15 June 2006, 22:07, Chen Hua

Concerning information on the accident of a military transport plane, only transmit Xinhua copy, no news trackers may be set up, forums are limited to posting official Xinhua copy, do not discuss.

16 June 2006, 18:33, Network Management Office, Duty manager

Some media reprinted information on “sudden scandal about adding sports points in the Hunan college entrance exam.” In order to guarantee the smooth process of higher education student recruitment work, and safeguard social stability, all websites are no longer to reprint this report, forums and trackers, etc., are also not to discuss this matter.

16 June 2006, 19:33, Fan Tao

All websites are requested to investigate whether or not there are posts in forums and blogs concerning a folk organization in Guilin attacking a Xinjiang pickpocket and criminal (images and text), and speedily delete this post and corresponding posts.

17 June 2006, 14:31, Chen Hua

Everyone, do not set up forums, blogs or trackers on taxis and drivers without exception, do not discuss corresponding topics. All are requested to deal with this.

17 June 2006, 18:35, Chen Hua

Everyone, in recent times, not a few reports and posts have emerged online concerning “death through overwork” of the Shenzhen employee Hu Xinyu, all websites are requested to no longer transmit this sort of articles, existing articles must be completely pushed to the back stage, do not post articles concerning the “death through overwork” of Hu Xinyu in forums and blogs.

19 June 2006, 9:11, Lu Chao

Internal information: there is a rumor that there will be a taxi driver strike on 1 July, please strengthen control over corresponding information, if there is information, timely give it to us, telephone: 85223522.

 

2006年6月北京网管办发出的禁令（二）

2006年6月11日15时00分 网管办值班

关于北京副市长刘志华一事，淡化处理，只转新华社通稿，不改标题，不放网站首页和新闻中心要闻区，不建专题，不作相关链接，不开评论跟贴，可放新闻中心国内新闻下部。论坛、博客、贴吧等互动环节不贴发，不讨论，不发短信。

2006年6月12日15时52分 网管办值班

各位：上海合作峰会的报道，只用新华社的，不得转发其他来源的；特别不许转载那些披露成员国之间矛盾和分歧的非规范稿源用稿；不要把上合组织说成是对抗美国的组织；论坛、博客也只能帖发新华社通稿，不得帖发其他内容的稿件，发现与上述要求不符的一律删除；

涉及泰国局势的报道要守中立，对其政局不评论、不炒作、不得引用、帖发境外媒体和网站的消息；

2006年6月12日16时55分 网管办值班

各网站不要转载近期的各种“保钓”“登钓”活动，论坛、博客也不得帖发此类信息

2006年6月13日15时38分 陈华

关于刘志华的事，一律用新华社的稿件，今天有中华工商时报的稿子请大家清查自家网站，如有，一律删除，特别通知财经频道。

2006年6月13日09时59分 网管办值班

各位，请将“文明办网”专题放在目前网站首页和新闻中心要闻区二条的文明办网位置中，与科技奥运、红色会议并列，郑培民的可转入后台。

2006年6月14日11时12分 陈华

这几天，论坛、新闻跟帖及博客中出现有关”辽宁高考部分地区泄题”的贴文，造成不良社会影响。请各网站不刊发有关此事的新闻和评论，论坛中不讨论，已有文章和帖文即作删除处理。

2006年6月15日15时26分 网管办值班

《财经时报》刊发的“新农村建设引发出国考察潮 三万中国官员将赴韩学习”为虚假消息。请各网站删除此稿，论坛中有关帖文也要及时删除。

2006年6月15日15时37分 网管办值班

强调：上合峰会的报道只使用新华社稿件，其他来源稿件一律不得使用，严禁编译境外媒体消息；关闭上合峰会消息的新闻跟帖；论坛、博客中关于上海合作 组织峰会的讨论仅限于贴发新华社正式稿件，不开跟帖；清除论坛中攻击峰会，攻击峰会准备工作，认为这次峰会是与美国的对抗，以及议论伊朗、巴基斯坦参与这 次峰会的帖文。

2006年6月15日22时07分 陈华

关于军用运输机失事的消息只转发新华社稿，不得开设新闻跟贴，论坛只限于贴发新华社正式新闻稿，不议论

2006年6月16日18时33分 网管办值班

有媒体转载”湖南高考体育加分暴丑闻”消息。为确保高考招生工作顺利进行，维护社会稳定，各网站不再转载该篇报道，论坛贴吧等也不讨论此事。

2006年6月16日19时33分 范 涛

请各网清查一下论坛或博客中是否有关于桂林民间组织打击新疆小偷犯罪(图并文)的帖文,如发现,迅速删除此帖文及相关跟帖.

