Chinese Dissident Defects to Australia

A Chinese dissident and former head of the Beijing University criminal law department, who was previously jailed for promoting democracy, has fled to Australia and is seeking asylum.

Professor Yuan Hongbing, a law professor formerly at Beijing University and labour organizer, who was involved with a ‘Peace Charter’ reportedly modelled on the Czechoslovak ‘Charter 77’, has sought political asylum in Australia, while visiting the country on holiday.

In 1994, Prof. Yuan was charged with the crime of “Attempting to Overthrow the Socialist System”, imprisoned and then released to internal exile in Guizhou Province on condition that he never set foot in Beijing again. He was allowed to return to teaching, taking up a position at Guizhou Normal University, where he became Dean of the Law School.

During his period of exile in Guizhou, Prof. Yuan wrote a number of books, including “Golden Holy Mountain”, “depicting Communist cruelty against Tibetan culture and religion”. He has stated that his intention in defecting is to publish these books. It is also alleged that he has some connection with a lawyer representing Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, though this is unconfirmed.

For further information

Contact: Australia Tibet Council
Phone: +61 2 9283 3466
Fax: +61 2 9283 3846
Email: tibetcouncil@atc.org.au

http://www.atc.org.au/news/news/20040802_yuanhongbing.html