【新唐人2013年01月07日訊】《南方週末》同仁聲討廣東中宣部長庹震，贏來全中國新聞界以及民眾的聲援，聲勢浩大，似乎是要給剛剛履新宣稱改革的中共總書記習近平出一個考題。這次宣傳部長閹割《新年獻詞》，究竟是地方官員自作主張，還是得到中央的首肯，新聞界看法不一。有分析說，《南都》表面聲討廣東省宣傳部長，其實劍指北京新領導層，讓習近平在新聞自由上表態。
廣東宣傳部長庹震，將《南方週末》一篇呼喚實現憲政夢想的新年獻詞，篡改成肉麻的吹捧文章，引來《南方週末》同仁強烈不滿，發公開信要求他下臺。
前大公報《大週刊》主筆兼新聞部主任朱健國表示，從最近一系列的緊縮政策來看，這件事不是一個孤立事件，是北京部署的，廣東省只是執行。
前大公報《大週刊》新聞部主任 朱健國：「它和前幾天網絡實名制的禁網，和一系列的緊縮，包括昨天習近平講的，不能用改革開放三十年否定改革開放前的三十年，這都是一個新的動向。這意味著這個時代可能要有一個大轉折了。這個轉折可能不是向前，而是向後，向毛澤東時代回歸或靠攏，肯定不是向前，他要回歸到毛的甚麼程度。這個有待觀察。」
朱健國說，習近平雖然在上任後第一站訪問改革開放的發源地深圳，但是實際上做的事情並不是改革。
朱健國：「轉變工作作風不是改革，毛澤東時代工作作風比這還要轉變的多。真正的改革就是要寬鬆言論，放鬆新聞尺度，平反冤假錯案，大赦天下，這才是改革。但是他不是這樣在做。而是在步步收緊。收緊百姓言論自由空間，收緊新聞自由的空間。」
據《南方週末》編輯部自己透露，《南方週末》2012年被改和被撤的稿件達到1034篇。那麼，這次為何反應如此激烈？朱健國認為，《南方週末》同仁其實是藉此事件對習近平喊話，敦促他推進新聞自由。
朱健國：「如果《南周》僅僅是抗議廣東省委宣傳部，我覺得他們這只是一個策略，實際上心裡所向是對著北京的，而不是對著省裡。」
廣東自由作家野火表示，習近平上臺多少帶來一股新風。比如說他到深圳去，沒有封路，這個在社會底層評價很不錯。但是他也不可能走得很遠。不然他也不可能在總書記寶座上坐得太久。
廣東自由作家野火：「我認為他會暫時低調，裝聾作啞，他不會完全倒向民意的一邊，他畢竟還是黨的領袖，黨的代表。他如果默認聽任民意發展下去，不出來打壓，就非常不錯了。如果過於樂觀的期待他會贊成，會鼓勵事態像我們希望的那樣發展，那是不切實際的。」
朱健國則認為，習近平新領導層對《南周》的處理將是進一步打壓，《南周》只能是再一次敗退。
《南方週末》編輯部5號發佈最新聲明說，兩天過去了，事實真相並沒有更加清晰，卻有越來越多籲求真相的人被禁言。他們呼籲以具有足夠公信力的方式成立調查組，徹底調查新年特刊出版事故流程及原因，並公開發佈調查報告。
據《美國之音》報導，在上海的獨立媒體觀察人士趙楚說，這次干預並不是孤立的，而是北京的拍板。另外，《南方都市報》前主編程益中對《德國之聲》表示，這次事件讓《南方》媒體人找到一個直接反擊頂頭上司–宣傳部的機會。
他表示，中國的希望是寄託在每個人的抗爭上，如果沒有堅決的抗爭，還是靠中共賞賜自由、恩賜言論空間，那是不可能的。程益中說，中共是巨大的利益集團，靠欺騙為生，他們怎麼可能主動交出權力、願意受到制衡？這叫與虎謀皮。
採訪編輯/秦雪 後製/君卓
Southern Weekly’s Protest Directed at Beijing?
Southern Weekly’s protest against Tuo Zhen, Guangdong’s
Provincial Party Committee Propaganda leader,
received a lot of support from China’ press circles and civilians.
These strong voices of condemnation became a serious test
to the new Chinese Communist Party’ (CCP) head Xi Jinping.
Was Tuo Zhen’s tampering of Southern Weekly’s New Year
message ordered by local officials or the central authorities?
