Reporters Without Borders Press Release - "European Satellite Operator Eutelsat Suppresses Independent Chinese-language TV Station NTDTV to Satisfy Beijing"

Previously unpublished conversation by Eutelsat employee confirms move was politically motivated

10 July 2008

Reporters Without Borders calls on Giuliano Berretta, the CEO of the European satellite company Eutelsat, to quickly reverse its decision to suspend independent Chinese-language broadcaster NTDTV's use of Eutelsat's W5 satellite to broadcast to Asia.

Eutelsat claims it was forced to suspend NTDTV (New Tang Dynasty Television) on 16 June because of a technical problem but a recorded conversation with an employee of Eutelsat show it was a premeditated, politically-motivated decision violating the free flow of information and the convention under which Eutelsat operates.

"The real reason for the decision to suppress NTDTV exposes how Eutelsat operates in China," the press freedom organisation said. "The company's credibility is at stake and we urge its shareholders to intervene as quickly as possible so that NTDTV can resume broadcasting on this satellite. If that is not done, none of the TV companies that are Eutelsat clients will ever be sure they could not also be arbitrarily disconnected one day because of their content."

Reporters Without Borders added: "NTDTV's broadcasts irked the Chinese government because, thanks to this satellite, they could be freely received in tens of millions of Chinese homes. Their suspension just a few weeks ahead of the Olympic Games looks like a favour provided by Eutelsat with the aim of obtaining new deals. Eutelsat tried to drop NTDTV once before, in 2005, but an international campaign forced it to sign a new long term contract."

In a recorded conversation on 23 June with an interlocutor the employee thought was a Chinese Propaganda Department official, a Eutelsat representative in Beijing said:

"It was our company's CEO in France who decided to stop NTDTV's signal. (...)We could have turned off any of the transponders. (...) It was because we got repeated complaints and reminder from the Chinese government. (...) Two years ago, the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television kept saying the same thing over and over: 'Stop that TV station before we begin to talk.'

Reporters Without Borders is posting a transcript of this conversation on its website (http://www.rsf.org/) and it has an audio recording that is available to the media.

A New York-based TV station with links to the Falun Gong spiritual movement, NTDTV began broadcasting in Chinese four years ago. Its programmes are very different from the content on China's state TV stations. There is a great deal of coverage of human rights issues, including the repression in Tibet and of religious groups such as Falun Gong and the underground Christian churches.

The day after it stopped transmitting NTDTV, Eutelsat issued a statement saying the W5 satellite has suffered serious technical problems that had forced the company to reduce the number of transponders and stop broadcasting several TV stations.

Eutelsat and Thales, the French company that made the satellite, are doing more and more business in China. It was Thales that manufactured Zhongxing-9, the satellite that was put in orbit last month to guarantee good coverage of the Olympic Games. Eutelsat has signed a contract with China to use its Long March rocket to launch Eutelsat satellites. The Wall Street Journal wrote in April: "Eutelsat for years has been trying to find a way to penetrate the Chinese market, and launch contracts are widely seen as one way to help reach that goal."

As a company headquartered in France, Eutelsat is nonetheless obliged to respect the principles of equality of access, pluralism and non-discrimination enshrined in article 3 of a convention governing the operations of satellite companies.

Ever since NTDTV was launched in February 2002, the Chinese government has been trying to get its broadcasts suppressed by pressuring satellite operators and governments.

United Kingdom: European Divine Land Marching Band Leads Parade in London

Saturday July 26 was a beautiful, sunny day in London. In order to expose the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)'s nine long years of brutal persecution of Falun Gong, practitioners in the UK took to the streets of London along with the European Divine Land Marching Band. They paraded along the busiest commercial streets, ending up in the famous Trafalgar Square for a press conference and activities to raise awareness about the persecution.

As practitioners in the UK have held many parades in the city centre, many Londoners are no longer surprised to learn about Falun Gong being persecuted by the CCP. But this performance by the European Divine Land Marching Band created more time for people to hear the truth about Falun Gong, deeply moving everybody present.

