Free speech online 'under threat'

Google has been criticised for its stance on China
Bloggers are being asked to show their support for freedom of expression by Amnesty International.
The human rights group also wants web log writers to highlight the plight of fellow bloggers jailed for what they wrote in their online journals.

The organisation said fundamental rights such as free speech faced graver threats than ever before.

The campaign coincides with the start of a week-long UN-organised conference that will debate the future of the net.

Watching words

"Freedom of expression online is a right, not a privilege - but it's a right that needs defending," said Steve Ballinger of Amnesty International. "We're asking bloggers worldwide to show their solidarity with web users in countries where they can face jail just for criticising the government."

Mr Ballinger said the case of Iranian blogger Kianoosh Sanjari was just one example of the dangers that some online writers can face. Mr Sanjari was arrested in early October following his blogging about conflicts between the Iranian police and the supporters of Shia cleric Ayatollah Boroujerdi.

Amnesty wanted bloggers to publicise cases such as this, said Mr Ballinger, and to declare their backing for the right to free speech online.




Q&A: Internet Governance Forum
The human rights group is also taking its campaign to the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) - a group set up by the UN to act as a debating body for national net policies. The first big meeting of the IGF takes place in Athens from 30 October to 2 November.

"The Internet Governance Forum needs to know that the online community is concerned about free expression online and willing to stand up for it," said Mr Ballinger.

Many governments were using technology to suppress the free flow of information among their citizens, said Mr Ballinger.

"People have been locked up just for expressing their views in an email or a website," he said. "Sites and blogs have been shut down and firewalls built to prevent access to information."

Hi-tech firms such as Yahoo and Google have been criticised for the help they have given to nations such as China which works hard to monitor online discussion.

In May 2006, Amnesty International started a campaign that aimed to expose the ways that governments use the net to quash dissent. Co-ordinated via the Irrepressible.info website, the campaign asks websites to use an icon displaying text from censored sites.

Pledges gathered from those backing this campaign will be presented at the IGF.

Chinese bloggers fight Google censorship with voodoo...
Some Chinese bloggers are so mad that their internet service providers have been blocking Google.com over the past week or so, they've resorted to cyber-voodoo:

The text on the top left says: "This person has made it impossible to access Google."

The text on the bottom right says: "A click on this website equals one needle prick."

Ouch!!

It is indeed fascinating that Google's Sergey Brin now says Google is reconsidering whether its launch of a censored Chinese service, Google.cn, was the right thing to do.. especially given that only 1 percent of Chinese internet users actually use Google.cn: most still prefer to use Google.com despite the fact that it's harder to access.

What a revelation...Chinese users do in fact prefer non-censored products over the neutered versions when given the choice.. despite all corporate yammering about cultural differences and the need to respect the "Chinese way," yada yada, and other such b.s.

The folks at China Web 2.0 Review point out that Chinese bloggers are annoyed with Google for not discussing Google.com's blocking problems with Chinese users on Google's official Chinese blog. There are technical ways to circumvent the blockage which bloggers are sharing with each other - and many people think Google ought to be helping spread the word about circumvention tools if they want to show that they're really on the users' side.

Reuters has another report about Chinese netizen frustration here.

N Korea 'not planning more tests'

Kim Jong-il defied pressure to conduct his first nuclear test
Japan has unconfirmed information that North Korea is not planning a second nuclear test, Kyodo news agency says.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-il was believed to have told a Chinese envoy no more tests were planned, Foreign Minister Taro Aso was quoted as saying.

His comment backed an earlier report by South Korea's Yonhap agency, which also said Mr Kim told envoy Tang Jiaxuan that no more tests were planned.

The first test on 9 October sparked world outrage and led to UN sanctions.

"Though it is not confirmed, we have obtained information that [Mr Kim] told Mr Tang the country won't conduct a second nuclear test," Mr Aso was quoted by Kyodo agency as saying.

He added: "I think it is a result of being hard pressed by Japan, the United States and China these past few days," the agency said.

Mr Tang was sent to Pyongyang by Chinese President Hu Jintao to urge the Stalinist state not to repeat the blast.

China, North Korea's closest ally, has reportedly threatened to cut off vital oil supplies if further tests are conducted.

The Chinese made the point to us that they are scrupulous about that land border and intend to be scrupulous about that land border

Condoleezza Rice


Q&A: Nuclear crisis
N Korea's mercurial leader

The BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes in Beijing says the threat to the oil supply demonstrates just how angry and frustrated China now is with its erstwhile friend and ally.

Speaking after his meeting with the reclusive North Korean leader, Mr Tang, who delivered a personal message from Mr Hu, said: "Fortunately, my visit this time has not been in vain".

He did not elaborate, publicly, on the goals of his visit.

NEW UN SANCTIONS
Bans sale to, or export from, N Korea of military hardware
Bans sale or export of nuclear and missile related items
Bans sale of luxury goods
Freezes finances and bans travel of anyone involved in nuclear, missile programmes
Allows inspection of cargo to and from N Korea
Stresses new resolution needed for further action


Who stands where
Discord over ship searches

But China's foreign minister, Li Zhaoxing, later said Mr Tang had spoken to the North Korean leader about how to kick-start six-nation talks on resolving North Korea's nuclear ambitions, which have been stalled since late 2005.

North Korea has stated that it wants US financial and other sanctions lifted before it will consider resuming the talks. Some analysts say North Korea's nuclear test made the talks meaningless.

The US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who is in Beijing as part of an Asian tour to rally support against North Korea, said the financial sanctions would remain in place.

Speaking of Mr Tang's visit, Ms Rice said that he had sent a "strong message" to North Korea over the "seriousness" of its nuclear test.

"The Chinese are emphasising the need for six-party talks to begin again and for the North to re-engage in the talks," Reuters quoted her as saying.

Ms Rice was speaking after talks with Mr Hu, in which she said China promised to be "scrupulous" over inspections on its shared border with North Korea to enforce the UN sanctions.

HAVE YOUR SAY
It's unlikely that North Korea will settle for anything short of whatever they are demanding

Anwar, Dhaka


Send us your comments
"The Chinese made the point to us that they are scrupulous about that land border and intend to be scrupulous about that land border," she told reporters.

China backed a resolution in the UN Security Council that imposed sanctions targeting Pyongyang's missile and weapons programmes.

But it baulked at one clause allowing inspections of cargo going to and from North Korea for banned items, fearing it will raise tensions further.

Meanwhile, more than 100,000 people have attended a rally in Pyongyang to celebrate the succes