China Crackdown Household Satellite Dishes to Prevent Religious Activities

ChinaScope, 07/15/2007-

China’s crackdown on unauthorized household installation of satellite dishes is “an urgent response to the attempts of overseas hostile forces to infiltrate and divide China.” It is also meant to “prevent Falun Gong members and Christian groups to spread their religious activities using ground satellite receivers.”

In recent months, Chinese authorities have launched another round in its campaign to hunt down and smash “the woks”—the satellite dishes that households have installed to watch TV programs that are unavailable from official TV stations.

The campaign has been a joint undertaking by police, industry and commerce bureaus, radio and TV broadcasting authorities, and cultural departments.

Huang Qiuju, Deputy Mayor of Guangsui City in Hubei Province stated at an April 19, 2007 meeting that to remove these dishes is “an urgent response to the attempts of overseas hostile forces to infiltrate and divide China. It is a necessary measure to strengthen the rule by law in governing and to enhance the control of the ideological field.”[1]

According to an earlier report by Xinhua on Shaya County of Xinjiang Autonomous Region, the purpose of striking hard on such unauthorized installation of satellite woks was to “prevent Falun Gong members and Christian groups to spread their religious activities using ground satellite receivers.”[2] The joint task force of Shaya County “removed and confiscated 142 satellite woks, 133 high-frequency receivers and 122 ground satellite receivers.” The crackdown was carried out via “inspection of overseas programs and household installation of satellite receiving equipment.”

China’s regulation on satellite dishes issued in 1993 prohibits individuals or work units from the production, distribution and installation of unauthorized satellite dishes to receive foreign programs. It was issued by the then Premier Li Peng in 1993 under State Council Decree No. 129 (commonly called “the 129 Decree”).[3]

Satellite dishes are legally allowed only in hotels above three stars, office buildings and apartments that are designed for foreigners. Individuals will be fined up to 5,000 RMB for installing a satellite dish. An organization can be fined as much as up to 50,000 RMB.

 

Notes:

 

[1] Guangshui City, Hubei Province, April 19, 2007.
http://www.zggs.gov.cn/2007-04/19/cms334909article.shtml
[2] Xinhuanet, June 6, 2006. http://www.xj.xinhuanet.com/2006-06/06/content_7188039.htm
[3] China’s State Council’s Decree No. 129. http://www.chinasarft.gov.cn/manage/publishfile/19/617.html

 

– original report from Chinascope.org : The Battle Over Satellite Dishes Against Overseas Hostile Forces