On June 16
, 2008, the Paris-based satellite company Eutelsat Communications shut down New Tang Dynasty Television's (NTDTV) broadcast signals on its W5 satellite under the pretext of a "technical problem." As a result, a large number of Chinese viewers in mainland China have been unable to access NTDTV's programs.
However, in-depth investigations by international groups such as Reporters Without Borders have revealed that because NTDTV dares to broadcast information uncensored by the Chinese Communist regime, Eutelsat succumbed to the CCP's enticement and deliberately shut down NTDTV's broadcasts prior to the Beijing Olympics.
Mainstream media has exposed this incident, and more and more international organizations have shown concern over it. On September 9, 2008, International Federation for Justice in China jointly signed an open letter in both English and French, together with ten international human rights organizations, and delivered it to Eutelsat. It calls for Eutelsat not to bend to the CCP and immediately restore NTDTV's broadcasts to China.
The following is the letter in English:
International Federation for Justice in China
136, avenue Parmentier
75011 Paris
France
Giuliano Berretta
CEO of Compagnie Eutelsat
70 rue Balard
75502 Paris cedex 15
Paris, the August 16, 2008
Open letter to Mr. Giuliano Berretta, CEO of Eutelsat Communications
Mr. Berretta,
We, the International Federation for Justice in China, our associates, and other organizations around the world do hereby make the following request of Eutelsat.
