Xinjiang users' e-mail restored

E-mail services have resumed and the restriction on the number of text messages one can send was lifted in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on Saturday, about eight months after a riot last year in Urumqi, the regional capital.

Xiao Yong, a local resident, found he could now send and receive e-mails as before and there were no longer restrictions in surfing 32 Websites.

The restriction on text messages has also been lifted, according to a spokesman for the regional government. Communication services would open further step by step, the spokesman said yesterday.

The regional government began to control communications after the riot on July 5, which was orchestrated via the Internet, text messages and long-distance phone calls.

The access for Xinjiang residents to two Websites, Xinhuanet.com and people.com.cn, was restored on December 28, followed by access to sina.com.cn and sohu.com on January 10.

Other services have also been gradually resumed, including international long-distance calls by some departments and text messages from banks, securities dealers and weather forecast departments.

Internet connections, international phone calls and text message services were cut in some areas after the riot, in a move to crack down on the violence and prevent it from happening again.

"These restrictions played an important role in maintaining the stabilization of the region, but also brought inconvenience to the residents. However, people of various ethnic groups in Xinjiang have shown understanding of and fully supported these measures," said Yang Maofa, director of the communications administration bureau.

Source: Shanghai Daily

Source: East Day.
Link: http://english.eastday.com/e/100322/u1a5100453.html.