Festival victim of Chinese hackers

The Web site of the Melbourne International Film Festival has fallen victim to Chinese hackers after refusing to remove from competition a documentary about Uighur activist Rebiya Kadeer, whom Beijing authorities accuse of starting the troubles plaguing the Xinjiang region, which has caused 200 deaths.

2 weeks ago, the Chinese government criticized her planned appearance at the festival, stating, «Everyone knows the kind of person that Rebiya is. We are firmly opposed to any foreign country providing her with a stage for her anti-China separatist activities.»

Richard Moore, director of the festival said the attack on his site only reinforced his desire to show the film «The 10 Conditions of Love», a documentary about the relationship of the Uighur activist with her husband, the militant Sidik Rouzi, with whom she has 11 children, of which 3 are currently imprisoned.