Reporters Without Borders has written to Giuliano Berretta, the head of the French satellite company Eutelsat, urging him to resume transmission of the Chinese-language television station NTDTV on his W5 satellite and thereby respect the principles of equal access, pluralism and non-discrimination enshrined in article 3 of the convention that governs Eutelsat’s operations.

Eutelsat’s W5 satellite stopped carrying the Asia broadcasts of NTDTV and three Mandarin radio stations, including Sound of Hope, after reporting a technical incident on 16 June.

The Chinese government has often criticised NTDTV’s programmes about the human rights situation in China and there are grounds for suspecting that Eutelsat’s suspension of its broadcasts is not due solely to a technical problem.

In addition to the statements of a Eutelsat employee in China confirming that the Chinese government had been pressuring the company, Reporters Without Borders has obtained new information indicating that Eutelsat would be technically capable of restoring NTDTV’s broadcasts to Asia today, thereby ending a crisis that has damaged Eutelsat’s credibility.

“One of your clients, the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), which handles the broadcasts of Radio Free Asia and Voice of America, has just withdrawn from W5,” the letter says. “This therefore leaves sufficient capacity on one of the transponders, C2, for restoring NTDTV. In fact, in July, BBG was using your satellite to broadcast five TV stations and 12 radio stations to Asia.”

A BBG spokesperson has confirmed to Reporters Without Borders that none of their broadcasts have been carried by this Eutelsat satellite since 1 August. So how, when room has been freed up on one of W5’s transponders, can Eutelsat continue to insist that it is impossible to resume broadcasting of NTDTV?

Eutelsat claims that four of the satellite’s transponders, including C4 and C6, had to be turned off to allow the other 20 to keep going. But Reporters Without Borders has learned that the C6 transponder has been used again for transmission, although reports about the 16 June incident by Eutelsat-Thales Alenia Space (the satellite’s constructor) said this would not be possible.

NTDTV representatives always get the same answer from Eutelsat: “We cannot resume broadcasting for technical reasons. Contact our competitors.” A Eutelsat release on 11 July said that, because of the 16 June incident, it would not be possible to get the four transponders running again.

Why is Eutelsat refusing to broadcast NTDTV and three radio stations although some of the transponders that were turned off in June have again been used?

“With the Olympic Games taking place in China, it is vital that Chinese TV viewers should have the possibility of accessing independent news and information,” the letter adds. “We therefore urge you now to take the necessary measures so that NTDTV broadcasts are again transmitted by the W5 satellite. The many protests by the station’s viewers demonstrate its utility and importance", concluded Reporters Without Borders in its letter addressed to Giuliano Berretta.

www.rsf.org

By Minghui/Clearwisdom reporter Huang Kaili

(Clearwisdom.net) The Second International Chinese Vocal Competition, held in New York City's Town Hall, concluded on August 10, 2008. Hong Ming and Hong Yuqing won the Gold Award in the Bel Canto Men's and Women's Division. The Gold Awards in Folk Singing Men's and Women's Division were vacant.

The competitors expressed the feeling that they have benefited a lot from this competition. Several Western vocalists who watched the competition said that the competition gave them a window into traditional Chinese culture.

The Second International Chinese Vocal Competition, held in New York City's Town Hall, concluded on August 10, 2008.

Hong Ming and Hong Yuqing won the Gold Award in the Bel Canto Men's and Women's Division.

Hong Ming

Hong Yuqing

Xu Fengling, the third place winner in the Folk Singing Women's Division

Mr. Lu Mingsen, the chair of the Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce in New York, came to the competition with his family. He said to a reporter, "I did not expect to see such a high level of competition. It was really hard for the judges. It is great that NTDTV held such an event which so profoundly demonstrates traditional Chinese culture."

Mr. Lu Mingsen, the chair of the Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce in New York, attended the competition with his family

Karen Stanislaw, a poet and visual artist from New York, expressed that her favorite was Hong Ming's singing. Although she does not understand Chinese, she can sense the sincerity in his singing. "He is a talented singer," she said. Ms. Stanislaw commented that through the competition, she could see that Chinese culture is self-disciplined and conservative.

