Following accusations that Dalai Lama supporters fabricated a video showing Chinese military beating a Tibetan protester to death, China has now blocked all access to the popular video-sharing website You Tube. Â This action is not unusual for China, which has been named an enemy of the internet by press freedom organization Reporters Without Borders. Â However, it continues to show a disturbing trend by Beijing to censor and oppress by any means possible. Â The international community had hoped that the presence of the Olympic Games in China in 2008 would open a dialogue regarding fundamental liberties, including freedom of the press. Â However, the opposite effect was the case with China failing to follow through on promises to allow more access and transparency and, in some cases, ramping up its repressive efforts. Â As recently as last week, South Africa refused a visa to the Dalai Lama to attend a Peace Forum in order to stay on good terms with China, a major trading partner for the African nation.
