This blog is censored: by order of the Chinese government

So, the countdown to the Games is now in single figures, the athletes are arriving at Beijing’s glossy new airport, and China is ratcheting up yet another broken promise to its ever-increasing list.

Today it’s been revealed that the Chinese authorities are blocking journalists’ access to a number of websites at the Olympics press centre, including our very own Amnesty International website.  This meant that those who tried to access our new report from Beijing's press centre couldn't do so.

This is all despite the fact that it had promised to relax the restrictions on foreign media as an example of the promised improvements in human rights during the hosting of the Olympics.

Yesterday, China dismissed Amnesty’s claim of its broken promises, by saying that the organisation had on tinted glasses…. Hmmm… judging by today’s news, it seems as though Amnesty’s vision is actually 20-20 on this!  

It is astounding that the authorities can so flagrantly breach its promises to uphold basic human rights especially when the world’s media is scrutinising them.

Martin Rowson’s cartoon in today’s Guardian (above) really does tell a story of a thousand words.
 
Away from China, but high on our agenda here at Amnesty’s press office is the case of Radovan Karadzic.  Mr Karadzic has now been extradited to The Hague, and he’s expected to appear before the Court today to hear his charges brought against him.  According to his lawyer, it would appear that the former Bosnian-Serb leader has said that he wants to represent himself, as did Slobodan Milosevic.  Amnesty will certainly be keeping a close eye on how this trial plays out.

Well, that’s all from us today.  Hopefully you’ll hear from us tomorrow, that is unless you’re based in the Olympic press centre in Beijing…

Til the next time