Christine Walevska, a world-class cellist, attended the competition.

Christine Walevska, a world-class cellist, attended the competition. She liked Hong Ming and Jason Fuh's singing the most. She said that Jason Fuh manifests the emotions of traditional folk people very well. Ms. Walevska said that the Chinese language lends itself well to singing.

The following is the list of award winners:

Folk Singing Women's Division:

Gold award: vacant
Silver award: vacant
Bronze award: Contestant No. 60 Xu Fenglin from the U.S.A.

Honorable mention: Contestant No. 179 Zhang Xiuhua from the U.S.A.; Contestant No. 69 Chen Ning from the U.S.A.; No. 170 Zhang Licheng from Australia

Folk Singing Men's Division:

Gold award: vacant
Silver award: Contestant No. 168 Ning Zheng from the U.S.A.

Bronze award: Contestant No. 178 Liu Wei from the U.S.A. and No.71 Yiji Dadao from Taiwan.

Honorable mention: Contestant No. 166 Gou Bei from the U.S.A. and No. 64 Hu Daiming from Taiwan.

Bel Canto Women's Division:

Gold award: Contestant No. 39 Hong Yuqing from Taiwan
Silver award: Contestant No. 15 Li Yuru from Taiwan
Bronze awards: Contestant No. 137 Li Yu from the U.S.A. and No. 152 Ding Jin from Canada
Honorable mention: Contestant No. 30 Wang Tingyi from Taiwan; No. 147 Chen Huiru from the U.S.A.; No. 70 Li Fangyu from the U.S.A.; No. 17 Chen Anne from Taiwan and No. 160 Chen Jingyi from the U.S.A.

Bel Canto Men's Division:

Gold award: Contestant No. 177 Hong Ming from the U.S.A.

Silver award: Contestant No. 134 Qian Long from the U.S.A.
Bronze awards: Contestant No. 156 Zhaixi Duoji from the U.K.
Honorable mention: Contestant No. 135 Jason Fuh from the U.S.A. and No. 167 Kidd Wong from the U.S.A.

Chinese version available at
http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2008/8/11/183910.html

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By Chen Xinning in Brisbane, Australia

On August 2nd, 2008, New Tang Dynasty Television (NTDTV) Queensland Branch, along with Sound of Hope Radio Network (SOH) Brisbane Branch in Australia, held a press conference and rally about the recent incident of Eutelsat suddenly cutting off NTDTV's and SOH's broadcast signals to China. People from all walks of life in Brisbane responded enthusiastically and supported these independent media outlets.

At Brisbane Square in the city center of Brisbane, a group of people with black tape covering their mouths drew the attention of passersby. Using a TV screen and satellite receiver, along with other props, they silently conveyed to the audience the strangling of freedom of the press in China.

Spokesperson for NTDTV Yan Zhao

Representative of Australian National Civic Council Ken Francis

Board Member of the Australia Tibet Council Ashley Brown

People write letters to Eutelsat

The speakers at the rally included spokesperson for NTDTV Yan Zhao, representative of SOH Linda Smith, Former Queensland Democrat Senator Andrew Bartlett, Australia Tibet Council Board Member Ashley Brown, Australian National Civic Council representative Ken Francis, Friends of ABC representative Don Sinnamon, and Queensland Falun Dafa Association representative John Dowie.

Eutelsat Curries Favour with the CCP - Aids and Abets CCP in Strangling China's Freedom of Press

Ms. Yan Zhao first spoke on behalf of NTDTV. She told the audience how Eutelsat made a poor decision under the pressure from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), to cut off NTDTV, a major channel providing Chinese people with truthful, uncensored information and entertainment. She called on the Australian people to take action by writing Eutelsat and government departments of different countries, expressing their support for freedom of the press and freedom of speech.

Ms. Linda Smith read a statement by SOH regarding Eutelsat's stopping of the SOH transmission from the W5 satellite to China. She said the CCP has interrupted SOH's broadcast to China on numerous occasions during the past several years, and now Eutelsat has turned off the transponder on its satellite. As a result, SOH lost two 24-hour broadcast channels.

