AAAS Scientific Responsibility, Human Rights and Law Program

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AAAS Human Rights Action Network

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FACTS OF THE CASE:

On 5 September 2001, the Chinese government shut down the electronic bulletin board Baiyun Huanghe (formerly located at http://bbs.whnet.edu.cn ) in Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei province. The government issued the order after students posted articles on the site about the Tiananmen Square massacre. Baiyun Huanghe, which has operated for five years and has 30,000 registered users, serves as a public forum for students to discuss politics and student life. A university official told Reuters news service that the shutdown was due to "technical difficulties" and that the site would eventually be operational again, but would be managed by the university. The university will require users to register with their full name and identification number.

Since 1994, China has been adopting increasingly restrictive regulations aimed at controlling content on the Internet and curtailing freedom of expression. The regulations give Chinese authorities wide discretion to arrest and punish individuals for posting any information that would "damage the reputation of the State." The government has also created a special policy unit that is charged with monitoring Internet content. Since the laws were enacted, Chinese authorities have shut down numerous websites and electronic bulletin boards after users posted materials deemed controversial or subversive by the state. Such material includes discussions about human rights violations, government corruption, and relations with Taiwan. The government is particularly sensitive to discussions concerning the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre. The government has also arrested 18 "cyber-dissidents" and closed 8,000 Internet cafés.

For more information:

Digital Freedom Network maintains a complete list of online forums closed in China after the posting of controversial material. It can be located at http://dfn.org/focus/china/netattack.htm#legal

Reporters sans frontières also maintains a chronology of Internet Repression in China on their website, which can be located at http://www.rsf.org/uk/home.html

(Sources of information for this case include: Reporters sans frontières, Digital Freedom Network, and Human Rights Watch Asia Division.)

RELEVANT HUMAN RIGHTS STANDARDS

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

• Article 19(1): Everyone shall have the right to hold opinions without interference.

International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

• Article 12: (1): The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. (2): The steps to be taken by the States Parties to the present Covenant to achieve the full realization of this right shall include those necessary for: (c) The prevention, treatment and control of epidemic, endemic, occupational and other diseases; (d) The creation of conditions which would assure to all medical service and medical attention in the event of sickness.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Please send telegrams, faxes, airmail letters or emails:

• Expressing concern about the shut down of the electronic bulletin board Baiyun Huanghe at the Huazhong University of Science and Technology located in Wuhan, Hubei province;
• Stating that such a restriction violates Huazhong University's students' human right to freedom of expression; and
• Requesting that the electronic bulletin board be immediately allowed to operate without any government interference.

APPEAL AND INQUIRY MESSAGES SHOULD BE SENT TO:

His Excellency Jiang Zemin
President, People's Republic of China
Zhong Naihai
Beijingshi
Salutation: Your Excellency

His Excellency Zhu Rongji
Premier
People's Republic of China
Guowuyuan
9 Xihuang-chenggen Beijie
Beijingshi 100032
People's Republic of China
Fax: 86-10-6-512-5810
Salutation: Your Excellency

COPIES SENT TO:

His Excellency Li Zhaoxing
Ambassador of People's Republic of China
Embassy of People's Republic of China
2300 Connecticut Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20008
Fax: (202) 588-0032
emb01@china-embassy.org

Please send copies of your appeals, and any responses you may receive, or direct any questions you may have to Victoria Baxter, AAAS Science and Human Rights Program, 1200 New York Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20005; tel. 202-326-6796; email vbaxter@aaas.org; or fax 202-289-4950.

The keys to effective appeals re to be courteous and respectful, accurate and precise, impartial in approach, and as specific as possible regarding the alleged violation and the international human rights standards and instruments that apply to the situation. Reference to your scientific organization and professional affiliation is always helpful.

To ensure that appeals are current and credible, please do not continue to write appeals on this case after 90 days from the date of the posting unless an update has been issued.

To verify the contents of this alert and/or the electronic signature, please download the signed file for this alert along with the Program's PGP Public Key.

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