BEIJING, China (CNN) — Chinese censors have blocked the airing of a CNN
International interview that criticized the government’s handling of the
SARS epidemic, despite a government pledge to be more open with information.
The seven-minute segment was part of CNN’s 30-minute “Insight” program.
Newsday reporter Laurie Garrett, author of “The Coming Plague,” commented on
the decrepit state of China’s public health system.
Garrett accused the government of ordering doctors to underreport the number
of patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome.
The flu-like disease is believed to have originated in southern China late
last year.
When asked about the censorship, a Chinese official said, “The coverage
positions a negative coverage of China.”
China requires foreign broadcasters to use a designated Chinese satellite to
transmit signals into the country.
A seven-second delay between the time signals reach the satellite and the
time they are retransmitted to cable viewers allows censors to selectively
black out programming.
The censorship process predates the SARS epidemic.
In recent months, many CNN reports on controversial government issues —
human rights, Tibet, and the Falun Gong spiritual movement — have been
blacked out.
“We regret the Chinese action and we are checking the circumstances and
details of the interruption,” a CNN spokesman said. “In the meantime, we
will continue reporting forthrightly and responsibly on SARS and other
important matters.”
Other networks such as the BBC also have experienced censorship in recent
months.
Since the first SARS cases were reported in November, government officials
covered up all reports about SARS in China, even as the epidemic was
spreading in Beijing and other provinces.
In early April, health officials insisted the epidemic was under “effective
control.” Beijing, they said, had only 37 cases.
Three weeks later, the government acknowledged it had underreported SARS
cases, and the Beijing mayor and the Chinese health minister were fired.
Since then, top leaders have gamely worked to make up for lost time, and
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao ordered that all SARS information be made public.
“Government and health officials who cover up, delay reporting or report
false figures will be demoted or sacked,” he said.
Still, earlier this month, a top World Health Organization official
criticized China for hindering the agency’s efforts to control the deadly
SARS outbreak.
Increased communication among the 27 countries dealing with SARS has been a
key factor in controlling the disease’s spread, David Heymann, director for
communicable diseases at WHO, told a U.S. House subcommittee Wednesday.
China, so far, he said, has not been very helpful.
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Category: Special Report
