【新唐人2011年5月27日訊】《新唐人亞太臺》的衛星續約事件，一個多月來持續引起國際輿論的擔憂。美國與歐洲的西方政要，都相繼要求台灣政府重視言論自由。具有一定影響力的法國新聞自由組織「記者無國界」日前也致信台灣行政院，表達關切，同時懷疑此事有中共當局的介入。
總部設在法國巴黎的「記者無國界」24號致信台灣行政院，對中華電信可能執行「歧視政策」感到憂心。信中指出，中華電信以「技術限制」為理由，拒絕與新唐人續約的作法，與幾年前歐洲衛星公司終止對新唐人的衛星服務很相似。
經過無國界的調查，當時中共當局介入歐洲衛星公司，目的就是要讓新唐人停止播出。「記者無國界」表示，「如果事實證明，中華電信也是因為中共介入而拒絕續約，那麼持有大部分中華電信股權的台灣政府形象，將嚴重受損。」
歐洲議會人權委員分會主席海蒂•郝塔拉（HeidiHautala）認為，現在是資訊時代，散播信息很容易，但是要箝制信息也很容易。對於中共 政府一再控制言論新聞自由，郝特拉表示遺憾。
海蒂•郝塔拉：「我覺得相當遺憾，中共或許希望領導其鄰國，發出負面的影響，包括與其打交道的國家。當然企圖透過台灣對中國的(衛星)廣播禁聲，就是一個很不幸的例子。這是絕對不能容忍的。我們應該警惕中國正利用它的國際影響力， 在世界許多國家中，中國跟過去相比，有更多的人權問題。」
美國國會議員羅伊斯（Ed Royce）表示，信息自由度的好與壞，可以用來判斷這個國家的未來樂觀與否。羅伊斯說，共產政權一直帶給人們憂慮，因為它是利用權力去對付個體，新唐人的衛星廣播受阻，就是一個明顯的例子。
羅伊斯：「從歷史來看，這些共產政權，不僅僅是有能力誤導民眾，其專制性使共產政權，擁有極大權力，去對付個體公民。我唯一的態度就是認為，獲得信息就等同於獲得真相。這個實例就是在試圖阻止真相。」
中華電信近年來與中國市場互動頻繁，並計劃在北京成立分公司。2009年《新唐人亞太臺》曾經發生過一次長達半個月的蓋臺干擾，亞太臺發言人朱婉琪指出，調查結果發現干擾源就是來自中華電信。
孫中山先生的侄孫孫國良日前在香港呼籲台灣政府，抵制被中共赤化，重新和新唐人續約。
在海內外強大支持新唐人衛星續約的聲浪下，台灣行政院院長吳敦義表示，新唐人是言論自由的標竿，衛星續約案不只是商業行為。行政院裁決要求中華電信為新唐人提供不間斷的服務。
目前在全台灣有130萬戶可通過有線電視收視新唐人，而中國大陸東南沿海則有約4/5的人口可以通過衛星碟盤觀看。
新唐人與中華電信的衛星合同八月份到期，屆時能不能成功續約，同時標誌著兩岸媒體自由度的走向。
新唐人記者李孜、王凱迪、肖顔採訪報導。
Renewing Freedom of Expression
Concerns from the international community grow
as NTD’s AP (Asia Pacific) satellite contract renewal
begins to resemble the 2008’s Eutelsat situation.
Many US and European politicians are asking
that the Taiwanese government value
freedom of expression. France-based organization,
Reporters Without Borders (RWB), recently sent
a letter to the Executive Yuan in Taiwan,
to express their concerns and suspicion
of CCP’s (Chinese Communist Party) involvement.
RWB wrote to Executive Yuan on May 24,
about concerns of Chunghwa Telecom’s
possible implementation of a “discriminatory policy."
Chunghwa’s says its refusal to renew its contract
with NTD was due to “technical limitations."
RWB noted that this is very similar
to the European firm Eutelsat’s termination
of its satellite services to NTD a few years ago.
As per RWB’s investigation, the Chinese authorities
were involved with Eutelsat, to stop relaying NTD.
RWB said, “If it turns out that the same is happening
with NTD AP, Taiwan’s government’s credibility,
which has a controlling share of Chunghwa Telecom,
will be badly damaged.”
Heidi Hautala, Chair of the Subcommittee on Human
Rights at the European Parliament, believes that
in this information age it is easy to spread and control
information. As to the CCP’s suppression of freedom
of speech and press, she expresses regret.
I regret to see that China maybe third leading power
try to exert quite negative influenceon its neighbors
and the countries that want to deal with it.
And of course such attempts to silence broadcasting
to China via Taiwan is a very unfortunate example.
This is not something should be tolerated and
we should be aware that China is using this kind of
international influence which means
that in many countries in the world you have more
human rights problem than before.
Heidi Hautala: (original sound track in English)
US Congressman Ed Royce said the degree
of Information freedom can be used to determine
whether a country’s future is optimistic. He said,
the communist regimes constantly worry people,
because they use power to oppress individuals.
NTDTV’s satellite blockage is an obvious example.
because of the history in the past , what the world
have seen in the past in terms of capability
not just misled people but also the authoritarian state
has so much power to use against the individual.
the only attitude for that I think is the information is
the truth, and this case is trying to stop the truth.
Ed Royce: (original soundtrack in English)
Chunghwa has been frequently interacting
with the Chinese market. It plans to set up a branch
in Beijing. In 2009, NTD AP’s satellite was blocked.
Teresa Chu, NTD spokeswoman said
that as per the investigation on this case,
the source of interference was Chunghwa.
Sun Guoliang, grand nephew of Sun Yat-sen,
urged the Taiwanese government
to withstand the CCP and renew NTD’s contract.
ive Yuan’s Premier Wu Den-yih said that
NTD is the benchmark for freedom of speech;
satellite contract renewal is not just a business case.
Executive Yuan’s ruling orders to Chunghwa
are to provide uninterrupted service for NTD.
In Taiwan, 1.3 million households can watch NTD
on cable TV. In China, 80% of the coastal population
can watch NTDTV via satellite dishes.
NTD’s satellite contract with Chunghwa expires
in August. The event of its renewal will mark
the media freedom trends in both China and Taiwan.
NTD reporters Li Mei ,Wang Kaidi and Xiao Yan
