JAPAN: Chinese human rights activists heads home for Chinese New Year, after almost three months in airport

Record ID: 465004

  • Title: JAPAN: Chinese human rights activists heads home for Chinese New Year, after almost three months in airport
  • Date: 13th February 2010
  • Summary: NARITA, JAPAN (FEBRUARY 12, 2010) (REUTERS) NARITA EXTERIOR AIRPORT SIGN FENG ZHU HU WALKING INTO DEPARTURE TERMINAL, HEADING TO CHECK-IN COUNTER SURROUNDED BY NEWS MEDIA MORE OF FENG AT TICKET COUNTER PEOPLE WATCHING WALKING AWAY FROM COUNTER SHOWING HIS AIRLINE TICKET (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) FENG ZHU HU, CHINESE ACTIVIST, SAYING: "For 92 days I was here in the Narita Airport not for departure but simply forced out of my country. I had to go through a very tough 92 days. In those 92 days I received concern and support from people all over the world as well as the media's coverage, so I just want to say a big thank you." MORE OF NEWS MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) FENG ZHU HU, CHINESE ACTIVIST, SAYING: "After returning to China, the first thing I will do is go see my 90-year-old mother. The Chinese place big focus on Chinese New Year, when we will spend it with the family." WIDE OF FENG AND HIS SISTER SURROUNDED BY THE NEWS MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) FENG ZHU HU, CHINESE ACTIVIST, SAYING: "The first thing I need to resolve is to return home freely. Now it doesn't mean I can freely go through customs. Everyone can only find out my fate in the afternoon. Another issue would be if I can leave China freely the next time based on the government's decision. I believe after my incident, there should be a change in the Chinese government's policy." CLOSE UP OF AIRLINE TICKET AND FENG'S FACE DEPARTURE LOBBY ELECTRONIC FLIGHT INFORMATION BOARD CLOSE UP OF SHANGHAI FLIGHT ON BOARD FENG HOLDING UP HIS PASSPORT AND TICKET AS HE GOES THROUGH IMMIGRATION
  • Embargoed: 28th February 2010 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Japan
  • Country: Japan
  • Topics: Domestic Politics,Lifestyle
  • Reuters ID: LVAF55ZJ09W9YLBIY98UI00KAGJL
  • Story Text: A Chinese human rights activist who had been camping out at Japan's Narita international airport east of Tokyo for nearly three months, has left Japan to return home on Friday (February 12).
    The 55-year-old activist thanked the people and media for their support throughout his stay.
    "For 92 days I was here in the Narita Airport not for departure but simply forced out of my country. I had to go through a very tough 92 days. In those 92 days I received concern and support from people all over the world as well as the media's coverage, so I just want to say a big thank you," Feng told reporters as he brandished his passport and ticket home at Narita International airport before boarding a flight to Shanghai.
    The Shanghai-native Feng says Chinese authorities rejected his attempts to re-enter China eight times this year so chose to camp out in the transit lounge of the Narita International Airport for nearly three months since November 4, in protest against what he calls human rights violations by Chinese authorities.
    After negotiations with Chinese authorities in Japan, Feng says he was finally granted permission to return home in time for the Chinese New Year which this year falls on February 14.
    "After returning to China, the first thing I will do is go see my 90-year-old mother. The Chinese place big focus on Chinese New Year, when we will spend it with the family," Feng said.
    Although the Chinese government has allowed Feng's return this time, he is still unsure whether he will be let into the country.
    "The first thing I need to resolve is to return home freely. Now it doesn't mean I can freely go through customs. Everyone can only find out my fate in the afternoon. Another issue would be if I can leave China freely the next time based on the government's decision. I believe after my incident, there should be a change in the Chinese government's policy," he said.
    The former Shanghai University professor said he had spent three years in a Chinese jail for "illegal business activity" after writing a book in 2001 about Japanese companies operating in China and the recent developments may signal a positive change in China's human rights records.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register