The missing link

• Source: China Daily
• [10:22 November 05 2009]
• Comments

The decision to pull the plug on the Internet in Xinjiang has been a controversial move, despite the action being intended to prevent a repeat of the riot.

"The riot would not have happened without the Internet," said David Gosset, a French expert in international relations and founder of the Euro-China Forum, who has visited Xinjiang eight times.

"The Chinese government has its reasons. Under extreme circumstances, such as after the Urumqi riot, the move is understandable."

However, Yu Xiaofeng, director of non-traditional security and peaceful development studies at Zhejiang University in Hangzhou, disagrees and said blocking information should never be the first resort to combat terrorism.

"Cutting off communication should not be the first choice in an open society. The government should allow official and unofficial sources so the public can seek truth through knowledge," he said.

Hu Yong, a professor in new media at Peking University's school of journalism and communication, added: "The authorities probably think they are justified in cutting off the Internet on national security grounds because they openly admitted it at the start."

Following the riot, legislation was passed in Xinjiang outlawing the incitement of ethnic separatism using the Internet.

Any activities that compromise national security, damage national or social interests, undermine ethnic unity, instigate ethnic secession or harm social stability will be severely punished, according to new regulations.

Rebiya Kadeer, head of the World Uygur Congress, was accused of masterminding the July 5 riot by Chinese officials and the local government officials say the Internet was a vital tool in the organizing stages.

"The rapid development of the Internet and loopholes in social management are posing unprecedented challenges to maintaining social stability," said Meng Jianzhu, minister of public security.

Despite the Web lockdown, a series of syringe attacks in August were categorized as "organized terror attacks" by Xinjiang officials and caused widespread fear in the region. Urumqi residents took to the streets to protest the attacks on Sept 3.

Authorities confirmed 531 people were stabbed by hypodermic needles. Two top city officials were later sacked for mishandling the incidents.