Inside China Today

Inside China Today – Friday 2nd April

Gao Zhisheng now resides on Wutai Mountain and says he wants to live in 'peace and quiet for a while...' This has raised suspicions from fellow human rights lawyers that Gao is still under pressure from the regime.

- Gao Zhisheng alive on Wutai Mountain
- ‘Water Splashing Festival’ causes hot debate
- Mainland activists applaud Google’s example

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Gao Zhisheng alive on Wutai Mountain

Gao Zhisheng is in Wutai Mountain according to Reuters. Reports state Gao was set free half a year ago, and now wishes to live quietly. He only resumed contact with the outside world two to three days ago. Later the same day, two human rights lawyers, Teng Biao and Li Heping, were also able to get in contact with Gao.

Teng Biao, when interviewed by reporters, said he felt Gao wasn’t completely free (recording):
“A friend got his number through media, and I called him. Yes, it seems he talks normally, but based on my analysis of his answers, we feel that he isn’t completely free.”

Jiang Tianyong, a human rights attorney, claimed he had spoken with Gao, and was quite sure it was indeed Gao speaking with him. The identity of the person was one major concern, other concerns include whether Gao was actually free (recording):
“When will we be able to see him? Gao said not any time soon. He said he needed to go to his mother’s grave to commemorate her. I asked him what he’d do next; he said he would go somewhere and maybe elsewhere. I asked if he was free. He said he is free. Then I asked him, suddenly, how long would he be like this. He said it would last for some time. I think, when I asked him how long he would be like this, he should have known what I really meant.”

According to Mr Jiang, Gao Zhisheng’s conversation with Li Heping revealed similar things (recording):
“When Li asked him sensitive and critical questions, Gao said he would only talk about it when he returned. He seemed to want to hang up, and said he had a few friends with him. What kind of friends would there be that are more important than talking to us at that moment? I believe the so-called friends are police officers following him, these would be the people we all refer to as friends in such a situation.”

Jiang Tianyong and the other attorneys suspect another reason why Gao Zhisheng has been missing for so long (recording):
“The reason it took them so long, was ever since last June and July, before he was allowed to contact the outside world. Based on my experience in other cases, including cases involving Falun Gong practitioners there were instances where defendants were beaten. With injuries and bone fractures, they would take them somewhere to wait and until they recovered from their injuries they wouldn’t be seen. Later they would be brought back to court. Hearings are often suspended beyond statutory limitations. Because of this, the authorities didn’t want him seen under such huge international pressure; it could be they were waiting for him to recover from his wounds.”

Before this latest report, the authorities had made various claims on Gao’s whereabouts. In January this year, Mao Chaoxu, spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told reporters in a press conference that Gao was ‘where he should be’. A week later, Ma stated he didn’t know where Gao was. On March 16th, Foreign Minister Yang Jieci said, when being asked of the whereabouts of Gao, that Gao had been sentenced for ‘subversion of state power’. Later on during a press conference on Tuesday, Qin Gang, spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said Gao has been sentenced to three years in prison and five years on probation for ‘inciting and subverting state power’. Another account saw the Chinese Embassy in Washington DC tell Kang Yuan, the Chairman of Dialogue Foundation, an America based human rights organization that, attorney Gao was in Urumqi, the capital of the Xinjiang Autonomous Region.

Now on March 28th Gao is reported to be in Wutai Mountain, the interesting thing is, Gao first made contact with Western media and not with his wife or daughter who both live in the United States.

Li Yifei and Xi Wen of Sound of Hope Radio Network

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‘Water Splashing Festival’ causes hot debate

The Water Splashing Festival in Xishuangbanna, Yunnan is usually a time for fun, renewal, and saturation. (三色人/Wikimedia Commons)

The severe drought in southwest China continues to devastate the region. So far, water levels have dropped substantially in major waterfalls and rivers at famous tourist attractions in Yunnan, Guangxi and Guizhou. Despite the dry conditions, Chinese authorities have announced that the annual ‘Water Splashing Festival’ in Xishuangbanna, a tradition of the ethnic Dai people, will continue on April 15th.

Mr Zheng from the Kanghui Travel Agency in Kunming City said that because of the drought, Yunnan’s famous lakes and rivers are suffering. The scenic ‘Stone Forest’ of the Shilin Yi Autonomous County has almost dried out. The drought is affecting tourism, as peak seasons usually run from April 10th to the 20th in Xishuangbanna. From April 8th air ticket prices for flights to Yunnan continue to rise.

