China tosses New York Times into shredder in family fortunes row
Great Firewall stoked ahead of power handover
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China’s censors have blocked the New York Times website after the paper ran a story alleging relatives of outgoing prime minister Wen Jiabao amassed a $2.7bn fortune.
The article, which became unavailable in the country just hours after publication, claimed members of Wen's family benefited from regulatory and government decisions made after he came to power in 2003. The newspaper accused relatives of 'Grandpa Wen' - a vocal critic of corruption - of taking steps to hide their riches from prying eyes. They deny the allegations.
Although there’s no suggestion of any wrongdoing on his part, the report is damaging to a political party party still reeling from the Bo Xilai scandal. As the party prepares for its leadership handover, a key task for the incoming team is reducing the huge wealth gap across the People’s Republic.
Not only is the NYT's English and Chinese language sites blocked, discussion of Wen on social networks is being curtailed by the nation's microblogging platforms, thanks to censorship of certain keywords.
China Digital Times has compiled a lengthy list of some of the words that are now banned on Twitter-like Sina Weibo, including New York Times, Grandpa Wen and Wen Yunsong – the name of Wen’s son.
Wen's family members have since hit back at NYT through their lawyers: in a statement published on the front page of the South China Morning Post on Sunday, they said “the so-called ‘hidden riches’ of Wen Jiabao’s family members in the New York Times’ report do not exist”.
The once-in-a-decade leadership handover in China is a hugely politically sensitive time, during which web censorship is routinely tightened to stifle any dissent. However commentators are curious to see how it is handled this year – it'll be the first National People's Congress formed in the age of social networking.
The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has tried to reassure users that there will be no internet shutdown, although euphemistically pointed to network clean-up operations, and ongoing maintenance and repair in order to “guarantee the smooth network operation”, Caixin reported. ®
COMMENTS
their lawyers...
mmm, how many 'poor' can afford their own set of lawyers... think they've just proved the story beyond reasonable (any) doubt.
But then is there any real difference between China and Russia, Europe, UK and USA? ALL of those in power in ALL of these countries seem to manage to end their 'term in office' somewhat better off than just their salary would suggest - and so do a surprisingly large number of their family and friends.
Indeed the UK politicians still stick their hands deep into the cookie jar at every available chance - cross renting properties between them so they can get better 'expenses' and of course (quite within the rules) buying 'do it uppers' and having it done up at the tax payers expense before declaring it as their main residence and selling up (the main residence is to avoid paying any tax on the profit).
Re: their lawyers...
Oh and don't forget the UK politicians are refusing to allow their 'expenses' to be 'published' so that the story can't get out (and damage security - ha ha)
>China’s censors have blocked the New York Times website after the paper ran a story alleging relatives of outgoing prime minister Wen Jiabao amassed a $2.7bn fortune.
They deny the allegations.
discussion of Wen on social networks is being curtailed by the nation's microblogging platforms, thanks to censorship of certain keywords.<
Nothing to hide, nothing to fear my shiny metal ass.
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