China: Snowden's whistle-blowing 'in global public interest'

2013-06-17

Protesters hold placards as they march in support of Edward Snowden in Hong Kong, June 15, 2013. AFP

China's state-run media on Monday appeared to rally in support of former U.S. government contractor Edward Snowden, who fled to Hong Kong last month after confessing to leaking documents on two top secret U.S. Internet surveillance programs, as Beijing officials denied allegations that he was a Chinese spy.

The nationalist tabloid Global Times, which has close ties to the ruling Chinese Communist Party, said that any attempt by Washington to extradite Snowden would be a "disappointment" to the international community.

"His 'crime' is that he blew the whistle on the U.S. government's violation of civil rights," the paper said in a commentary in its English-language online edition.

"His action supported 'human rights' as defined in the UN Charter, and has been applauded worldwide," it said, adding: "His whistle-blowing is in the global public interest."

Beijing officials on Monday denied allegations that Snowden was a Chinese spy and called on Washington to explain its surveillance activities to the international community.

Foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said hints over the weekend by former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney that Snowden was spying for Beijing were "sheer nonsense."

"We believe the United States should pay attention to the international community's concerns and demands and give the international community the necessary explanation," Hua told reporters in Beijing.

Snowden's revelations over a week ago that U.S. authorities had tapped the servers of Internet companies for personal data on citizens living overseas have sparked an angry international response, including from Washington's allies.

Cheney told Fox News on Sunday that Snowden was a "traitor" and hinted that he could be a spy for China.

"I'm suspicious because he went to China. That's not a place where you would ordinarily want to go if you are interested in freedom, liberty and so forth," Cheney said, adding: "It raises questions whether or not he had that kind of connection before he did this."

Facing extradition

Hua had previously said Beijing is aware of media reports that saying Hong Kong citizens wanted Snowden to stay in the city.

In the closest indication so far of Beijing's potential stance on Snowden's future, the Global Times, which is linked to the Party's own People's Daily newspaper, said that extraditing Snowden back to the U.S. would betray the whistle-blower's trust and disappoint international expectations.

"Washington must be grinding its teeth because Snowden's revelations have almost overturned the image of the U.S. as the defender of a free Internet," the paper said.

"The Chinese government has no responsibility to help the U.S. quench the fire."

Meanwhile, Hong Kong chief executive Leung Chun-ying, who was selected by an election committee hand-picked by Beijing, said Snowden's case will be handled according to local laws.

"When the relevant mechanism is activated, the Hong Kong SAR (Special Administrative Region) Government will handle the case of Snowden in accordance with the laws and established procedures of Hong Kong," Leung said in a statement at the weekend.

Snowden said last week that the Chinese University of Hong Kong and "public officials" in Hong Kong had been previously hacked under the U.S. surveillance program, codenamed "Prism."

Leung said his administration was currently investigating Snowden's claims.

Local support

A recent opinion poll showed that around half of Hong Kong residents oppose handing Snowden over to U.S. authorities, while only 17.6 percent supported doing so, according to Hong Kong's Sunday Morning Post newspaper.

Hundreds of activists marched in Snowden's support at the weekend in Hong Kong, to demand protection for Snowden, 29, who is believed to be still in hiding in the former British colony.

Waving banners that read: "Betray Snowden, betray freedom," "Big Brother is watching you" and "Obama is checking your email," the protesters blew whistles and marched to U.S. Consulate and Hong Kong government headquarters.

Democratic lawmaker Albert Ho said he was paying close attention to Snowden's fate, and called on the government to allow him to remain in Hong Kong.

"He should be allowed to continue to say what he needs to say, especially about routine methods employed by U.S. security services that invade the computers of citizens ... including the computers of Hong Kong people," Ho said.

"As a territory with the rule of law, Hong Kong should extend to him any protection that is due to him under the law."

Snowden, a former Hawaii-based contractor who worked on National Security Agency (NSA) surveillance programs, has pledged not to "hide from justice," and that he will place his trust in Hong Kong's legal system.

Hong Kong and the United States have had an extradition treaty since 1998.

Hong Kong blogger and free speech activist Oiwan Lam called on city authorities not to expel Snowden.

"Snowden has come to Hong Kong because he wants to protect online freedom and privacy," Lam said.

"The Hong Kong government shouldn't tell him to leave, because they have done this in the past."

Reported by Lin Jing for RFA's Cantonese Service, and by Yang Fan for the Mandarin Service. Translated and written in English by Luisetta Mudie.

Link to original story on RFA website