There are different answers
within the press circles in China.
Analysts believe, the Southern Weekly’ protest against
provincial officials in fact aims at the new CCP leadership.
They want to know what the Xi Jinping stand is
on the issue of press freedom.
Tuo Zhen, the CCP’ Propaganda leader in Guangdong,
recently interfered with the publication of
Southern Weekly newspaper’s New Year Special.
Under his instructions, the original New Year message calling
for realizing China’s constitutional dream was replaced by an article flattering Xi Jinping’s “China dream.”
This led to a strong resentment of the newspaper’s staff,
who requested Tuo Zhen’s resignation in a public letter.
Former news director of Ta Kung Pao’s Big Weekly,
Zhu Jianguo remarked that CCP’s authorities had recently implemented tightening policies.
This suggests that the Southern Weekly incident
is not an isolated case.
Thus, most likely it was the CCP leaders in Beijing,
rather than provincial officials who directed the tampering.
Zhu Jianguo (ex-news director, Ta Kung Pao’s Big Weekly):
”This incident is related to the news of implementing real-name Internet rule and other tightening policies lately.
In addition, Xi Jinping said yesterday that the party’s history
in the 30 years before the economic reform could not be negated by the 30 years afterwards.
These indicate an advent of a new political trend,
which might result in a huge turning point of the era.
However, this might be a step backwards to Mao’s era,
rather than a step forward.
More observations need to be done before we can
conclude to what extent Xi’s retrogression will be.”
Zhu Jianguo remarked that Xi’s first move after taking office
was to visit Shenzhen, China’s economic reform’ cradle.
However, what he actually did
is far from any real reform.
Zhu Jianguo: ”You can’t call changing work ethics a reform.
In Mao’s era there had been even more changes in work ethics.
A real reform should include lifting restrictions on speeches
and the press, rehabilitating unjust verdicts, or announcing amnesty.
However, instead of doing those,
Xi is tightening the policies step by step.
He is implementing more restrictions
on freedom of speech and the press.”
According to Southern Weekly’s editorial office,
the number of tampered or rejected manuscripts of the newspaper in 2012, totals 1034.
Why did they react so strongly this time?
Zhu Jianguo thinks, the Southern Weekly staff tries to
send Xi Jinping a message through this incident, to call him to promote freedom of the press.
Zhu Jianguo: ”Apparently Southern Weekly only protested
against the provincial propaganda department.
However, I think this is a strategic move.
They are actually aiming at Beijing
rather than the provincial government.”
Guangdong freelancer Yehuo remarked that Xi Jinping
had brought some fresh air after coming to power.
For example, Xi didn’t close the road during his visit
to Shenzhen, which was praised by the citizens.
However, it is not possible for Xi to proceed much further;
otherwise he will not be able to hold his position of the CCP’s secretary general.
Yehuo (Freelancer, Guangdong): ”I believe that he
(Xi Jinping) will temporarily act in a low-key manner and pretend to be ignorant.
After all he is the leader of the party,
so he will never fully support the will of ordinary people.
If he simply ignores the surging public opinions,
and does not suppress them, that would be good enough.
It is unrealistic to over-optimistically expect him
to support or encourage what we expect to see.”
Zhu Jianguo predicts that Xi and the new CCP leadership
will further suppress the Southern Weekly’s protest.
The outcome of the incident can only be
a retreat of the newspaper once again.
On January 5th, Southern Weekly’s editorial office stated
that the truth of the incident had not become any clearer.
On the other hand, more people seeking the truth
had a ban on their speech.
They called for a credible investigation group to look
into the incident, and announce the results publicly.
VOA interviewed Shanghai independent media observer
Zhao Chu on the incident.
Zhao remarked that the tampering was not an isolated case
and was directly commanded by the central government.
Former chief editor of Southern Weekly Cheng Yizhong
spoke to Deutsche Welle about this case too.
Cheng said, the incident gives the newspaper a chance
to strike back at their boss, the propaganda department.
Cheng remarked that China’s bright future lies
in the resistance of every Chinese against the dictatorship.
Begging the CCP for more freedom of speech instead
of firmly resisting it is simply impossible to succeed.
Since the CCP itself is one big interest group
which can only survive by telling lies,
how can one expect them to give up the power voluntarily,
and be willing to accept any restrictions?
That is nothing different from negotiate with a tigerfor its skin.
