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| China's Southern Weekly newspaper reappears after censorship standoff | China's Southern Weekly newspaper reappears after censorship standoff |
| (7 days later) | |
| The Chinese newspaper Southern Weekly hit news-stands as scheduled on Thursday after a week-long confrontation with propaganda authorities that spiralled into a rare public backlash against press censorship. | The Chinese newspaper Southern Weekly hit news-stands as scheduled on Thursday after a week-long confrontation with propaganda authorities that spiralled into a rare public backlash against press censorship. |
| But a reported deal between the newspaper's staff and its Communist party overseers has been followed by a fresh clampdown on dissent. Authorities have tampered with the paper's latest edition, forcibly dispersed anti-censorship protests, scrubbed references to the controversy from the internet and detained more than a dozen activists for expressing solidarity with the newspaper. | But a reported deal between the newspaper's staff and its Communist party overseers has been followed by a fresh clampdown on dissent. Authorities have tampered with the paper's latest edition, forcibly dispersed anti-censorship protests, scrubbed references to the controversy from the internet and detained more than a dozen activists for expressing solidarity with the newspaper. |
| The new edition was available in Beijing and Shanghai early on Thursday morning, but only hit newsstands in its home city of Guangzhou after a brief, unexplained delay. Its front page carried a story about a fire in an orphanage. | The new edition was available in Beijing and Shanghai early on Thursday morning, but only hit newsstands in its home city of Guangzhou after a brief, unexplained delay. Its front page carried a story about a fire in an orphanage. |
| Although Southern Weekly staff intended to include an editorial celebrating the 30th anniversary of the paper's founding, it was ultimately axed by propaganda authorities, according to an online post by the director of features at a sister publication in Shanghai. | Although Southern Weekly staff intended to include an editorial celebrating the 30th anniversary of the paper's founding, it was ultimately axed by propaganda authorities, according to an online post by the director of features at a sister publication in Shanghai. |
| Zuo Zhijian wrote that the commemorative editorial's first draft was heavily self-censored and that even a second draft containing some Communist rhetoric was eventually dropped. Two sections of Thursday's paper were also missing from copies in Shanghai, reported the South China Morning Post. One contained an article about land reclamations and the other touched on political reform. | Zuo Zhijian wrote that the commemorative editorial's first draft was heavily self-censored and that even a second draft containing some Communist rhetoric was eventually dropped. Two sections of Thursday's paper were also missing from copies in Shanghai, reported the South China Morning Post. One contained an article about land reclamations and the other touched on political reform. |
| "Just like media people from other countries, we want more freedom of speech, of course," said a Southern Weekly employee who requested anonymity because he had been instructed not to speak to foreign journalists. He added that the paper had resumed its normal daily operations. "Everything looks normal, and I don't feel any changes," he said. | "Just like media people from other countries, we want more freedom of speech, of course," said a Southern Weekly employee who requested anonymity because he had been instructed not to speak to foreign journalists. He added that the paper had resumed its normal daily operations. "Everything looks normal, and I don't feel any changes," he said. |
| Southern Weekly has found support from similarly outspoken publications. Dai Zigeng, the publisher of the highly respected Beijing News, verbally resigned on Tuesday after defying official mandates to publish a government-penned editorial downplaying the controversy. Beijing propaganda authorities have yet to approve his resignation. | Southern Weekly has found support from similarly outspoken publications. Dai Zigeng, the publisher of the highly respected Beijing News, verbally resigned on Tuesday after defying official mandates to publish a government-penned editorial downplaying the controversy. Beijing propaganda authorities have yet to approve his resignation. |
| Police forcibly dispersed a small group of protesters outside the paper's Guangzhou headquarters on Thursday with videos showing plainclothes officers bundling demonstrators into vans. More than a dozen people in various cities have been detained for their outspoken support of the paper. Many were interrogated and then released. | Police forcibly dispersed a small group of protesters outside the paper's Guangzhou headquarters on Thursday with videos showing plainclothes officers bundling demonstrators into vans. More than a dozen people in various cities have been detained for their outspoken support of the paper. Many were interrogated and then released. |
| "They said we were creating social chaos," Ren Weiren, an anti-censorship demonstrator in Hangzhou, told the South China Morning Post. "They said if I do anything similar again, they will lock me up." | "They said we were creating social chaos," Ren Weiren, an anti-censorship demonstrator in Hangzhou, told the South China Morning Post. "They said if I do anything similar again, they will lock me up." |
| There have been protests in Guangzhou since the paper fiercely admonished provincial propaganda officials for interfering with a front-page pro-reform editorial several days ago. Supporters donned masks, covered themselves in Southern Weekly papier-mâché, and held signs calling for freedom of expression and democracy, according to pictures posted online. | There have been protests in Guangzhou since the paper fiercely admonished provincial propaganda officials for interfering with a front-page pro-reform editorial several days ago. Supporters donned masks, covered themselves in Southern Weekly papier-mâché, and held signs calling for freedom of expression and democracy, according to pictures posted online. |
| While the demonstrations began with a small group of students and activists, they quickly gained momentum and attracted a group of virulent Maoist counter-protesters. Many of them waved Chinese flags. One held a placard saying "angrily denounce the traitor media". | While the demonstrations began with a small group of students and activists, they quickly gained momentum and attracted a group of virulent Maoist counter-protesters. Many of them waved Chinese flags. One held a placard saying "angrily denounce the traitor media". |
| Internet users continue to express support for Southern Weekly using a broad range of cryptic references and euphemisms, a common method of evading internet censors, who have blocked the paper's name on popular social media websites. | Internet users continue to express support for Southern Weekly using a broad range of cryptic references and euphemisms, a common method of evading internet censors, who have blocked the paper's name on popular social media websites. |
| One popular term for the paper online is "Southern Porridge" ("porridge" and "week" are homophones in Chinese). The beleaguered Beijing News expressed its support for Southern Weekly on Wednesday by publishing an elaborate paean to the food. | One popular term for the paper online is "Southern Porridge" ("porridge" and "week" are homophones in Chinese). The beleaguered Beijing News expressed its support for Southern Weekly on Wednesday by publishing an elaborate paean to the food. |
| "Just placed upon the table, the porridge writhes still with heat. Perhaps it has a heart of courage yet," it said, according to a translation by the Hong Kong-based China Media Project. "There are so many troubles in this world, and all you can count on for warmth is this bowl of porridge." | "Just placed upon the table, the porridge writhes still with heat. Perhaps it has a heart of courage yet," it said, according to a translation by the Hong Kong-based China Media Project. "There are so many troubles in this world, and all you can count on for warmth is this bowl of porridge." |
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