46 online
 
Most Popular Choices
Share on Facebook 6 Printer Friendly Page More Sharing
OpEdNews Op Eds   

Freedom Of Speech, Media Continue to Face Restrictions in Cuba, China, Vietnam and Iran

By       (Page 1 of 2 pages)   4 comments
In recent weeks, we've seen news stories about governments' further limiting freedom of the press coming from Cuba, China, Vietnam and Iran.

In Cuba, hen Fidel Castro was admitted to the hospital, his stand-in as leader of the country, brother Raul Castro, quickly decreed an end to satellite dishes. By ending satellite dishes he also terminated western (primarily U.S.) TV sources.

The stories from Cuba started to appear on about August 9 and typically included lines like, "Cuba's communist government has signaled a crackdown on black-market satellite dishes used by citizens to get news and views from its arch enemy, the United States, nine days after ailing leader Fidel Castro temporarily relinquished power to his brother."

China's Communist government has long controlled print media, TV and the internet. Many sites, like that of my own Washington Times, are "blocked" and cannot be accessed from within China.

On September 13, 2006, the lead New York Times editorial, titled "China's Echo Chamber," began, "China has long prided itself on its ability to master capitalism without indulging in the messy business of democracy. So Beijing got a twofer this week when it gave the state-run Xinhua news agency monopoly control over the lucrative financial news business and the power to administer broad censorship rules for all foreign news entering China."

"Foreign agencies have long been barred from selling general news directly to the Chinese media. Some foreign companies have been quietly testing the limits as the number of Chinese media outlets has grown and Chinese editors have become more daring," said the New York Times. "Xinhua sent a clear warning to all sides, listing 10 categories of news covering politics, religion and national unity - code for Taiwan -that could not be released into China."

"Not surprisingly, it [Xinhua news agency and the government of China] didn't quote any critics," wryly wrote a New York Times editor.

Vietnam, just a few weeks ago, arrested a Vietnamese-born America in Vietnam to visit family members. Cong Thanh Do, 47, of San Jose, California, has been held in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam without charges or access to a lawyer or anyone else from outside the Communist government since August 17, 2006.

The crime committed by Mr. Do, western observers believe, is that he has, in the past, posted pro-democracy articles on web sites.

A letter from Reporters Without Borders on September 6, 2006, stated in part, "Five people are currently imprisoned in Vietnam for having expressed democratic views on the Internet."

"Contrary to the claims of the Vietnamese authorities, none of them is a terrorist, criminal or spy. These men have been punished for using the Internet to publicly express their disagreement with the political line of the sole party. They are non-violent democrats."

Sebsequent to running a story about Mr. Do on the web site http://peace-and-freedom.blogspot.com/ , we were contacted by the family of Thuong N. Foshee. According to her family, "On September 8, 2005 she [Mrs. Foshee] was detained by the Vietnamese government and has been in a detention center in HCMC ever since. She has not been charged with any crime, has been denied bail, has been denied a visit with an attorney, her prescription medication has been withheld and she has been denied adequate dental and medical care."

"Like Mr. Do, she belongs to an organization in the states that advocates democracy in Vietnam. For this she has been labeled a terrorist in Vietnam just as Mr. Do has. Her detention has been arbitrary and continues with no end in sight."

This is the same Communist government that is anxious for U.S. approval to enter the World Trade Organization (WTO), seeks Permanent Normal Trade Relations with the U.S., and expects to host President Bush at the APECs 20 in Hanoi this November.

An AFP news report on September 9, 2006, said, "Two US senators have sought the personal intervention of US President George W. Bush to ensure that the bill granting Vietnam Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) is passed before his trip to the APEC summit in Vietnam's capital Hanoi in November."

APEC stands for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation.

Next Page  1  |  2

(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).

Rate It | View Ratings

John Carey Social Media Pages: Facebook page url on login Profile not filled in       Twitter page url on login Profile not filled in       Linkedin page url on login Profile not filled in       Instagram page url on login Profile not filled in

John E. Carey is the former president of International Defense Consultants, Inc.
Go To Commenting
The views expressed herein are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.
Writers Guidelines

 
Contact AuthorContact Author Contact EditorContact Editor Author PageView Authors' Articles
Support OpEdNews

OpEdNews depends upon can't survive without your help.

If you value this article and the work of OpEdNews, please either Donate or Purchase a premium membership.

STAY IN THE KNOW
If you've enjoyed this, sign up for our daily or weekly newsletter to get lots of great progressive content.
Daily Weekly     OpEd News Newsletter
Name
Email
   (Opens new browser window)
 

Most Popular Articles by this Author:     (View All Most Popular Articles by this Author)

Myanmar Shuns Best Hope For People

Human Rights Issues In Communist Southeast Asia: Red Alert

Memorial Day History, Tradition, Honor: Remembering the Fallen

Persian Gulf Ship Inspectors-- The Brits Captured by Iran

Baker, Hamilton Commission on Iraq Reports

World Alzheimer's Awareness day

To View Comments or Join the Conversation:

Tell A Friend