2006年6月17日14时31分 陈华

各位，一律不开设出租车及司机相关论坛、博客、帖吧，不讨论相关话题。请各自清理。

2006年6月17日18时35分 陈华

各位，近一段时间以来，网上有不少关于深圳员工胡新宇”过劳死”的报道和帖文，请各网站不再转发此类文章，已有的要全部压到后台，论坛和博客中也不要贴发有关胡新宇”过劳死”的文章。

2006年6月19日09时11分 卢超

内部消息：7月1日有出租司机传言罢工 ，请加强相关信息监控，有消息及时报给我，电话：85223522

These translated directives were first posted by Rogier Creemers on China Copyright and Media on November 27, 2012 (here).

© Anne.Henochowicz for China Digital Times (CDT), 2012. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Beijing, Beijing Internet Instructions, censorship, Censorship Vault, Chen Hua, college entrance exam, diaoyu islands, Directives from the Ministry of Truth, guilin, Hu Xinyu, Hunan, Internet censorship, Iran, Korea, Liaoning, Liu Zhihua, Lu Chao, Ministry of Truth, Pakistan, shanghai cooperation organization, Shanghai Cooperation Summit, Shenzhen, social stability, thailand, United States, Xinhua, Xinjiang, Zheng Peimin
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In a recent speech to members of the Chinese community in Thailand, footage of which was posted to the website thaicn.com on Wednesday, Mr. Wen gave what sounded like farewell speech, despite having another four months at the helm of the world’s second-largest economy.

What was remarkable about the speech was not so much its content as the way it ended.

“In the pursuit of truth, I would die nine times without regret. If I’m going to die, I want to die with honesty and integrity,” he said as he was wrapping up, a paraphrase of his favorite poet, Qu Yuan. To that he added: “I hope everyone will forget me – that includes Chinese people and overseas Chinese. Forget me.”

Huh?

Wen’s remarks have been read as an “assertion of integrity” following a New York Times investigation into the multi-billion dollar fortune amassed by his family during his time in power. Wen himself is said to have ordered an official inquiry into the exposé’s claims. From Shi Jiangtao at South China Morning Post:

The Beijing-based historian Zhang Lifan said Wen’s remarks could be seen as his parting message before going into full retirement next year. “As a premier who famously cares about his reputation and his own place in history, I think Wen is trying to say loud and clear that he is innocent and all those allegations against him or his family are biased and misleading,” Zhang said

Zhang said Wen was confident that he had been wrongly accused and wanted to voice his frustration about becoming the main target of criticism from Communist Party conservatives and leftists opposed to his high-profile appeals for bolder political and economic reform.

See more on Wen via CDT.

© Samuel Wade for China Digital Times (CDT), 2012. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: new york times, poetry, thailand, Wen Jiabao, Zhang Lifan
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Since directives are sometimes communicated orally to journalists and editors, who then leak them online, the wording published here may not be exact. The original publication date is noted after the directives; the date given may indicate when the directive was leaked, rather than when it was issued. CDT does its utmost to verify dates and wording, but also takes precautions to protect the source.

