The news media in China have had a roller-coaster ride over the past few months.
During his inspection in Jilin Province between May 30 and June 4, Li Changchun (
This announcement also provided cover for the news media that had long been eager for action. The SARS outbreak and both Chinese President Hu Jintao's (
On June 9, Beijing's The Economic Observer published an article -- entitled "Officials' dismissal due to cover-up of epidemic beyond doubt" -- in which the newspaper publicly criticized Vice Health Minister Gao Qiang (
Later, it also published a telephone conversation between economist Wu Jinglian (
Meanwhile, another Chinese newspaper ranked Zhong Nanshan (鍾南山), a respiratory expert in Guangdong Province, as China's top anti-SARS hero. Jiang was ranked second while Vice Premier Wu Yi (吳儀), who is responsible for China's anti-SARS war, was ranked only third.
It was unbelievable when I saw a journalist harshly questioning those health authorities during a press conference on CCTV-4's news program. "You covered-up the epidemic from us before. How can you prove that you are not cheating us again?" the journalist asked. Had freedom of the press really arrived in China?
The answer is a definate "no." A sweet dream is always short-lived. We have already seen the government's policy change.
In early June, a Beijing newspaper published an article, entitled "China's seven most disgusting things," criticizing both the National People's Congress and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference for being wallflowers, and condemning government leaders for their empty words.
Beijing immediately closed the newspaper. Meanwhile, the party's Propaganda Department ordered government agencies to strictly regulate the media. People's hope for freedom of speech was dashed once again.
Nevertheless, the media's roller-coaster ride did reflect the public's strong hope for freedom of speech. Although the media had Li's words as their protective shield this time, their reports on Jiang, the open criticism of minister-level government officials, and critiques such as "China's seven most disgusting things" far exceeded the limits of China's propaganda policy.
These actions were obviously not led by the government. They were the achievements of the media that seized an opportunity. The government's backlash is therefore no surprise. The media's efforts to strive for freedom of speech also show that the power of civil society is accumulating, while strong public opinion is gradually forming.
Wang Dan was a student leader during the 1989 Tiananmen Square demonstrations in Beijing.
TRANSLATED BY EDDY CHANG
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