One hundred and ninety seven people have been punished by Chinese authorities under what Reuters has called a ‘special campaign’ to stop Chinese people from ‘spreading rumors’ online regarding the recent, yet officially still unexplained explosions in Tianjin and China’s recent stock market tumble. The accused are presumed by most media outlets reporting on this to have been detained.
At least 165 online accounts have also been forcibly closed down for’relevant violations’.
The country’s Public Security Ministry has reportedly stated ‘such behaviour needs to be wiped out’. The government claimed those detained are being punished because they, ’caused panic, misled the public and resulted in disorders in stock market or society.’
According to the statement, these people are punished for circulating rumors such as ‘man jumped to death in Beijing due to stock market slump,’ ‘at least 1,300 people were killed in Tianjin blasts’ and some seditious rumors about China’s upcoming commemorations of the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. (source)
So not just rumors but ‘seditious rumors’.
This post was published at The Daily Sheeple on August 31st, 2015.
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