CHINA "PROTECTS" CITIZENS FROM "UNHEALTHY" INFORMATION
Winston Smith Meets China's Ministry of Culture
May 11, 2004
By Toby Westerman
Copyright 2004 International News Analysis Today
www.inatoday.com
China, a burgeoning economic and military superpower, is in the midst of a prolonged information control campaign, which has the stated purpose of protecting its citizens, especially "minors" from "unhealthy online information," according to Radio China International, the official broadcasting service of the Communist China government.
The announcement uses Orwellian mind control concepts and phraseology best described as Alice-in-Wonderland-Meets-Karl Marx. Communist China's attack on Internet cafés is the latest in a series of repressive measures against the people of China, including fresh assaults on free speech and freedom of religion.
Beijing is concerned that "those seeking information outside of official sources" are gathering at "Internet cafés." Communist officials have closed over 8,600 Internet cafés, and now prohibit their operation "near schools or residences."
The Chinese government states that its crackdown began in February and is expected to continue until August. The attack on Internet cafés "has been widely applauded by the general public," according to Radio China International.
In a move reminiscent of George Orwell's 1984, China's Ministry of Culture is leading the attack on unapproved knowledge. The protagonist in 1984, Winston Smith, worked for the Ministry of Truth, which changed history to suit the government's dictates.
The Ministry of Culture declares that Internet cafés "spread unhealthy information online," and bring "general harm to the mental health of teenagers." The Ministry of Culture now demands that still-existing Internet cafés be no closer than "200 meters (about 700 feet) of primary and high schools."
The suppression of "the troublesome Internet cafés" will also save lives, Radio China International assures its listeners.
"Tragedy never seems to stop happening" around Internet cafés, declares RCI, which relates the plausibility-stretching account of two high school students who visited an unlicensed Internet café. After surfing the Internet for 48 hours, the youths finally exited the forbidden establishment, fell asleep on a railway track, and were crushed by an oncoming train.
The Ministry of Culture will also hunt down those who upload factual material. The Ministry of Culture declares that it will take "resolute measures" against those patronizing Internet cafés who are guilty of "enhancing information on the Internet."
The Internet cafés of the future will be firmly under the thumb of the central government, operating under "large chain store supervision" or strict private license, Radio China International declares.
No doubt the Party is working to ensure that the people of China win the same "victory" as did Orwell's Winston Smith, to "avoid needless misunderstanding" and finally, to unquestionably love the Party.
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