Central Propaganda Department: During U.S. president Obama’s trips to Thailand, Cambodia, and Myanmar [Burma], Chinese leaders will simultaneously visit Thailand and Cambodia. Use only Xinhua copy. Do not comment. Downplay Obama’s visit. (November 13, 2012)

中宣部：美国总统奥巴马即将访问泰国柬埔寨缅甸，中国领导人同一时间访问泰国柬埔寨，只用新华社稿子，不评论，低调处理奥巴马访问。

Central Propaganda Department: With regards to the online contents about the story “Beijing Spends 70 Mil Yuan on Heating per Day,” all media are asked not to carry, report, or comment on this. (November 11, 2012)

中宣部：对网上有关“北京一天供暖花费近7000万元”的内容，请各媒体不转载不报道不评论。

© Anne.Henochowicz for China Digital Times (CDT), 2012. | Permalink | 2 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Barack Obama, Beijing, Burma, cambodia, censorship, central propaganda department, Directives from the Ministry of Truth, Internet censorship, media censorship, Ministry of Truth, Myanmar, propaganda, thailand, Xinhua
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A Chinese court on Tuesday sentenced Naw Kham, a drug lord from Myanmar, and three of his subordinates to death for the murder of 13 Chinese sailors on the Mekong River last year.

The six suspects, comprised of five people from Myanmar, Thailand and Laos and one stateless suspect, faced charges of intentional homicide, drug trafficking, kidnapping and hijacking or a combination of those criminal offenses. The suspects were ordered by the court to pay compensations totalling six million yuan (about 960,000 U.S. dollars).

All six defendants said they will appeal Tuesday’s verdict.

Naw Kham and his gang members were found to have masterminded and colluded with Thai soldiers in an attack on two Chinese cargo ships, the Hua Ping and Yu Xing 8, on Oct. 5, 2011 on the Mekong River, the court said in an investigative report.

While four of the suspects were given the death sentence, another suspect was given a suspended death sentence, and one suspect was sentenced to eight years in prison, from AP:

Nine Thai soldiers who are accused of taking part in the killings previously surrendered but have not been tried or extradited. They remain in Thai military custody and are suspected of murder and concealing evidence, Deputy National Police Chief Police Gen. Pansiri Prapawat said Tuesday.

Sailors shipping Chinese produce and manufactured goods down the Mekong have long complained of armed gangs that loot their boats or demand cash. Little action was taken to protect them until the Oct. 5, 2011, attack near the Thai-Myanmar border, which sparked Chinese demands for a thorough investigation.

The Bangkok Post reported a few days after the killings that local Thai authorities seized both the hijacked Chinese boats after a gun battle with the gang and found cargo that included amphetamine pills worth 100 million baht ($3.22 million), garlic, apples and fuel.

The murder occurred in the ‘Golden Triangle’, which runs through China, Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos, and it is also known for its illegal drug trade. While the principal suspect, Naw Kham, has been identified as Burmese, the nationality of the other suspects is unknown, from AFP:

The reading of the verdicts was shown live on state television.

The trial finished in September after the gang of six men pleaded guilty to intentional homicide, drug trafficking, kidnapping and hijacking, state news agency Xinhua said in September.

The gang, based in Myanmar’s northern Shan state, was led by Myanmar national Naw Kham, who was one of the men sentenced to death.

At least one of the remaining five gang members is Thai, but the nationalities of the other four is unclear.

© Melissa M. Chan for China Digital Times (CDT), 2012. | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: death sentence, drug trafficking, Golden Triangle, hijack, murder, Myanmar, thailand
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The Thai military says the victims were killed upriver before their ships floated downstream into Thailand. But evidence gleaned from Thai officials and unpublished police and military reports suggests that some, if not all, of the sailors were still alive when their boats crossed into Thailand, and that they were executed and tossed overboard inside Thai territory.

Their assailants remain unknown. Initially, the prime suspect was a heavily armed Mekong pirate who terrorizes shipping in Myanmar. But then the investigation turned to nine members of an elite anti-narcotics taskforce of the Thai military.

New patrols by Chinese gunboats were supposed to restore peace to the region. But a visit to the Golden Triangle also found that attacks on Mekong shipping continue.

Incongruously, just across the river from where the ill-fated ships were found moored, on the Laos side of the triangle, Reuters also discovered a vast casino complex catering to Chinese tourists. Its Chinese owner regards it as a “second homeland”; others worry it could morph into a strategic Chinese outpost.