Around noon, Falun Gong practitioners gathered in front of the Chinese Embassy in London. In the front was the European Divine Land Marching Band, which attracted a lot of attention. Some eighty band members came from a dozen countries across Europe, such as the UK, Germany, France, Ireland, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, and Belgium. The sun shone on their crisp white and blue uniforms and golden musical instruments.

Immediately following the band were twenty female practitioners dressed in white. Each held a flower wreath with a photo of a practitioner persecuted to death by the CCP. After this solemn display of the evidence of the CCP's crimes, banners gave clear messages opposing the persecution. The banners were written in Chinese and English, "The persecution of Falun Gong in China has lasted for nine years. Immediately stop the persecution." "Immediately stop persecuting Falun Gong." And "Please extend a helping hand to stop the CCP's persecution of Falun Gong." Following the anti-persecution team were those supporting forty million brave individuals who have withdrawn from the CCP and its affiliated organizations. Those holding the message, "Forty million have quit the CCP" included Chinese as well as westerners, even a few mothers pushing baby strollers. "The CCP will fall, don't be its victim," the message at the end of the parade warned compassionately.

The Divine Land Marching Band's performance began! Drums, flutes and trumpets suddenly turned the busy London streets into an eye-catching mobile stage. Marching in neat paces, practitioners from all over Europe demonstrated the beauty of Falun Gong with different instruments but the same compassion. During the parade the band performed four songs: "Falun Dafa is good", "Fa Drums and Trumpets Shake Ten Directional World", "Ode to Joy" and "Delivery Treasure".

Falun Gong practitioners' parade and especially the performance of the European Divine Land Marching Band made it a very special day for London. Because it was a school holiday weekend with brilliant weather, tourists and shoppers packed the streets. The deep and rich music shook people's hearts. People in the streets slowed down to accept leaflets. The crowd immediately gathered wherever the band music boomed, forming spectacles of layers of welcoming crowds. Carefully observing the parade from both sides of the streets, onlookers had a surprised look on their faces. Many took out video cameras, cameras and mobile phones to record the precious moments. When the parade passed the construction site next to BBC Headquarters, workers at heights stopped what they were doing to take photos with their cell phones. In busy streets some followed the band for a long time taking photos. People came out of shops.

Tourists came from all over the world, including those from other places in the UK as well as foreigners from Spain, Poland, Slovenia, Australia, etc. There were also many Chinese in the streets, some of whom also accepted leaflets. Many interviewed heard about Falun Gong for the first time. None of them could imagine such a persecution was happening.

After the parade passed, a mother and a daughter stood by the road carefully reading a leaflet. The mother wore a traditional Indian dress. They were from Cardiff. Daughter Silvia was a pharmacist. Silvia said that they were hearing about Falun Gong for the first time. They were saddened by the deceased Falun Gong practitioners' photos displayed in the parade. Not being able to understand why such things would happen, they were looking for answers in the leaflet in a hurry. The mother questioned, "Why do the media not focus on this?" "Where can we find Falun Gong?" "How can I help?" When told that she could let as many people know the truth as possible, she answered firmly, "I will. I will tell more people about this."

A few lads in work uniforms dropped what was in their hands to watch the parade at the street corner. As it turned out they were from Poland. One of them who could speak English, Mariusz, said that he completely agreed that Communism should be done away with. He asked proudly, "Did you know that Poland was the first country to end Communism? Then followed Russia and the Czech Republic."

The grand parade ended on the North Terrace of Trafalgar Square. Participants then held a press conference. Speakers at the conference included the president of the UK Falun Gong Association Mr. Peter Jauhal, UK Falun Gong practitioner Lord Francis Thurlow, the Vice President of the European Friends of Falun Gong Mr. John Dee and a representative of European Divine Land Marching Band. In their speeches they all expressed a common wish to immediately stop the CCP's persecution of Falun Gong. Mr. John Dee also urged people to fully understand the crimes the CCP has committed against Falun Gong and take concrete actions. Mr. Dee said, "During the past nine years, the CCP has committed persecution and murder unparalleled in history." "It is time for the world to act." "We will give the CCP government a clear message: that is to immediately stop the persecution!"

