Chinese Authorities Blame Internet for Fanning Uighur Anger

[tekisui]

Source: VOA

Chinese authorities blame foreign activists for inciting violent protests this week in Xinjiang, and say the Internet enabled them to do it. Uighur groups have used the Internet to rapidly get out images from what they say was a provocative government crackdown on a peaceful demonstration.

Following Sunday's violence in Xinjiang region, Chinese authorities were hasty to point fingers.

At a news conference Monday, Xinjiang's police chief Liu Yaohua blamed the World Uighur Congress, an international Uighur rights group.

Liu accused the organization of distorting China's ethnic and religious policy to stir up conflict. But he especially singled out the Internet, describing it as the main medium that foreign forces use to communicate with Uighurs in China.

more: http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-07-08-voa13.cfm

[NewJeffCT]

1. Damn bloggers - first they finish off Sarah Palin

now, they're inciting unrest in China.

[Canuckistanian]

2. Tyrants are always quick to blame the Internet for unrest

Although it's true that false information can be used to incite people to violence, violence doesn't happen in a vacuum.

I think this is a case of China being embarrassed that their heavy-handed crackdowns are being exposed.

[dembotoz]

3. looks like they are looking for their opening to control internet access even more