Sen. Brownback: China will spy on you at the Olympics

China will Monitor your internet acitivity while at Olympics

Back in the news this week. We first reported on the Senators comments about 12

China is pressuring hotels to put in internet filtering devices in hotels that will provide lodging to those attending the 2008 Summer Olympics. These devices can also be used to monitor activity. Senator Brownback, former presidential candidate, who was interviewed by politisite in November cites confidential sources.

He posted this statement on his Senatorial Website Today

Brownback Condemns China Human Rights Violations Highlights Chinese abuses of North Koreans, China censoring Olympic guests

Thursday, May 1, 2008

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Sam Brownback today hosted a press conference at which he was joined by several lawmakers and outside organizations to highlight the numerous human rights violations directly and indirectly enabled by the Chinese government.

“China hoped the Olympics would be their international house-warming party, but it has only aired their dirty laundry. The world’s conscience has been building a drumbeat against the Chinese government as we approach the Olympics,” said Brownback. “We know all too well what the Chinese are doing in Tibet, Darfur, Burma and beyond. We want to make sure the world knows the horrible conditions befalling North Korean refugees who are lucky enough to escape their country, but so unlucky to end up in China.”

At today’s press conference, Brownback was joined by Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Senators Jon Kyl (R-AZ) and Jim Bunning (R-KY), Congressmen Frank Wolf (R-VA) and Chris Smith (R-NJ), and Congresswoman Diane Watson (D-CA).

Brownback continued, “The Chinese violate international law when they systematically return all North Korean refugees, many of them starving. There is a serious crisis on the border between China and North Korea that the international community should know about this. We have also just learned from two different reliable but confidential sources, that the Chinese are demanding that all U.S. owned hotels install Internet filters prior to the Olympic Games to monitor and restrict information coming in and out of China. This is an insult to the spirit of the Games and an affront to American businesses. I call on China to immediately rescind this demand.”

Groups representing North Korea, Darfur, Burma and Tibet also participated, including North Korea Freedom Coalition, Save Darfur Coalition , U.S. Campaign for Burma, International Campaign for Tibet, Freedom Now, Liberty in North Korea, Korean Church Coalition for North Korea Freedom, Human Rights First, Amnesty International, Reporters Without Borders, Human Rights Watch, U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, and Initiatives for China.

Brownback concluded, “I want to thank all the Members of Congress who joined us here and all the groups who fight for human rights around the world and who help point out that the Olympic rings now represent Tibet, Darfur, Burma, North Korea, the Democratic Republic Congo and so many other nations where Chinese sponsorship enables human rights abuses and destroys so many lives.”

Source: brownback.senate.gov via politisite

WASHINGTON — Sen. Sam Brownback says the Chinese government is pressuring U.S. hotels in Beijing to monitor their Internet traffic in the run-up to the Olympic games this summer.

Brownback, R-Kan., joined by other congressional human rights activists at a Capitol Hill park in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, also called on President Bush and other U.S. leaders to boycott the opening ceremonies that are now less than 100 days away.

The lawmakers blasted China’s record on human rights, reciting allegations of torture, religious and free-speech abuse of their own citizens, oppression of Tibetans, military and economic support of genocide in Sudan, torture and execution of North Koreans and backing of the dictatorship in Myanmar.

Brownback learned of the Internet-blocking moves by the Chinese from two sources, but could not divulge much further information, someone familiar with the conversation told FOX News.

“What I just learned yesterday is that the Chinese government has issued an outrageous directive, in preparation for the Olympics …. American hotels have been ordered by the Chinese government to place monitors and filters on their Internet piping to facilitate spying on international guests and visitors,” Brownback said.

“This is wrong, it’s against international convention, it’s certainly against the Olympic spirit. The Chinese government should not do that and should remove that request and that order.”

Source: foxnews.com via politisite