On an international level, government officials, community groups, and Reporters Without Borders have condemned Eutelsat for assisting the Chinese regime in clamping down on freedom of information in return for financial gains.
To enable audiences in mainland China to continue watching uncensored news, in September, NTDTV launched an initiative to collect money for purchasing and/or renting a large amount of space on a satellite, allowing the station to service Chinese from around the globe without interference.
The following is a recent interview with NTDTV spokeswoman Carrie Hung on the progress of the initiative:
Reporter: It has been two months since NTDTV launched this fundraising initiative, known as Freedom Satellite for China, can you tell us how it’s going?
Hung: Starting from September until now, we have received donations from hundreds of audience members with a sense of conscience and also from many kind-hearted people as well, amounts ranging from $10 to $10,000 [U.S. dollars]. These donations come from America, Canada, England, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, China etc.
An audience member sent us a letter that said: “Please accept this check for $1,000… I am only adding a piece of brick to this initiative. I firmly believe that communism is not here to stay, democracy will prevail! Looking forward to NTDTV’s broadcast over the Divine Land [Mainland China] very soon!”
Another audience member sent a $2,000 check, supporting the Freedom Satellite for China. The donator’s letter said: “An ordinary couple, faithful friends of Falun Gong.” But no name nor sender’s address was stated, and NTDTV could not send any letter of thanks to the sender. Perhaps, this couple knows that in NTDTV, there are many volunteers who are Falun Gong practitioners [a spiritual practice banned in China] and who work tirelessly with the goal of bringing uncensored news to the audiences of Mainland China. Many people are touched by their selfless dedication.
Reporter: Apart from receiving financial support, is there any other form of support received?
Hung: We have received many calls and emails from audience member, asking about the development of Freedom Satellite for China, how they can be of help, many suggestions and many who wished to express their feelings.
An audience member sent a letter expressing that he had no check nor credit card, but he is very supportive of NTDTV, and he can provide suggestions to NTDTV. He suggested that since many people like to play computer games today, NTDTV can make a computer game, using as its the theme the Chinese regime’s massacre of the Tiananmen Square pro-democracy movement on June 4, 1989, incorporating the whole progress of the suppression into the game and thus letting people understand the whole truth while playing the game. He was certain that this game would be very popular and will bring in lots of profit for NTDTV.
Many readers expressed their compliments in their letters to NTDTV for bringing honest reporting to Mainland china, here are some of them:
“You have done incredibly so far, thanks!”
“Keep it up!”
“Looking forward to NTDTV’s broadcast resuming soon!”
“Here’s wishing all the ladies and gentlemen fighting in the frontlines best of health!”
Reporter: It takes a lot of money to buy a satellite, perhaps it will be difficult to achieve this in the near future. Have there been any changes at Eutelsat?
Hung: Because the government of the United States is the biggest client of Eutelsat, American citizens do not wish to have their tax money invested in a company that assists the Communist regime’s blockade on information freedom in China, recently 68 members of the U.S. Congress sent a letter to the Eutelsat President and Chairman, Mr. Berretta, calling for the immediate resumption of NTDTV’s satellite signal.
In the letter, the investigative report of Reporters Without Borders was used. The report found that the disruption of NTDTV’s signal was not an accident, it was politically motivated and was for the purpose of expanding Eutelsat’s business into the China market.
The letter from Congress was also copied to French President Nicholas Sarkozy, U.S. President George W. Bush, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, and National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley. America is well known for advocating democracy and freedom, and since members of Congress are elected by the citizens, representing the various districts, this jointly signed letter represents the voice of the American people.
In Europe, Eutelsat’s disruption of NTDTV’s satellite broadcast over Mainland China is also facing challenges. Recently, five members of the European Union co-sponsored a motion, calling upon EU member states to take immediate action to urge Eutelsat to quickly resume NTDTV’s signal. According to our latest data, more than 100 European Members of Parliament have responded.
Former French Minister of Education, Jack Lang also wrote to Eutelsat chairman Berretta, questioning his reason for disrupting NTDTV’s signal. French Television and other media are also broadcasting this incident throughout France. A number of Eutelsat shareholders could not understand the reason why Berretta would give up the company’s integrity and cooperate with the Chinese regime, and questioned Berretta during the Eutelsat shareholders’ meeting.
Now, all sectors of society, including politicians, civil society, and the media, are condemning the immoral acts of Eutelsat. However, until now, Berretta has not expressed any repentance and is still stubbornly sticking to the reason “technical problems” as the excuse for the disruption in NTDTV’s signal. NTDTV hopes that Eutelsat will be able to make the right decision eventually, to stand on the side of conscience, to distance itself from the Chinese regime, and thus to bring about a bright future for the company.
Reporter: If Eutelsat resumes NTDTV’s signal under the pressure from the free world, will the Freedom Satellite for China initiative still continue?
Hung: Yes, it will. Firstly, under the Chinese regime’s financial temptation, this is not the first time that Eutelsat has disrupted NTDTV’s signal. As early as in 2005, it had announced its intention of terminating its contract with NTDTV. This year is the second time. Thus, even if Eutelsat resumes NTDTV signal under international pressure, it is difficult to guarantee that it will not succumb to the Chinese regime’s financial temptation in the future. And if it really disrupts NTDTV’s signal again, it will bring about a great loss to a large audience, just like this time. It has been 4 months since the disruption of NTDTV’s signal, and audiences in Mainland China are unable to watch NTDTV programs.
If this disruption happens during critical times, for example if it had happened during the period when the Chinese regime suppressed SARS, the repercussions would have been even greater, as it concerns the safety of the lives of Chinese citizens in Mainland China.
Reporter: If audiences from Mainland China wish to donate to the Freedom Satellite for China initiative, is there a safe way?
Hung: Many audience members from Mainland China have expressed their desire to have NTDTV resume its broadcast. They are tired and disgusted with the Chinese regime’s blockade on information freedom and suppression of Chinese citizens, they are eager to donate to the Freedom Satellite for China initiative. At the moment, a safe way we can accept donations from Mainland China is through Paypal, the website is: http://ticket.ntdtv.com/freeset/donation_ch.php. If audience member from Mainland China has friends from overseas, they can also remit the money to their friends first, and ask their friends to transfer the money to NTDTV, this way is pretty safe as well.
Donations from audiences outside China are easier. They can donate via check, credit cards, foundation sponsorship, corporate sponsorship, etc. For more detailed information, kindly visit the website: www.ntdtv.com/freedomsat, or call 001-800-558-9045, or send email to funding@ntdtv.com.
Please make checks payable to: New Tang Dynasty Television And send checks to:
New Tang Dynasty Television
Attn: Development Department
229 W 28th St. Suite 1200
New York, NY 10001
Reporter: Is there anything else you wish to tell our readers?
Hung: As Freedom Satellite for China is still moving steadily toward its final fundraising goal, we are thankful to all of NTDTV’s audience members, everyone who is on the side of conscience and who loves and supports NTDTV, everyone who has contributed in his or her own individual ways, be it money, efforts, suggestions… let us all work as one. Every single drop makes an ocean, Freedom Satellite for China will eventually prevail over the skies of Mainland China, bringing to the audience of Mainland China accurate, timely and completely uncensored information, continuing its roles as a window into the free world that audiences in Mainland China can look through to receive truthful and reliable news. Thank you everyone!