Denial of an Overseas Student's Passport Receives Public Attention
(Clearwisdom.net) Recently, local Los Angeles media, including The World Journal, reported a case in which the passport of University of Southern California overseas student and Falun Gong practitioner Michael Ke Ye was denied. This case has received wide public attention. The following is a media statement from Mr. Ye about his experience and current situation. After hearing about the denial of Mr. Ye's passport, the University of Southern California, the college where Mr. Ye is studying at and his professors expressed their concerns and willingness to extend their support. A professor of Public Administration wrote to the Consul General of Los Angeles to urge him to renew Mr. Ye's passport and return it without delay. (Letter from a Professor to the Chinese Consul General in Los Angeles) We call upon the Chinese Consulate to resist the persecution of Falun Gong and rectify its various means of harrassing and persecuting overseas Falun Gong practitioners.
My passport has been denied by the Chinese Consulate simply because of my
practice of Falun Gong.
I started my practice of Falun Gong three years ago when my health almost
collapsed. Falun Gong saved my life from lots of serious illnesses. Now I have
passed my qualifying exam and started to work on my PhD dissertation. From my
own experience I realized the miraculous effects of Falun Gong's teaching of
"Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance" on improving people's mental
and physical health and upgrading morality. Therefore, I have adhered to
my belief in Falun Gong even after the campaign of persecution began. At the
same time, out of my sense of justice and conscience, I urge the Chinese
government to stop the brutal persecution as soon as possible.
For this reason, my passport renewal has been denied for more than two
months, and I still need to wait for further notice on whether it can be renewed
and returned to me. Under ordinary situations the Consulate has the authority to
renew a student's passport within one week. My case lends support to the
existence of a black list of overseas Falun Gong practitioners. Similar denials
have happened to several other practitioners. Without a passport, I will not be
able to travel outside the U.S. If I cannot get my passport renewed before it
expires, my legal status in the U.S. will be jeopardized, unless I apply for
asylum. That would create much difficulty for me to complete my studies or find
employment here.
I am sad that a government can use such contemptible means to persecute its
overseas students. They are doing this to force me to return to China, where
they will be totally free to persecute me. It is hard to believe that in this modern age the simple pursuit of "Truthfulness, Compassion,
Forbearance" can be a so-called "crime" and the universal right
to tell the truth can be forcefully denied. Such persecution will intimidate overseas
students. I love my country and my fellow people in China deeply. My fervent
hope is that some day I can apply what I have learned to help solve problems in
China. Now I don't know whether my dream will come true.
Even with the persecution I am facing, Falun Gong practitioners in China are
not so lucky as me. They face danger all the time. According to sources citing
Chinese government officials, more than 1600 Falun Gong practitioners have been
tortured to death. Many more people are tortured in jail or forced to become
homeless. The violence against Falun Gong is still escalating. I hope that what
I am doing can help ease the pressure and suffering of practitioners in China.
The state terrorism against Falun Gong implemented by Jiang is a crime
against our society and harmful to our nation. It is ridiculous that the Jiang
regime does not focus on the issues people really care about such as corruption,
but exerts every effort to persecute innocent Falun Gong practitioners.
We demand that Jiang stop the brutal persecution and call for Consulate
officials to resist this unconstitutional policy. We also hope that more
kind-hearted people can help in our effort and prevent more innocent people from
suffering.
History rewards benevolent acts and penalizes atrocities. History will reveal
the goodness of Falun Gong.
Background:
1993-1997: Department of Political Science and Public Administration, Peking
University. Awarded Sanwa Bank Scholarship, "Excellent Work for the
Collective" Scholarship, and "Excellent Student in Summer
Practice" Fellowship from Peking University.
1997- School of Public Administration (later changed to School of Policy,
Planning and Development), University of Southern California. Awarded "USC
Outstanding Student Recognition," "Outstanding leadership",
Office of International Services; Dean's Merit Scholarship, and Hynes First Year
Scholarship.
1997-1999, Vice President and President of Chinese Students and Scholars
Association at USC.
2000-present, President of Falun Club at USC, and teaching assistant for his
academic department.
My name is Michael (Ke) Ye, Ph.D. Candidate from the School of Policy,
Planning and Development, University of Southern California.
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