The Australian: Editorial: No case for expelling Chen
June 07, 2005 THE federal Government should provide a temporary visa to Chinese diplomat
Chen Yonglin and his wife and daughter while his claims are assessed. Under no
circumstances should they be forced to return to China without their case being
heard. Whatever happens to Mr Chen and his family, the Australian public should
be fully informed so that justice can be seen to be done. Mr Chen came to
Australia as a diplomat in August, 2001. He now wants to defect. He says part of
his duties was to keep tabs on various groups the Chinese Government does not
like, including the Falun Gong movement in Australia, and those seeking
independence for Taiwan, Tibet and East Turkistan. Mr Chen says that he has
become progressively more disillusioned with the Government in Beijing and can
no longer tolerate or support its persecution of dissidents. While Mr Chen's
charges are untested, they cannot be too easily dismissed. We must not forget
that while China is a friendly trading partner, it remains a harsh authoritarian
state that brooks no political dissent. Mr Chen has made disturbing allegations at three levels. He has said that
Beijing engages in espionage in Australia. This is consistent with a series of
exclusive stories in The Australian last week that indicated the Australian
Security Intelligence Organization had beefed up its counter-espionage section
to deal with increased Chinese spying. Mr Chen further says that the Chinese
Government spies on and interferes with Chinese community groups in Australia.
If true, this affronts Australian values and probably Australian law. It
deserves the closest investigation. And finally Mr Chen alleges that Chinese
diplomatic establishments in Australia were involved in the kidnap of the son of
a fugitive Chinese official. There is no need to give this most serious
allegation any initial credence in order to demand it is fully investigated. In
all this, we support good relations with China. This does not require us to
abandon political values such as liberty and human rights. Australian officialdom's dealing with Mr Chen are baffling and disturbing.
According to Mr Chen, Immigration Department officials rang his diplomatic
bosses to establish his identity. In Mr Chen's view this put him at great risk.
Similarly it is bizarre that some agency of the Government has not debriefed Mr
Chen at length. Finally, the law that says an asylum-seeker may not publicize
his views without prejudicing his asylum claims is revealed as deeply
anti-democratic and unacceptable. http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,15530806%255E7583,00.html
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