Former Australian Democrat Senator: Supporting NTDTV is Supporting Basic Human Rights

Former Senator Bartlett said that freedom of the press and freedom of speech are fundamental rights of humanity, and everyone needs to uphold them. He said that he did not speak only to support NTDTV's rights, but also to support this important right for everyone to have free access to information. Enjoying freedom of speech and freedom to obtain information are fundamental human rights. When this basic human right is threatened, we must stand up and support it. He called on everyone not only to learn about what has happened, but also try their best to help, make their voices heard, express their concerns and tell others. He also pointed out that recently the CCP has strictly monitored the Internet accesses of journalists in Beijing covering the Olympic Games, and blocked all Internet sites that expose the CCP's persecution of human rights, such as Amnesty International, Falun Gong websites and others.

Australian National Civic Council Member Calls on People to Help Falun Gong Practitioners in China

National Civic Council representative Ken Francis said that as the Olympics draws near, the CCP tyranny will not change its evil nature, nor will it live up to its promise of providing true freedom of the press, allowing the Chinese people to learn the truth. He said that the CCP tortures those who are not under its control, and intimidates them with imprisonment and death. This includes Falun Gong practitioners, Christians, political dissidents, free speakers, political prisoners of conscience and any person or group that they deem a threat to their total control.

He urged the Australian Prime Minister and Australian people to show concern over the Eutelsat incident. He said, "I'm here this morning to call on the Australian Prime Minister to stand up and condemn the CCP for interfering with NTDTV's broadcast on the Eutelsat satellite. Ladies and gentlemen, it's a serious matter, I thank you for your support. Let us work together to help the Falun Gong practitioners and other Chinese people who have suffered tremendously under the Chinese Communist regime's rule."

Queensland Falun Dafa Association: Only NTDTV and SOH are Courageous Enough to Broadcast the Truth about Falun Gong to China

Queensland Falun Dafa Association representative John Dowie said that the CCP suppresses freedom of speech because it has so many inhuman and horrible atrocities to cover up. He told the audience that during the past nine years, the CCP has conducted a bloody persecution of Falun Gong practitioners. He also said that NTDTV and SOH are the only media outlets courageous enough to broadcast news about the persecution of Falun Gong to China. The Chinese people need to learn the facts and need genuine news reports.

The Australian People Condemn Eutelsat for Bowing to CCP Pressure and Call for Opening Up China's Freedom of the Press

Many people in the audience wrote messages supporting freedom of the press and faxed them to Eutelsat. Australian resident Greg Kooymans said that he hoped to help Chinese people regain the freedom of speech, and he wanted to stand up for those who have been subjected to human rights abuses. He wishes to help the Chinese people regain their basic human rights. An older woman named Wilma said that all people in China and everywhere in the world should enjoy freedom of the press.

A man named David said that Eutelsat should not have succumbed to the CCP. He said, "I feel it is a shame. I think information should be provided to people and I don't think their way of doing this is correct." He said he believes that the CCP has not improved its human rights despite the Olympic Games. "I don't think it [the CCP] has [improved], I think the Beijing Olympics is a political swindle, it is not held for the people, but for those politicians. And I don't think the Beijing Olympics is free and open."

At the rally, the organisers read a letters of support from Media, Entertainment & Alliance, Reporters Without Borders' investigative report on the Eutelsat situation, and Chinese NTDTV viewers' voices of concern requesting the reinstatement of the NTDTV signal.

Background: On June 17th, 2008, Eutelsat cut off NTDTV's broadcast to China and the Asian regions, with the pretext of "technical problems" on their W5 satellite. Later, the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) in the United States decided to cancel its contract with Eutelsat to carry Voice of America and Radio Free Asia, so Eutelsat notified NTDTV that it planed to completely cancel their contract with NTDTV for broadcasting their signal via the W5 satellite. The incident has gained attention from people around the world. People from all walks of life have sent a continuous stream of letters to Eutelsat's board and BBG, requesting the reinstatement of NTDTV and SOH's signals to China.

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