【新唐人2011年3月30日讯】中东北非的茉莉花自由资讯的不断飘来，让中共主政者坐立难安。为了维护独裁政权的稳定，一再整肃大陆的媒体环境。最近，一贯主张温和批评声音的《南方周末》资深评论人笑蜀也被逼解职“放两年学术假”，说明大陆媒体面临越来越严酷的压制。
在28号凌晨2点多，笑蜀通过新浪微博发布消息，肯定了他“放两年学术假”的消息属实。笑蜀的朋友在微博上说，两个月前，在前《南都》周刊副总编长平被炒的那一刻，已预料到下一个就是他了。
笑蜀被“放学术假”的消息在大陆中文媒体圈里引起了强烈震动。截止28号中午，有400多人在笑蜀相关微博上留言，《南方都市报》前总编辑程益中、社科院学者于建嵘等人都表达了惋惜与支持。
网友认为，尽管笑蜀执迷于企图“感动政府”的中道、理性，但当局仍然把他当做异端，长平和笑蜀的下场，告诉一切热爱民主自由的文人，不要对中共再抱有幻想了！
49岁的笑蜀长期任职《南方周末》,早年主编的《民主的先声》一书，因为讥讽中共独裁统治，马上遭到中宣部直接封杀。他还在《南方周末》的“方舟评论”发表大量文章批评时政，在网上关注维权热点事件，倡导“围观就是力量”。
资深评论人笑蜀:“中国无论是政府还是人民，甚至包括公益慈善从业的本人，都需要一次全面的彻底的启蒙。”
近期，大陆媒体进入严冬时期，媒体人被打压，接连发生了《成都商报》记者龙灿，《时代周报》评论版编辑彭晓芸，以及资深媒体人长平等一系列“被辞职”事件。
此外，本月25号，四川作家刘贤斌被判囚 10年，另一位四川作家冉云飞也被检察院批准逮捕。他们两人被检控的罪名都是“煽动颠覆国家罪”。
据《美国之音》报导，3月29号，澳大利亚外交官要求中共当局提供有关澳籍华裔作家杨恒均的信息。悉尼媒体报导说，杨恒均在中国广州失踪，猜测他可能遭到中共当局的拘押。
面对接二连三的打压，媒体人是怎么看的呢？
长平3月27号参加了在香港举行的金尧如新闻自由奖颁奖礼暨研讨会。他认为，现在是中国最恐怖的年代，敢说话的人少了，而互联网公司为保生存，也配合着政府的收紧政策。
长平呼吁，每个人应该继续说话，即使说的是闲话、生活琐事，就像黑夜走路时，可以用唱歌来壮胆一样。
研讨会的参与者都相信，现在的恐怖气氛是暂时性的，甚至可能是黎明前的黑暗，而要冲破黑暗，互联网等科技还是次要的，靠的是人的意志。
新唐人记者李静、秉寅综合报导
CCP Persecutes Media Professionals
With information of Jasmine Revolutions in the
Middle East streaming into China, the Chinese
Communist Party (CCP) has become extremely
nervous. To consolidate power, it started to purge
the media. Recently, a veteran journalist at Southern
Weekly was forced to take a 2-year sabbatical.
This indicates mainland media is facing increasingly
harsh suppression by the government.
On March 28, Xiao Shu confirmed his sabbatical
leave on Sina.com’s micro-blog.
His friend blogged that when ex-deputy editor
of Southern Metropolis, Chang Ping, was fired,
Xiao Shu realized that his turn was coming.
Xiao Shu’s misfortune has sent shock waves
in Chinese media circles. As of March 28, over 400
people have commented on blogs about him.
Southern Metropolis ex-editor Cheng Yizhong and
Scholar Yu Jianrong expressed regret and support.
Netziens believe Xiao Shu was obsessed with trying
to use “the middle way” to “affect the government”.
However, authorities still regard him as a dissident.
Chang Ping and Xiao Shu’s experiences tell
all pro-democracy and freedom-loving scholars
to not hold any illusions about the CCP any longer!
Xiao Shu, 49, a long-time staff of Southern Weekly,
had edited a book titled “Harbinger of Democracy",
which ridiculed the communist dictatorship, and was
immediately blocked by the Propaganda Department.
As a columnist at Southern Weekly, he had written
numerous articles criticizing current affairs and
advocated “netizens collective watching is power”.
Xiao Shu: “Both the Chinese government and people,
including philanthropists are in need of
a thorough awakening.”
Recently, Chinese media entered into a silent period,
as media professionals are being suppressed.
Chengdu Business journalist Long Can,
Time Weekly magazine editor Peng Xiaoyun
and senior media reporter Chang Pin
have all been forced to resign.
On March 25, Sichuan-based writer Liu Xianbin
was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Another Sichuan-based writer Ran Yunfei
was arrested on the order of the Procuratorate both
charged with “inciting subversion of state power."
According to Voice of America, on March 29,
Australian diplomats requested the CCP to provide
information on Australian Chinese writer
Yang Hengjun. Media in Sydney reported that Yang
went missing in Guangzhou, and he might have
been put in custody by Chinese authorities.
In the face of continuous suppression,
what do the media professionals have to say?
On March 27, Chang Ping attended the award
ceremony of Jin Xiaoru Freedom of News
in Hong Kong. He believed this is the most terrible
time in Chinese history, as few people dare to speak.
To survive, the Internet companies cooperate with
the government’s communication control policies.
Chang called on everyone to continue speaking,
even if it is gossiping or about trivial things in life.
It is like singing aloud to embolden oneself
when walking in the dark.
All participants believe the current terror to be
temporary, the darkness before the dawn.
To break through this darkness,
Internet and other technologies are secondary,
the people’s will is the key.
NTD reporters Li Jing and Bing Yin
