^{Category: International Human Rights}

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The BBC reports on an open letter that has been published in China, condemning the government's oppressive response to investigative reporting. Sounds pretty routine, right? Well, here's the punchline:

Among the signatories are an ex-aide to Mao Zedong, a former newspaper editor and a former party propaganda chief.

"History demonstrates that only a totalitarian system needs news censorship, out of the delusion that it can keep the public locked in ignorance," the group said in the letter, according to Reuters news agency.

The letter was signed on 2 February but publicly released on Tuesday ...

Those signing the letter include Chairman Mao's former secretary, Li Rui; the former editor of the Communist party's own mouthpiece, People's Daily, Hu Jiwei; and ex-propaganda boss, Zhu Houze.

As was true in the case of Gorbachev's demokratsiya reforms during the 1980s, the system is being challenged by both the usual younger reformers and from members of the old guard establishment. China does seem to be on the verge of legitimate civil liberties reform--and with many of Mao Tse-tung's closest friends and confidantes on board, the Chinese free speech movement has achieved a level of power and credibility within Chinese society that it has never had before. This is inspiring.