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Tibetans Ask Canada to Boot Chinese TV Channel
Say slanted broadcasts are hate-incitement
By Matthew Little and Cindy Chan, Epoch Times Staff
April 1, 2008


Participants in a rally read a statement outside the CRTC office in Gatineau, Que. on Monday. Tibetan supporters say a state-run Chinese television network has been inciting hatred against them in Canada. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

GATINEAU, Quebec—Tibetan supporters joined a rally on Monday calling on Canada's television regulator to expel a state-run Chinese network they believe incited hate against them in its recent broadcasts on the unrest in Tibet.

A group gathered at the head office of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, or CRTC, in Gatineau, Que. Monday afternoon to deliver evidence against China Central Television-4, which airs on Rogers Cable.

"The thoughts and beliefs that are now being broadcast from China's state-run media have no place here in Canada or the world," said Mr. Wangdu Duntak, a representative of Students for Free Tibet.

CCTV-4's segments on Tibet have ranged from a few to 15 minutes in length and have aired up to eight times a day. All present a one-sided account of events inside Lhasa since protests began there March 10.

Chinese police are described as using "maximum restraint" while followers of the Dalai Lama are repeatedly called "lawless rioters" who inflict "atrocities" on innocent people. The broadcasts quote Chinese professing their hatred of the protesters, who are said to be taking directions from the Dalai Lama.

"Their sinister intentions are to take advantage of the occasion of the forthcoming Beijing Olympic Games to undermine the stability and unity of the social environment, in an attempt to split Tibet from the motherland," one CCTV-4 narrator surmises.

Controversy over CCTV-4 first erupted when the network was granted access to Canadian airwaves in 2006.

"China is making themselves look silly by saying the Dalai Lama is part of a violent uprising, the most peaceful man in the world."

— Canadian MP Larry Bagnell

CRTC ruled that CCTV-4 had aired "abusive content" in the past that could incite hatred and even acts of violence against practitioners of Falun Gong, another spiritual group persecuted by the communist regime in China.

But the watchdog chose to allow the network to air in Canada anyway, with a warning that its permit could be revoked if it aired abusive content again.

Tibetan activists believe CCTV-4's recent broadcasts have crossed that line.

"The Chinese Communist Party even now chooses to describe Tibetans, who want to express their desire for freedom and basic human rights, as terrorists," explains Duntak. "Such blatant and unfounded comments as these are the reasons viewers of Chinese state-run media are brainwashed to believe that Tibetans are a danger and hindrance to their way of life."

The CCTV-4 broadcasts are believed to have helped inspire a rally in Toronto on Saturday that blamed Tibetans for the recent violence in Tibet.

A flyer for the event included still images from CCTV that purported to show atrocities committed by Tibetan followers of the Dalai Lama.

Participants at the rally were videotaped hollering "Dalai Lama die!" and "You don't know the truth!" to Tibetan activists who had gathered to protest.

Students for a Free Tibet was joined Monday by other Tibetan and democracy groups.

Mr. Naresh Raghubeer, executive director of the Canadian Coalition for Democracies said he was concerned over the impact the CCTV-4 broadcasts would have.

"When someone's subject to that, you want to do everything you can to help them, to put an end to that hate and incitement," he said.

Ms. Shelagh Mills, vice-president of Canada Tibet Committee described the Chinese regime's efforts to influence press coverage on Tibet, commenting on a stage-managed tour of Tibet's holiest temple the communist government organized for foreign reporters.

The plan backfired when 30 monks pushed their way in and began shouting and crying to the reporters about ongoing repression.

"They were very courageous," said Mills, adding that she was concerned about the punishment they would receive.

Yukon Member of Parliament Larry Bagnell also attended the event and called on the Chinese regime to have dialogue with the Dalai Lama over Tibet.

"China is making themselves look silly by saying the Dalai Lama is part of a violent uprising, the most peaceful man in the world."

Denis Carmel, a CRTC spokesperson said the regulator had received two envelopes of materials. He said after reviewing the materials, Rogers and CCTV-4 would each be asked to respond.

 

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