Publisher Protests Against "Spineless Yahoo" Culture

I noted the report in the Cambodia Daily (Thursday, November 8th) from the Wall Street Journal describing Yahoo's role in informing the Chinese government of the contents of private communications through the Yahoo e-mail system of a Chinese journalist which led to his imprisonment.

Yahoo denied its role for several years until only recently when it confessed that it had indeed betrayed one of its users and others as well. In the heated Congressional hearing, US Congressman Tom Lantos said: "While technologically and financially you are giants, morally you are pygmies." As a Yahoo user for many years, I can't feel at ease in continuing to use this service while Chinese journalist Shi Tao continues to languish in jail thanks to Yahoo's spineless corporate culture.

I am hereby canceling my account as well as those of my NGO's divisions (American Assistance for Cambodia) and urging our staff to likewise abandon Yahoo until it succeeds in freeing Mr. Shi Tao from his ordeal.

Bernard Krisher
Publisher
The Cambodia Daily