China's Attempt to Monopolize Airwaves Exposed at the U.N.

GENEVA - A New York-based independent TV network, New Tang Dynasty TV, is
just two days away from having its transmission signal to China halted.
An NTDTV representative made a plea on Wednesday at a forum during the
United Nations Human Rights Commission. Ms. Lei Xi, director of corporate
alliances and government relations, called upon all concerned civil
societies and governments to voice support for viewers in China.

"I'm here for the hundreds of millions of people inside China whose voices
cannot be heard and the countless more who cannot hear outside voices," Xi
said. "They are entitled to have access to free flow of information and be
given a chance to think and make choices independently, just like we do."

Eutelsat, the Paris-based satellite company, largest in Europe, cancelled
NTDTV's contract to transmit signals to East and Southeast Asia after a year
of pressure from the Beijing government. According to a press release from
the International Federation of Journalists, Eutelsat has been under
pressure from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) over its arrangement with
NTDTV. IFJ says that authorities have made it clear that Eutelsat's business
opportunities connected to broadcasting of the Olympic games might be at
risk.

NTDTV is licensed to broadcast in France and has been compliant with all the
contract terms. The network was established after 9-11 when a group of
Chinese Americans realized how TV broadcasts outside China were heavily
influenced, if not directly controlled, by Beijing, according to Xi.

When NTDTV and Eutelsat formed a business partnership a year ago to transmit
NTDTV's signal to Asia, a historic "open satellite window" pierced through
the great wall of information control that the Beijing government forcibly
maintains. At the time, Eutelsat CEO Giuliano Berretta personally assured
the NTD management team that his company would not bow to any outside
pressure.

In her speech, Xi gave the example of how it took one retired surgeon's
courage to break the silence of SARS to the world and pointed out that the
lack of free press in China does impact everyone's life.

Xi said, "Resolutely standing on the principles of human rights and freedom,
free commerce and free flow of information is the fundamental guarantee for
advancing democracy."

A representative from the Association of Mothers of Tiananmen praised NTDTV
at the forum for producing excellent documentaries on the June 4th massacre
where she lost her cousin and she forwarded her aunt's gratitude to the
station for letting their voice be heard.

When asked what will happen on April 15 in the event that Eutelsat does not
change their position, Xi said that at least the incident has exposed the
severe lack of free flow of information in China and that the CCP is able to
control Western businesses in repressing freedom and democracy. She is
optimistic that the matter will come to a full resolution.

http://www.theepochtimes.com/news/5-4-14/27843.html
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