The second and most recent of the patrols mentioned by the Reuters, conducted by Chinese police in cooperation with counterparts from Laos, Myanmar and Thailand, ended earlier this month. In a weekend report, The Bangkok Post called the October murders “the tip of the iceberg of drug-related crime on the Mekong River”, claiming that the violence has caused sailors to avoid the river:

Chen Ling, a mechanic on board a Chinese cargo ship in Jinghong, which in Thai is known as Chiang Rung, in Yunnan province’s Xishuangbanna prefecture in southwest China, has worked with cargo boats on the Mekong River for almost 30 years.

He also worked as a temporary crewman for the Thai-owned Kasa Longkhamcruise boat on the return trip to Thailand, but only on the condition that he travelled back to Jinghong by car rather than the river to ensure his safety.

He told of a recent incident in which a Chinese cruise boat was attacked by an armed group using speed boats. Passengers and crew, including himself, were robbed, although nobody was hurt.

He said the murder of the 13 Chinese sailors had frightened many sailors on the river.

© Scott Greene for China Digital Times (CDT), 2012. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: China, drug trafficking, Golden Triangle, Laos, Mekong river, murder, Myanmar, thailand
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From the territorial disputes with Vietnam and the Philippines in the South China Sea to tensions with Burma (Myanmar) and Thailand, relationships that were sound, if not always friendly, have now soured.Myanmar’s decision to shelve the Chinese-backed Myitsone Dam project shocked China. Likewise, the killing of 13 Chinese boat crewmen on the Mekong River in October serves as a stark reminder that China’s presumably peaceful southern land border, which has been untroubled for nearly 20 years, today resembles the most hostile sort of neighborhood.

China’s people and government are especially dismayed by the Mekong killings, which seemed to demonstrate, once again, the government’s inability to protect its citizens from being murdered abroad, despite the country’s newfound global status. As a result, two compelling questions have arisen: Why do China’s neighbours choose to neglect its interests? And why, despite China’s rise, do its authorities seem increasingly unable to secure Chinese lives and commercial interests abroad?

…

Indeed, China’s neighbours will not be reliably good to Chinese interests unless and until China begins to provide essential public goods – not just commerce, but also full-fledged regional governance based on the rule of law, respect for human rights, and regional economic growth. Otherwise, ruptures such as those at Myitsone and along the Mekong will recur, deepening China’s sense of isolation and panic.

China reached an agreement earlier this week with Laos, Myanmar and Thailand to send patrol ships to protect its interests on the Mekong River, though questions remain over the exact nature of the initiative and how its Southeast Asian partners will contribute. See also CDT coverage of the Myitsone dam project and recent analysis of rising tensions on the South China Sea.

© Scott Greene for China Digital Times (CDT), 2011. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Burma, economic growth, Human Rights, Laos, Myanmar, neighbors, philippines, rule of law, Southeast Asia, thailand, Vietnam
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“I think many people like to have these simple large numbers that are easy to recognize, and impressive, but unfortunately it’s baseless, it’s unscientific,” said Wang [Feng, director of Brookings-Tsinghua Center for Public Policy]. “The Chinese government likes to use this as a way to support, to justify the continued implementation of the one-child policy, which is long outdated.”

The scholars say that China’s biggest drop in fertility came from 1970-79 before the one-child policy was introduced and that the reductions since then have been largely due to economic and social reforms that make small families more attractive ….

“Thailand and China have had almost identical fertility trajectories since the mid 1980s,” he said. “Thailand does not have a one-child policy.”

See also Jonathan Watts’ excellent ‘Parents Benefit From One-Child Policy – If They Follow the Rules‘, on China’s immensely complicated and costly family planning system, via CDT.

© Samuel Wade for China Digital Times (CDT), 2011. | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: family planning, one-child policy, population control, population growth, thailand
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A total of 11 cargo boats with 78 sailors on board began sailing into the Guanlei Port in the Dai Autonomous Prefecture of Xishuangbanna in the southwestern province of Yunnan at around 3:40 p.m.

They were greeted by crowds of anxious people, including their relatives, colleagues, local officials and residents. Firecrackers were set off in celebration, and banners reading “Welcome home!” and “Welcome back to the motherland!” were displayed along with national flags.

They embraced their relatives tightly in tears as soon as they stepped on the Chinese soil.

