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.

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My name is Michael (Ke) Ye, Ph.D. Candidate from the School of Policy, Planning and Development, University of Southern California.

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.