July 4, 2008

By New Tang Dynasty Television

With the excuse that “the power supply is out of order,” the European satellite company (Eutelsat) shut off the transmitter on its W5 satellite on June 16, 2008, through which the New Tang Dynasty TV (NTDTV) broadcasts its programs into mainland China. To date, Eutelsat has not provided any formal explanation to NTDTV.

NTDTV has requested from Eutelsat the specific reasons for stopping the broadcast and urged it to carry out its contractual obligations to resume NTDTV’s broadcasts as soon as possible. However, Eutelsat has not responded with a reasonable explanation as to why they are still investigating the incident. Several days ago, Eutelsat resumed operation of another transmitter, but not the one for NTDTV.

Although Eutelsat’s president, Mr. Berretta, had the intention to sacrifice NTDTV and its audience for commercial profits provided by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in 2005, out of a sincere effort to promote commercial cooperation, NTDTV has given sufficient time and space for him to explain the incident and solve the problem. Nevertheless, Mr. Berretta has not resumed the broadcast for ambiguous technical reasons, indicating that no other transmitter is available. He has not explained why he shut off all transmitters to Asia except the Voice of America, and why the first transmitter being resumed is not for NTDTV. It makes people wonder whether there are some other reasons behind the scenes, and whether Mr. Berretta will resume the NTDTV broadcast even if W5 resumes full power.

The 2008 Olympics will start shortly, and with major natural and man made disasters happening constantly in China, without objective reporting and warnings, the Chinese people would be put at risk. China’s disasters are often 30 percent caused by nature and 70 percent caused by men, resulting in much unnecessary suffering and the deaths of innocent people. For example, the CCP covered up the SARS epidemic in 2003, speeding up its spread and deaths; in the recent earthquake in Sichuan Province, many innocent children died, not because of the earthquake, but because of the “shoddy school construction.” These are evidence that the CCP’s man made disasters are more disastrous than the natural ones. Meanwhile, only breaking through the CCP’s blockade of uncensored information can the man made calamities be effectively restrained. This is a matter of life and death for the Chinese people in mainland China.

NTDTV is the only Chinese TV station broadcasting into China that has not been censored nor controlled by the CCP since it started broadcasting in 2004. We expose the tyranny of the CCP with the principles of upholding social justice and reporting the facts. Because we speak for persecuted religious believers, human rights defenders, and minorities, the CCP feels ashamed and flies into a rage. We believe that stopping NTDTV broadcasts is a result of the CCP’s huge investment of money and threats of canceling contracts. The CCP uses the Chinese people’s hard-earned money to block the voice that the Chinese people need and want to hear most. Thus, NTDTV expresses the most severe condemnation for this.

The CCP promised to open up freedom of the press before the Olympics, but in reality it fears a different voice. We believe it is precisely the result of losing the confidence of the Chinese people. A regime which relies on repression cannot last long.

It’s not wrong that Eutelsat wants to expand its business. However, we sincerely ask Eutelsat to consider how much of a future will be achieved by cooperating with the CCP, thereby sacrificing innate principles and the only window for the Chinese people to receive uncensored information? How long will such interests last?

In any case, the Chinese people in mainland China thank Eutelsat’s cooperation with NTDTV during the past 4 years. Only if the cooperation can last till China peacefully transitions to a free society can the 1.3 billion Chinese people and the new government return the most lucrative and the most long lasting reward to Eutelsat.

In 2005, the powerful voice of justice from common people around the world played a crucial role for NTDTV to enter into a contract with Eutelsat. We’ve been most grateful for it. What people want to hear most is the voice that really involves them from a free media, not the voice of the CCP’s propagandizing mouthpieces. Therefore, we believe that the free flow of information is not only the expectation of NTDTV, but is in the fundamental interest of the Chinese people. Now we still need people in all fields, especially people who love freedom of information, to support us to strive to resume NTDTV broadcasts as early as possible.

We also call upon Eutelsat to follow the related international and European agreements and the charter of its own company to carry out the principles of non-discrimination, equal opportunity, respect of a variety of media, and immediately resume NTDTV broadcasts into mainland China.

New Tang Dynasty Television

http://en.epochtimes.com/news/8-7-4/72919.html