“We were very scared when we heard that our compatriots had been killed, and we did not dare to come back home by waterway at first,” said a sailor surnamed Wu from the boat Jinshui 12.

“We are back at last! Thank the nation! Thank the government!” he said.

The Chinese government has called for action from the three governments in the region where the attacks occurred to take action to prevent future incidents, Reuters reports:

“The Chinese government values the life and safety of every Chinese citizen and demands a thorough probe of what happened and that the murderers be brought to justice,” Vice Foreign Minister Song Tao told envoys from Thailand, Laos and Myanmar.

He told the three countries to “step up their investigation, get to the bottom of the matter as soon as possible, report their findings to China in a timely manner and … severely punish the assailants”, according to a statement on the ministry’s website (www.mfa.gov.cn).

The three must ensure the safety of Chinese sailors on the river and China will assist in ensuring that happens, the ministry paraphrased Song as saying.

© Sophie Beach for China Digital Times (CDT), 2011. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: hijack, thailand
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Last Wednesday, Thai border troops seized drugs on board two Chinese-flagged ships coded Yi Xing 8 Hao and Hua Ping, after a gunfight of more than 30 minutes with drug traffickers, in Chiang Saen District, bordering Myanmar. One drug trafficker was reported to have been killed.

The police found bodies of Chinese sailors late last week. Three bodies, with hands tied and handcuffed behind their backs, were found on Friday. Another nine bodies were found on Saturday.

The bodies were identified as the crew of Yi Xing 8 Hao and Hua Ping. The police suspect drug traffickers had planned to use the hijacked ships to smuggle drugs into Thailand and the sailors were killed before the gunfire on Wednesday.

A Bangkok Post report sheds more light on the identity of the drug kingpin allegedly involved and the events surrounding the hijacking:

A gang run by Nor Kham, a Shan drug trafficker, is thought to be behind the grisly murders of 12 Chinese boat crew members whose bodies were found in the Mekong River, says the army.

Maj Gen Prakarn Chonlayuth, commander of the Pa Muang Task Force, said the gang hijacks ships plying the river and demands protection money from them.

If they refuse to pay, they kill the crew and take over the ships to deliver drugs from Burma to Thailand.

… Nor Kham, 40, wanted on Thai and Burmese arrest warrants for drugs trafficking, had expanded his illegal activities to collect protection money from Chinese-flagged cargo ships a few years ago, he said.

Authorities obtained intelligence that the Nor Kham drugs gang killed all crew members of any vessel which refused to pay the gang protection money. He believes that’s what happened in this case.

About 400 armed men are thought to belong to the Nor Kham drugs gang, said Permpong Chavalit, deputy secretary-general of the Office of the Narcotics Control Board.

Meanwhile, an editorial in the Bangkok Post called on Thai and Chinese leaders to press the Burmese government to stop tolerating the drug trade in the Golden Triangle:

In 2000, the Wa strongman Pau Yu Chang promised Khin Nyunt, then a powerful member of the Burmese military junta, that he would end the drug trade by 2005.

Otherwise, he said infamously, “You can chop my head off”. It would be good to take up his offer, at least to the point of putting him under arrest. There are arrest warrants for him in Thailand and the United States. The US and Thai authorities also have warrants to arrest the Wa military leader Wei Hsueh-kang, and his corrupted Thai associate Surachai Ngernthongfu, alias Bang Ron, who has ruined the lives of thousands of his countrymen.

It would be an improvement to bring justice to these men and others. And good luck as well to the current drug crackdown under Ms Yingluck’s auspices. But for now, there is just one good solution. The new Burmese government can only be credible if it moves aggressively against the Pang Sang criminals and their drug factories, for a start. The very highest Thai and Chinese government leaders and diplomats must make this clear to Burma. The sooner the better.

© Scott Greene for China Digital Times (CDT), 2011. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Burma, drug trafficking, hijack, murder, thailand
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Detractors complain that high-speed rail is too expensive for the Zhang in the street. Migrant labourers, 230m of whom are expected to make the journey home during Spring Festival, are not in enough of a hurry to pay a premium for speed, they argue. (Or as Patrick Chovanec of Tsinghua University puts it with a dose of economese, “The bulk of the long-distance passenger traffic, especially during the peak holiday periods, is migrant workers for whom the opportunity cost of time is relatively low.”) While some travellers are having such a hard time getting tickets home this holiday season that they have unveiled their underpants in protest, it is reported that on one line $352 luxury sleeper tickets are going begging.

