Well some of them anyway:
India’s Internet regulators have started blocking several Web sites in a move that borrows a page from China, where government censors heavily restrict the flow of online information.India’s Department of Telecommunications sent an order late last week to Internet-service providers to block several Web sites, according to a department spokesman. The spokesman, Rajesh Malhotra, declined to disclose the contents of the letter or discuss the order, saying it was a “confidential exchange of information between the department and the operators.”
Several telecom operators confirmed there were more than 15 sites they were directed to block. Close to a third of the sites were home to blogs, the personalized Web logs that have become popular in India, just as they have in other parts of the world. Among the Web sites blocked are parts of Blogger and GeoCities. Included on a list seen by The Wall Street Journal are sites that showcase views of an Islamic holy man, conservative Hindus, and Dalits, the low caste in India pejoratively referred to as untouchables.
Among the untouchables is Dr. Rusty Shackleford:
Why did India ban this website? And what is the larger meaning of this action? We have a post about it here. Whether you agree with my analysis or not, we, those who have been singled out by the world’s largest democracy as targets of censorship, could use the support right now.
My post: http://mypetjawa.mu.nu/archives/183986.php
Indians have already begun to protest this action by their government. We hope you will do the same.
I ran into this kind of nonsense before the war in Iraq. Most of it was temporary and I expect that India’s move, which is misguided and stupid, won’t last long.
In a show of solidarity I pulled some palak paneer out of the freezer, slapped it around a bit, roughed it up real good, slammed it in the microwave and then ate it.
I’m pissed. I think I’ll go torture another one.
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5 Responses
Readers are solely responsible for the comments they post. Comments do not necessarily reflect the opinion or approval of Blogs of War or John Little.
July 20th, 2006 at 1:53 am
Why The Jawa Report Was Banned in India and Why it Matters
India has banned a number of websites by domain, but has only singled out 11 websites by name, including this one. Among the American websites all are connected in some way to The Jawa Report. Why did India ban this…
July 20th, 2006 at 2:11 am
India Banning Bloggers
India is taking after its big neighbor to the distant north – China – in banning blogs. As many of my readers know, I can’t stand restraints on free speech, and India is making a huge mistake here.
July 20th, 2006 at 5:40 am
We can only hope it is temporary. I just wish it had never happened at all.
July 20th, 2006 at 11:27 am
they shouldnt ban blogs, i think we need more indian people presence on the internet.
July 21st, 2006 at 1:43 am
nothing can come in the line of national security. If the government perceives the blogs to be a threat it has right to ban them. Its high time that the country takes some strict action. We have been tolerant for long.
With two wars waging in the middle east i think we should have better things to be concerned about than india blocking a few blogs.
My 2 cents