After the press conference, the band performed again. Drums suddenly bellowed and the whole square was immersed in majestic music. Following the music, people from all corners gathered together at Falun Gong practitioners' display.

After the band's performance, practitioners continued demonstrating Falun Gong's five exercises till the end of the event. As usual the exercise demonstration attracted a large number of tourists around Trafalgar Square. Many signed anti-persecution petition forms immediately after reading the information boards or leaflets. The activities also attracted some media people.

Reporter Born is a tall, middle-aged western man. He has recorded the Divine Land Marching Band and Falun Gong practitioners for a long time. When the band was playing "Falun Dafa is good", he took the initiative to sign the petition form. When asked why he supported stopping the persecution, he answered clearly, "For these kind people (Falun Gong practitioners) one persecuted to death is one too many." "Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance are basic human principles. Without these, we are nothing."

Phillip is a journalist. Two weeks ago he met an old friend from fifteen years before. This friend practices Falun Gong and told him the truth about the persecution. Phillip immediately decided to do something for practitioners. Today he followed the entire parade. He thought it was fantastic to parade through downtown streets to Trafalgar Square in terms of letting people know what is happening in China. He will publish today's recordings onto his website as soon as possible before the Beijing Olympics so that more people can see it. Phillip predicted the success of efforts to end the persecution, "After all, the persecutors are the minority and the persecuted are the majority."

Germany: Raising Awareness about Falun Gong in Two Cities in Nordrhein-Westfalen

On July 5, 2008, Falun Gong practitioners held activities in Dusseldorf and Mulheim, in Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany. They raised awareness about what Falun Gong is, and informed local people about the cruel persecution of Falun Gong practitioners by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) during the past nine years.

Local people expressed support for the activity, and many signed the petition condemning the CCP's persecution of Falun Gong one after another. They also expressed their concern about recent news of the Eutalstat Company halting satellite broadcasts of New Tang Dynasty TV programs into China. The company claimed it was a technical error, when in fact it was in response to threats and bribes by the CCP. Many people expressed their hope that New Tang Dynasty TV would again be able to broadcast into China as soon as possible. People felt that the Eutalstat Company should not give up their conscience and dignity.

After learning the truth, many people of Mulheim not only signed the petition condemning the persecution, but also wanted to learn about Falun Gong.

Ms. Li Dongqing Put into a Mental Hospital After Suffering Eight Years in Jail

On May 24, 2008, the CCP Official Zhou Yongkang went to Shenyang and then tens of Falun Gong practitioners were arrested. This time it is said that the police used spies, and they had formed a "blacklist" beforehand. At the same time, some practitioners in Shenyang who were monitored for a long time were arrested. Ms. Li Dongqing was put into the Dongling Brainwashing Centre in Shenyang.

The police threatened her family that if they did not take her to the brainwashing centre, she would be arrested. Finally, the police forced her family to provide false evidence and send Ms. Li to the Shenyang Dongling Mental Hospital.

In 2007, after Li Dongqing came home from eight years of jail, the police forced her family to send her to the brainwashing centre for one month. She was injected with drugs, which made her body turn black, her leg veins protruded and turned black and thick, and she suffered severe psychological damage.

Polish People Support the Global "Million Signatures" Petition to End the Persecution

Hoping to bring an end to the CCP's (Chinese Communist Party) persecution of Falun Gong before the Beijing Olympics, the CIPFG (Coalition to Investigate Persecution of Falun Gong) launched the Global "Million Signatures" petition at the very beginning of 2008 and enlisted worldwide support.

