Chinese defector Chen Yonglin and his family received news this afternoon that they have been issued a permanent protection visa by the Australian Government.
Mark Green, a lawyer and coordinator for Refugee Advice and Casework Service Australia Inc. confirmed the news.
Through a friend, Mr. Chen relayed a message expressing his thanks and appreciation for the support from the Australian people.
“Through this matter I can see the democratic system of Australia will not be controlled or influenced by the Chinese communist dictatorship. During the rest of my life I will contribute to help the Chinese people cast off the communist tyrannical system,” said Mr Chen.
Mr. Chen abandoned his post as First Secretary of the Sydney Chinese Consulate-General, in late May and attempted to defect to Australia.
He made instant headlines with his claim that the Chinese Communist Party has around one thousand spies operating in Australia, and that it had been extensively monitoring and harassing Chinese dissidents and Falun Gong practitioners abroad.
Another four defectors have since come forward with further revelations about the brutal activities of China’s Gestapo-like ‘610 Office’, and claims that China plans to woo Australia away from its democratic values through the lure of lucrative trade deals.
The Howard Government has been accused of not taking Chen’s claims seriously for fear of offending China.
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