GENEVA - A New York-based independent TV network, New Tang Dynasty TV, is just two days away from having its transmission signal to China halted.
An NTDTV representative made a plea on Wednesday at a forum during the United Nations Human Rights Commission. Ms. Lei Xi, director of corporate alliances and government relations, called upon all concerned civil societies and governments to voice support for viewers in China.
"I'm here for the hundreds of millions of people inside China whose voices cannot be heard and the countless more who cannot hear outside voices," Xi said. "They are entitled to have access to free flow of information and be given a chance to think and make choices independently, just like we do."
Eutelsat, the Paris-based satellite company, largest in Europe, cancelled NTDTV's contract to transmit signals to East and Southeast Asia after a year of pressure from the Beijing government. According to a press release from the International Federation of Journalists, Eutelsat has been under pressure from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) over its arrangement with NTDTV. IFJ says that authorities have made it clear that Eutelsat's business opportunities connected to broadcasting of the Olympic games might be at risk.
NTDTV is licensed to broadcast in France and has been compliant with all the contract terms. The network was established after 9-11 when a group of Chinese Americans realized how TV broadcasts outside China were heavily influenced, if not directly controlled, by Beijing, according to Xi.
When NTDTV and Eutelsat formed a business partnership a year ago to transmit NTDTV's signal to Asia, a historic "open satellite window" pierced through the great wall of information control that the Beijing government forcibly maintains. At the time, Eutelsat CEO Giuliano Berretta personally assured the NTD management team that his company would not bow to any outside pressure.
In her speech, Xi gave the example of how it took one retired surgeon's courage to break the silence of SARS to the world and pointed out that the lack of free press in China does impact everyone's life.
Xi said, "Resolutely standing on the principles of human rights and freedom, free commerce and free flow of information is the fundamental guarantee for advancing democracy."
A representative from the Association of Mothers of Tiananmen praised NTDTV at the forum for producing excellent documentaries on the June 4th massacre where she lost her cousin and she forwarded her aunt's gratitude to the station for letting their voice be heard.
When asked what will happen on April 15 in the event that Eutelsat does not change their position, Xi said that at least the incident has exposed the severe lack of free flow of information in China and that the CCP is able to control Western businesses in repressing freedom and democracy. She is optimistic that the matter will come to a full resolution.
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