China’s army of censors: Olympian speaks out

BY ALEX MCDONALD

Olympic swimmer turned human rights activist, Michelle Englesman, addressed a small rally in Martin Place to protest against internet censorship on the eve of the Beijing Games. Englesman, who swan for Australia in Athens four years ago, was flanked by Amnesty International staff who erected a 20-metre ?golden firewall? to signify the country?s highly restricted internet system which, Amnesty says, stifles freedom of expression.

?I?m passionate about human rights,? Englesman told a small gathering of city workers. ?And I feel torn as an Olympian.?

Although the Chinese government has committed to deliver full internet access to international media at the Games, Amnesty?s campaign coordinator Sophie Peer said the communist government still employs an army of around 50,000 censors to monitor the population?s internet habits. Websites considered subversive remain blocked and entering such terms as ?Falun Gong?, ?Tibet? or ?human rights? into a Chinese computer means you are rerouted to government propaganda sites, Ms Peer said.