China to Relax Internet Censorship for Olympic
China came under heavy fire after it banned certain websites for Olympic. But, ultimately the Govt lifted the ban after discussion with International Olympic Committee (IOC). Now, sites including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the BBC Chinese language service are visible in the media center for the Games.
Earlier in the week Mark Allison, East Asia researcher at Amnesty International, demanded that the IOC and the Beijing Organising Committee should provide freedom of the press and also provide “immediate uncensored internet access” at Olympic media venues.
The row regarding the blocking was an embarrassment for IOC. As of Friday morning reporters in the Olympic press headquarters in Beijing confirmed after negotiation with chinese Govt that previously restricted sites had been unblocked. But, spiritual movement Falun Gong, Chinese dissidents, the Tibetan government in exile and the 1989 military crackdown on the Tiananmen Square protests are still inaccessible because they are against national interest.
The U-turn came as President Hu Jintao said his country would stand by the commitment it made in bidding for the Games, in a rare interview with a select group of foreign reporters.
Source: vunet
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