TOKYO— Wei Jingsheng, a renowned Chinese democracy activist was barred from entering Japan on June 2. Wei intended to speak at the commemoration of the 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre in Japan. However, he was detained in the airport and, for the stated reason that there were problems with his transit visa, was refused entry into Japan. This incident has caused a great deal of speculation among the Japanese and international media.
At the 18th anniversary commemoration of the 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre held in Tokyo on June 3, Lin Fei, the representative of Japanese branch of the Overseas Chinese Democracy Coalition (OCDC), and one of the sponsors of the event, said event organizers they had consulted Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau at the end of May about Wei's visiting to Japan. "The official said no problem. Yet today they do not allow Wei to enter Japan," said Lin.
Huang Ciping, Secretary-General of OCDC told The Epoch Times, "This incident is not an isolated case. Mr. Wei wanted to visit Japan after he was exiled from China and traveled to the U.S in 1997, but he was only able to finally deliver his speeches in Japan last year. Mr. Wei's speeches attracted a great deal of media attentions and aroused strong reactions. This could be the reason why Wei was denied entry this time. The Chinese Communist Party fears international condemnation for the Tiananmen Square Massacre. To try to defuse any media attention, the regime put pressure on Japan."
Zhao Nan, the person in charge of the Federation for a Democratic China in Japan, believes that the CCP was most likely behind the incident, because the communist regime always loses face when the 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre is discussed. The communist regime was worried that Wei would generate significant attention and influence in Japan.
Wei first visited Japan on October 21, 2006. It was his first trip to Japan after he was released from a Chinese prison and regained his freedom in November 1997. Within 24 hours of his arrival, many newspapers, radio and television stations interviewed him and were eager to report all the related news.
During his 2006 visit, Wei met with politicians, human rights organizations, lawyers' groups, and spoke at many press conferences. At that time Wei had also met with about 30 Members of the Japanese House of Representatives and their assistants, covering many different political parties. Wei testified before them that while he was imprisoned, there were prisoners and policemen confirming that prisoners' organs were being harvested live.
Wei also directly exposed that the CCP was facing a huge crisis. Wei stated that the Chinese people, including CCP members, did not believe in the CCP anymore and the regime might collapse at any time.
On the afternoon of October 29, 2006, at a press conference held by the Japanese branch of Amnesty International in Tokyo, Wei praised Jia Jia, who publicly quit the CCP and then defected to help and encourage more Chinese to quit the communist regime. Wei said the Jia Jia was very courageous and a responsible model for the Chinese people to follow. Wei also revealed that many low-level CCP members were forced to follow the party. They had even betrayed their own consciences and interests to serve for the benefits of the CCP's privileged class. From this point of view, these members should have quit the CCP a long time ago. Wei encouraged all good people should help them to peacefully quit the CCP.
Wei even directly pointed out that the CCP had created and directed the North Korean nuclear crisis to shift the spotlight away from its own crisis. As the strongest democratic country in Asia, Wei said, Japan needs to make a greater efforts to prevent these dangerous countries and despots from starting a war. What other nation would be able to expose and stop the CCP and North Korea from playing these ambiguous games with the international community? Supporting human rights and democracy in all countries is a long-term strategy for preventing wars.
When attending the "Future China Forum" sponsored by OCDC and The Epoch Times on October 28, 2006, Wei appealed to the Japanese government that if it wanted to improve international image, it needed to start by taking international responsibility for urging China to a peaceful transition to democracy and improved human rights.
Wei criticized Japan for continuing to provide Official Development Assistant (ODA) to China. Wei said this aid was helping to support the CCP's autocratic regime.
Wei also pointed out that from the perspective of human rights alone, the international community should oppose the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. The CCP had promised to improve its human rights record before the Olympics, but human rights have not improved, rather they have worsened.
A valid comaprison can be made between Beijing's Olympic Games and the 1936 Games in Berlin. The 1936 Olympic Games were used by the Nazi's propaganda campaign to improve their image in the international community. In a repeat of history, another totalitarian dictatorship is using the Olympics to soften its public image. The CCP has turned the Olympic Games into a propaganda tool. The international community has no reason to support the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games without a major improvement in Chinese human rights. The 2008 Olympic Games should not be held in Beijing.
