Regimes censor Iranian revolt

By: Staff Writer

BEIJING -- The authoritarian governments of China, Cuba, Myanmar and Venezuela have been selectively censoring the news out of Iran, out of fear that history might repeat itself.

In 1988-90, amid a lesser global economic slump, pro-democracy protests that appeared to draw inspiration from one another broke out in Eastern Europe, Myanmar, China and elsewhere. Not all evolved into revolutions, but communist regimes fell in a broad swath of countries.

A similar infectiousness has shown up in acts of defiance by democracy advocates around the world this week.

In China, commentators tinted their blogs and Twitters green to show their support for Iranians disputing President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's re-election. The deaths of at least 20 people in violent clashes in Tehran have drawn comparisons online to "June 4," the date of the Tiananmen Square crackdown in Beijing in 1989.

In Cuba, President Raul Castro's government has imposed a blackout of news surrounding the Iranian elections. But developments are trickling through, anyway.

In Myanmar, the junta's mouthpiece, the New Light of Myanmar, has drowned out news from Tehran with articles on bombings in Iraq and Afghanistan. But some of the nearly 200 private journals have seized on the topic as a way to pass subversive messages to readers.

In Venezuela, where protests against President Hugo Chavez are common, Juan Mejia, 22, said he found the protests in Iran stirring. "We believe that if the people of the world raise their voices loudly enough -- in Iran, as we do it here in Venezuela -- then surely we will have a better world."

-- The Washington Post

Iran election protests: Fearing echoes, some authoritarian nations try to stifle Iran protest news

By Ariana Eunjung Cha | The Washington Post
June 28, 2009

BEIJING -- The authoritarian governments of China, Cuba and Myanmar have been selectively censoring or limiting the news out of Iran in recent days.

In China, political commentators tinted their blogs and Twitter feeds green to show support for Iranians disputing President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's re-election. The deaths of at least 20 people in violent clashes in Tehran have drawn comparisons online to "June 4," the date of the Tiananmen Square crackdown in 1989.

"The Iranian people face the same problems as us: news censorship and no freedom to have their own voices," blogger Zhou Shuguang, 28, said in a telephone interview.

The Chinese Communist Party has portrayed the protests in Iran as orchestrated by the United States and other Western powers, not a grass-roots movement.

In Cuba, President Raul Castro's government has imposed a complete blackout of news on Iran's elections. But developments are trickling through, anyway.

Havana-based blogger Yoani Sanchez, 33, said the Iranian protests -- in particular, the reportedly widespread use of Twitter, Facebook and cell phones -- served as "a lesson for Cuban bloggers."

In Myanmar, the junta's New Light of Myanmar has drowned out news from Tehran with articles on bombings in Iraq and Afghanistan. But some of the nearly 200 journals published privately in Yangon and Mandalay have seized on the topic.

"What we, the private media, are trying to do was to put in as much stories ... of what's going on in Tehran in our papers," the editor of a Yangon-based weekly publication said in an e-mail.

Raul his senile brother and all the apparachiks are shaking in their commie boots .Soon it will be Ceausescu Time for them and good riddance

There goes another crack to the glass regime that will shatter. can't wait for the day it does happen.

Yes , cracking a thick thick glass.. a glass so hard that it makes empires of the world tremble...haha! the Castros arent as evil as you want them to be......

I bet you'll love this premise.... The Castro regime is so evil and they hatew their people so much,that the only reason they made efforts for them to have the highest life expectancy in Latin America is because he wants them to last long suffering !! hahah!

but go ahead and enjoy as many will, when one of Latin American's greatest minds passes away. Many of us will mourn!

but be careful of who you think is fair and square, becuse they may not be....I'm sure you guys will differ with the opinions of Slavador Allende, amilcar Cabral, Maurice Bishop... all which have been stung by the hypocritical policies of the US gov't !

what are your heroes afraid of glimm ....maybe the Cuban people will be coming for them soon I did not think you were a big censorship guy but anyone who looks up to allende the dummy and Maurice the thug does not know any better and please stop quoting those bogus stats or you will be labled a bootlicking commie you bootlicking commie

My heroes arent afraid of anything....Castro will die of old age !!! thanks to the likes of you who are afraid to walk the walk..but helluva alot of talking !

You missed the point ... those govts were ousted by/with US assistance.... not quuite the democracy that is preached.. the us givt claims that Castros regime is a mini version of what China is but decide to punish the Castro's ...HYPOCRISY !! thats what ticks me off....

as for hte stats.... bogus? Research it..... only allah knows, perhaps you will become a Castro Convert !!!! hahaha!

Feel free to label me as you wish, since I do not answer to you, I answer to the Divine ones, Castro and Obama.....

Its not my style to hurl names and insults to fellow DT'ers.... havent done it and probably never will.. see Im a self taught psycho analyst and I know where all that anger comes from....

Lets talk about it ... call me.

in which mental hospital or sanitarium are you currently residing ?

What happened goulet ??? thats all you got?????? you ........oooops....almost did it....... you fellow earthling you!!

What ? got tired of searching to prove the bogus stat?? hhahahah!!

I'll give you anotther lead...try researching literacy rates.... certainly there has to be another LA countrhy that can beat Cruel old Castro Cuba (sheeeeet.. i think they even beat the USA!!)..

Those Castro bastards.... imagine the audacity of teaching their countrymen to read and write!!!

hahahhahaha........

a la Tupapaupa....

Down goes Goulet ! Down goes Dobbs!

neeexxxxxxxxxtttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt !

JAJAJAJAJAJAJAJAJA .

BEST PHRASE EEEEEEEEEEVER. JAJAJAJAJAJAJA.

Glimm, in case you haven't noticed, MOST HERE DON'T PAY ATTENTION to ole Dobbs....he is ignored and his posts go unanswered, EVEN WHEN TRYING TO GET PEOPLE'S ATTENTION.

He knows it so well that he NEEDED to write 3 POSTS......then someone said something.

He reninds me of my old dog, re-named "vacanos", when he wants to take a crap......he just starts looking at you with a stupid look on his face, trying to get my attention.

The only difference is that my old dog is smarter since he always finds someone to take him take a crap and stop ignoring him. JAJAJAJAJA.