This mismatch raises questions about the $300 billion being thrown at high-speed rail this decade. Many newly added lines are making hefty losses and many are thought to be operating at under half capacity. The Chinese Academy of Sciences, an influential official think-tank, seems to be in the sceptics’ corner: fretting about unsustainable levels of debt, it was reported in November to have recommended the government reconsider its plans. Chinese leaders were said to have ordered a review, and construction of a Maglev line between Shanghai and Hangzhou has since been reported “shelved”.

Some economists make even more dismal arguments. Mr Chovanec attacks one of the main legs of the economic case for high-speed rail in China, that transporting passengers thus would free up track desperately needed for shifting coal. Much of China’s fuel travels by road: a 62-mile traffic jam outside Beijing lasting 10 days last August was only the most visible sign. But if fast trains are out of reach for the masses, there will be little or no relief for either rail or road networks. Critics say the proliferation of expensive trains has pushed poorer travellers back onto the roads, clogging them with 70,000 more buses this Spring Festival, although hundreds of extra trains have also been laid on. Improving China’s languishing logistics network for freight would be a better use of the cash, Mr Chovanec posits.

The article cites other, less direct benefits, however, from exports to national prestige. Another article in the newspaper last month described China’s backing of rail expansion across South-East Asia, noting that “Empire-builders love railways”:

THE rapid expansion of its high-speed railways has got China plenty of attention. Yet ambitions do not stop at the border. On its southern flank China is renewing a push to lay tracks to mainland South-East Asia. The region’s leaders have dreamed since the 1990s of seamless rail travel between Singapore and Kunming, capital of the south-western Chinese province of Yunnan. South-East Asia’s existing network of railways is creaking, patchy and underfunded. Most goods move about the region by lorry and ship. But that creates choke points while running up fuel bills. An integrated rail system could be just the ticket.

Enter China, chequebook in hand. It has recently signed agreements to build new lines in Laos and Thailand, while it extends its network from Kunming to the China-Laos border. These lines are meant to be ready by 2015. The benefits may be huge. Most countries along the route have already hitched their wagons to China’s outsize economy and are eager for more trade. China’s free-trade agreement with the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN), which took effect a year ago, has cut tariffs on most traded goods. The region still has natural resources, which China is keen to strip.

See also: Rail Chaos as Millions of Chinese Travellers Head for Home – Audio Slideshow

© Samuel Wade for China Digital Times (CDT), 2011. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Chinese Academy of Science, coal, high-speed rail, Kunming, Laos, south east asia, Spring Festival, thailand, transportation
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China is fast failing the good-neighbour test in the current Mekong River crisis. With the vital waterway at its lowest point in a generation, officials in both Beijing and the provinces are not participating in the search for solutions to this problem. It is not a new phenomenon. For close to a decade, there has been widespread criticism of China’s actions along the Mekong. The current emergency, with millions of lives affected, simply adds urgency to the problem.

The trouble is China’s unilateral decision to harness the Mekong with eight hydro-electric dams. Four of them are already in operation. Since the first dams were built, the Mekong’s ebbs and flows have changed. It has not been proved scientifically that the Chinese dams are the cause of this, or one of the causes. What is extremely troubling and frustrating, however, is the lackadaisical and repetitious denials by Chinese officials.

At the very least, China should be an active participant in aggressive studies about the Mekong River. The waterway starts in China, flows through six countries and vastly affects the economy, culture and way of life of each of those nations, far back from the banks of the river itself. Farmers, fishermen and tradesmen literally depend on the river for their lives. But the action of the Mekong has changed since China began constructing its dams. The highs of the river have been higher, causing vast flooding. This year’s low river level has caused great hardship in a year when rainfall has been scarce and El Nino is expected to worsen the annual drought.

© Xiao Qiang for China Digital Times (CDT), 2010. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: hydro-power, Mekong river, thailand
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