Party elders attack China censors

"A group of former senior Communist party officials in China have launched a scathing attack on the country's handling of the media and information.

"In an open letter, the group denounced the recent closure of investigative newspaper Bingdian (Freezing Point).

"They said strict censorship may 'sow the seeds of disaster' for China's political transition.

"Among the signatories are an ex-aide to Mao Zedong, a former newspaper editor and a former party propaganda chief.

"'History demonstrates that only a totalitarian system needs news censorship, out of the delusion that it can keep the public locked in ignorance,' the group said in the letter, according to Reuters news agency.

"The letter was signed on 2 February but publicly released on Tuesday.

"According to the BBC's Rupert Wingfield Hayes, in Beijing, this open outburst against China's media censors is all the more surprising because of who it comes from.

"Those signing the letter include Chairman Mao's former secretary, Li Rui; the former editor of the Communist party's own mouthpiece, People's Daily, Hu Jiwei; and ex-propaganda boss, Zhu Houze ..."
BBC

Tagged: china, censorship, civil+rights, human+rights