We’ve now reached day 190 of no internet in Xinjiang and the “gradual” reopening promised by the authorities has failed to materialize. “Be patient” they tell us. “We’ll give you back your freedom soon”.

January 1st has quietly passed and regrettably our parole officers in Urumqi (or Beijing?) don’t think we’re quite rehabilitated. The buzz that once filled the offices around our city has been replaced by a very quiet but noticeable feeling of discontent. They told us our release was imminent and somehow they thought we’d be appeased if they opened up two measly Chinese news sites.

Our city is buzzing over a recent government announcement posted on the web and spread via the radio and the rapid word of mouth (newspapers were apparently left out of the loop).
I’ve translated a short section below:

I had it coming, I guess.  Less than 48 hours after I published an article about the internet situation in Xinjiang (including a short sentence about the ability to circumvent the block), every single internet and phone loophole across the province suddenly stopped working. Obviously it is most likely a coincidence, but I’m beginning to feel guilty when I get concerned calls from other foreigners asking me if my ability to access the internet has been disabled as well.

How much information is really getting into and out of Xinjiang? Is the internet completely cut or just partially? If so, how am I updating this blog while still living in Xinjiang? And the question on everybody’s mind who has any concern about Xinjiang: when will they turn the internet back on?

Greetings world. If you’re reading this note, then my message in a bottle has somehow made it from this secluded island I live on to the shores of your country. Xinjiang is still under complete blackout and there is no end in sight. As a result, my knowledge of world events has vanished and my sanity has suffered primarily due to the fact that we are the only westerners in our city and I can’t contact my friends at home.

I have to admit that life without the internet is a life lived quite simply. I have read more books in the last 3 weeks than the previous three months combined. Of course the list above doesn’t make me exactly excited to get my life back online.

It’s been a terrible and awkward week this week here in Xinjiang, but things are finally calming down.  For the first few days, the entire province was shut down, and although slowly things are being switched back on, sadly, the internet is not one of them.  International phone lines have also yet to be returned.