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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Web curbs for Olympic journalists | Web curbs for Olympic journalists |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Chinese officials say foreign journalists covering the Beijing Olympic Games will not have completely uncensored access to the internet. | Chinese officials say foreign journalists covering the Beijing Olympic Games will not have completely uncensored access to the internet. |
| A top spokesman said sites relating to spiritual movement Falun Gong would be blocked. Another said other unspecified sites would also be unavailable. | A top spokesman said sites relating to spiritual movement Falun Gong would be blocked. Another said other unspecified sites would also be unavailable. |
| China enforces tough internet controls, but said when it bid for the Games that journalists would be free to report. | China enforces tough internet controls, but said when it bid for the Games that journalists would be free to report. |
| Journalists have complained they cannot access some news or human rights sites. | Journalists have complained they cannot access some news or human rights sites. |
| A senior International Olympic Committee (IOC) member confirmed that while journalists would have free range to cover the Games, the IOC was aware some sites would be blocked. | A senior International Olympic Committee (IOC) member confirmed that while journalists would have free range to cover the Games, the IOC was aware some sites would be blocked. |
| 'Sufficient access' | 'Sufficient access' |
| More than 20,000 foreign media personnel are due in the Chinese capital to cover the Olympic Games, which begin on 8 August. Many are already moving into the press and broadcast centres in Beijing. | More than 20,000 foreign media personnel are due in the Chinese capital to cover the Olympic Games, which begin on 8 August. Many are already moving into the press and broadcast centres in Beijing. |
| On Tuesday, they were reportedly unable to access the website of Amnesty International as it released a critical report on China's human rights record. During the Olympic Games we will provide reporters with sufficient and convenient internet access so the Olympic Games will not be affected Sun Weide,Beijing Olympic spokesman class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7532797.stm">Which websites has China blocked? | |
| Some international news pages and sites that dealt with issues such as Tibet were also inaccessible, reports from Beijing said. | Some international news pages and sites that dealt with issues such as Tibet were also inaccessible, reports from Beijing said. |
| Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao confirmed that websites relating to the Falun Gong spiritual movement were blocked. | Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao confirmed that websites relating to the Falun Gong spiritual movement were blocked. |
| "As to sites related to Falun Gong, I think you know that Falun Gong is a cult that has been banned according to law, and we will adhere to our position," he told a news conference on Tuesday. | "As to sites related to Falun Gong, I think you know that Falun Gong is a cult that has been banned according to law, and we will adhere to our position," he told a news conference on Tuesday. |
| He suggested that part of the problem with other sites could lie with the sites themselves. | He suggested that part of the problem with other sites could lie with the sites themselves. |
| "There are some problems with a lot of websites themselves that makes it not easy to view them in China," he said. "Our attitude is to ensure that foreign journalists have regular access to information in China during the Olympic Games." | "There are some problems with a lot of websites themselves that makes it not easy to view them in China," he said. "Our attitude is to ensure that foreign journalists have regular access to information in China during the Olympic Games." |
| But on Wednesday, a spokesman for the Olympic organising committee told the French news agency AFP that other - unspecified - sites were blocked. | But on Wednesday, a spokesman for the Olympic organising committee told the French news agency AFP that other - unspecified - sites were blocked. |
| Sun Weide declined to provide more details when asked by the BBC. | Sun Weide declined to provide more details when asked by the BBC. |
| "During the Olympic Games we will provide reporters with sufficient and convenient internet access so the Olympic Games will not be affected," he said. | "During the Olympic Games we will provide reporters with sufficient and convenient internet access so the Olympic Games will not be affected," he said. |
| In an interview with the South China Morning Post, IOC press commission chairman Kevan Gosper apologised for inadvertently misleading journalists over unfettered internet access. | In an interview with the South China Morning Post, IOC press commission chairman Kevan Gosper apologised for inadvertently misleading journalists over unfettered internet access. |
| "I'm not backing off what I said. There will be full, open and free internet access during Games time to allow journalists to report on the Olympics," he told the daily. | "I'm not backing off what I said. There will be full, open and free internet access during Games time to allow journalists to report on the Olympics," he told the daily. |
| "But I have also been advised that some of the IOC officials had negotiated with the Chinese that some sensitive sites would be blocked." | "But I have also been advised that some of the IOC officials had negotiated with the Chinese that some sensitive sites would be blocked." |
| The move was disappointing, he said. | The move was disappointing, he said. |