Gov’t Under Fire for Mishandling of Chinese Dissident

A Chinese dissident currently seeking refuge in Korea charged that the government threatened to expel him citing his political activities.

A civic organization called “the Coalition for Foreign Refugees” held a press interview on Sept. 25 on behalf of 40-year-old Chinese man Shui Bo, and said the government told him that he will face expulsion unless he stops political activities.

According to the organization, Shui was told such a threat when he visited the immigration office on Sept. 6 and 12 for extension of stay. Infuriated by such a threat, he then recorded the remarks by an officer using a tape recorder he carried with him.

The tape recordings played back at the press interview contained the remarks that “If you continue to participate in political movements, we will have no choice but to expel you.”

“It is a violation against the U.N. Convention on Refugee Status that the government talks about send Shui back to his country where he face a threat to his life, all the while asking China to grant a refugee status to North Korean defectors,” said Choi Hwang-gyu, head of the organization calling for resignation of the head of the immigration office and an apology from Justice Minister.

“The immigration law bans foreigners from participating in political activities,” stated the Ministry of Justice. “It is neither implicit pressure nor a threat since the officer explained the law that says a foreigner will face repatriation to the country that his nationality or citizenship indicates if he or she is once ordered to leave Korea due to repeated participation in political activities.”

Shui fled to Korea back in 1999 after he wrote a message critical of the Chinese government. He acquired a mandate refugee status from the UN High Commission for Refugee in September last year, and has stayed here for years.

Recently, the Seoul metropolitan government named Shui as the first-prize winner for the policy proposal contest organized by the local government, but later called off awarding unilaterally.

Dong-Yong Min mindy@donga.com