He told reporters (recording):
“The scenic areas inside the ‘Stone Forest’, including ponds, still haven’t dried out. There is still a bit to be seen. The prices will increase for those going to Xishuangbanna between April 8th and 20th. It can increase by 20% to 30%, after including meals and accommodation. This is because of the ‘Water Splashing Festival’. It’s one of the most important festivals for the Dai ethnic group and is the equivalent of Chinese New Year.”

On April 15th there were suggestions the Water Splashing Festival be cancelled. However Yunnan provincial authorities responded saying the festival wouldn’t be cancelled, instead water conservation will be promoted. The Xishuangbanna Culture and Sports Bureau have decided to cut down the amount of time allowed for participants to splash water. In previous years, participants spent an entire day spraying water at each other. This year however there will be a time limit of two hours, and only small buckets and pots can be used.

Ms Li, a tour guide from the region said that because Xishuangbanna’s situation wasn’t severe, the festival wouldn’t need to be cancelled. She said (recording):
“The Water Splashing Festival is the Dai’s Chinese New Year and Xishuangbanna is not in a drought. Currently there isn’t a lack of water. The festival covers three days. Water splashing occurs on April 15th. The festival starts on the 13th. On the 13th there will be dragon boat racing, and on the 14th Dai families will prepare stalls and visit the markets, and on 15th there will be a big gathering for splashing water.”

A staff member from the Kunming Tourism Bureau spoke to reporters (recording):
“The drought is affecting the surrounding regions of Yunnan, the drought is affecting Yunnan’s crops, and it’s too absolute to say it’s not affecting tourism.”

Tourism around Yangshuo’s famous landscapes in Guangxi Province, is suffering due to a drop in river water levels. Staff from Yangshuo Guangxi’s Tourism Bureau said because of the drought, tours down the famous Li River have been shortened. She said (recording):
“The water level is very low, and we’re changing routes. Before we could tour from Guilin downstream for about 90 kilometres, now we can only tour a 10 to 20 kilometre section.”

Another famous natural wonder suffering from the drought is the once mighty Huang Guoshu waterfall. The waterfall, in Guizhou Province, has been gradually shrinking and now is only a quarter of its size from previous years. Upstream, authorities have been forced to open the reservoirs to ensure there is enough running water.

Liu Fang and Kai Di of the SOH Radio Network.

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Mainland activists applaud Google’s example

Google’s decision to withdraw from China in response to the Chinese government’s internet censorship policy has been widely praised by mainland activists. They hope other overseas enterprises will be brave enough to resist tyranny. Mr Pu from Sichuan believes free information is the basis for freedom and democracy. Censorship is a despicable crime of the totalitarian regime.

He told reporters (recording):
“Google set an example and sounded a warning to businesses in China. ‘I refrain from doing evil.’ Others can follow and can achieve well. Everyone knows Google’s withdrawal is not about business, but rather about a company upholding its own business ethics. However, the Communist regime launched a campaign on TV to criticise Google.”

Ms Wei from Kunming said China is now full of corrupt officials. She hoped other American internet companies, such as Yahoo and Microsoft, would learn from Google and stand together to fight against repression. She told reporters (recording):
“Google went to Hong Kong. In recent days the Communist regime launched an all-out campaign to attack Google via the internet and other media. Isn’t this a confession? It used to deny there was internet censorship or firewalls, etc. Now it jumps out like a mad dog to defend itself like crazy.”

Others praised Google’s withdrawal as inspiring and hoped other companies would follow suit. Mr Zhao from Yunnan said (recording):
“I feel the withdrawal inspires us commoners and also sets an example for other western companies, such as Yahoo. The American government should make relevant laws to prevent companies from colluding with totalitarian regimes. Do not lose your dignity or value for temporary economic gain.”

Mr. Liu from Hunan also believes Google wouldn’t be the only case. It could set off a chain reaction. He said (recording):
“Google has its own value system. Its courageous withdrawal will set off a chain reaction. Other foreign investors might also withdraw. I think most Chinese internet users are waking up to this fact.”

Google made an announcement in January that its client mailboxes had been attacked by hackers from China. As a result, it would no longer censor its internet search results according to the requirements of the Communist regime. On March 23rd, Google formally decided to shut down its mainland operations.

Lin Li and Yu Hang of the SOH Radio Network.

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