At 6:00 p.m., on July 9, 2008, Polish Falun Gong practitioners arrived at a subway station in Warsaw, the Capital of Poland. With their display boards and stand set up, the practitioners started their anti-persecution petition drive which would last for weeks, two hours each day. Meanwhile, they told people about Falun Gong and about the persecution.

Though in a hurry, passers-by stopped to express their support. In no time, numerous Polish people gathered in front of the display boards. The CCP's violent acts displayed on the boards shocked viewers. People repeatedly asked the same questions: "What is Falun Gong?" "Who could persecute innocent people this way?" "Is this currently happening in China?" or "Is live organ harvesting true? It's so cruel!"

After being informed that China is still under the CCP's totalitarian rule, Polish people who had themselves suffered under the rule of a communist party immediately realized the facts. They lined up to sign the anti-persecution petition. At first the petition was signed by two people simultaneously, then by four people, then by six, and then by eight, at most. People still kept lining up to sign.

An older lady in her eighties said, "The communist party is very evil and would commit wrongdoing in every possible way. Stalin and Mao Zedong were tyrannical killers. Now there comes a new one, called Jiang Zemin, who is even more evil than his predecessors." Then she wrote her name clearly on the petition--Laura Staniskiewicz.

When a mother was signing the petition, her six-year-old son next to her asked, "Why are you signing your name?" The mother pointed at the photo of Gao Rongrong, a Falun Gong practitioner who had been tortured to death, and said to her son, "Did you see that? If we want to stop such a terrible thing from happening again, we must sign the petition!" "Mom, I want to sign my name. I have learned to write my name!" The mother helped her son to finish other blank parts of the form, and the six-year-old boy who had just learned to write signed his name attentively stroke by stroke.

Two policemen who were on duty came forward to take a look at the display boards and then read the explanation on the petition. Afterwards, they signed the petition without hesitation. Before leaving, they told the practitioners to contact the police if anyone came to make trouble. They also asked with the practitioners to tell them the number of petitioners every day. They were really concerned about the issue, and if they could know the number of petitioners, they would feel more assured.

An overseas Chinese came up to the stand. After reading the Falun Gong leaflets, he said that back in China he had been informed about Falun Gong by Falun Gong practitioners. One day he was away from home for work. Late at night on his way back home, he was mistaken as a Falun Gong practitioner and arrested. After severe questioning, he was finally released. He said with anger, "The communist party is an organization of bandits. There is no good person among the communist police." Right on the spot he quit all the CCP-related organizations.

A senior citizen signed the petition, saying, "During the period of the Polish Communist Party's rule, half of my family members were imprisoned because my family had a foreign relative. The communist party is extremely evil, and commits wrongdoing in every possible way. The communist party is likely to be harvesting organs from living Falun Gong practitioners."

An older lady signed the petition, but kept standing there. Listening to the Dafa music JiShi and PuDu, she lifted her head toward the sky and seemed to search for something. She asked the practitioners, "Did you hear that? The music comes from the heavens."

A young girl rushed to the stand on the final day of the petition. "Please give me another lotus flower. I had signed the petition and took a lotus flower. I happened to visit a patient in the hospital that day. When seeing the lotus, the patient felt much better, so of course I let the patient keep it. The lotus is miraculous. Can I please have another one?" pleaded the girl.

One week passed by. In the meantime, Polish Falun Gong practitioners witnessed the awakening of the Polish people, who bravely chose to stand on the side of justice. A large number of senior citizens with the help of their walking sticks lined up to sign the petition; numerous mothers pushed their baby strollers up to the table to sign the petition; the petitioners included mothers and daughters, fathers and sons, students, a Ukrainian who worked as a migrant worker, a Vietnamese who served as a cook, a Thai teacher, a Danish doctor, an Australian flight attendant who happened to pass by, and people from Korea, the U.K., Palestine, Scotland, Bulgaria, and Iran.

During one week, over 3,000 people signed the petition. They were not kept away by the daily storms or the thunder and lightning. They condemned the CCP's persecution of Falun Gong; they protested against the coexistence of the Olympics and crimes against humanity in China.