Austria's Herrn Magazine: The Long Arm of Jiang Zemin in Austria

Yong Wang, 32, residing in Austria since 1993, was refused an extension of his passport by the Chinese Consulate in Vienna. The decision from the consulate was based on his being a Falun Gong practitioner and that he regularly attended candlelight vigils at the Chinese Embassy calling for the end of the persecution of Falun Gong in China. A written letter of acknowledgement concerning this matter was not provided.

Falun Dafa News spoke with Mr Mag Wang on the telephone about this incident.

FDN: How did it come to the refusal of the passport extension?

Yong Wang: I delivered the application to the Chinese Embassy on June the 30th. Normally it takes about a week to get an extension. On July the 7th, when I visited the Embassy I was told that the passport was not ready yet, because they were waiting on a notice (instructions) from China. On July the 21st I called the embassy and they told me that I could pick up the passport but that they wouldn’t extend it. They meant that I was a Falun Gong practitioner and believed that I was an important organiser and was responsible for the candlelight vigils, held at the Chinese Embassy every Thursday. I denied this accusation with facts. The candlelight vigils are not planned or organised by anyone. Instead whoever has time can join the activity. I don’t always have the time to participate, but make an effort to be there.

FDN: Have talks taken place with the Embassy? Have you met with the Embassy?

Yong Wang: I have personally sought a meeting with the Consulate but they referred me to the Embassy. There I tried to explain why practitioners hold candle light vigils at the Chinese Embassy. It is very hard to present one’s point because the employee there was strongly influenced by the Chinese propaganda. She explained politely that she was not allowed to take any information from Falun Gong practitioners. She supposed that we would damage the reputation of China, in that we would damage Jiang Zemin’s reputation.

I tried to clarify that we are not against the Chinese Government or against any Chinese Politics. We only appeal against the human rights abuses against Falun Gong Practitioners in China and would like to take legal action against those responsible. We treasure the Chinese people, its culture and try to publicly clarify this to them (the Chinese people).

FDN: You have been practising Falun Gong since 1997. What was your relationship with the embassy until now? Were there any problems before?

Yong Wang: The Embassy knew me even before I practised. They didn’t take it well that I practised but they wanted me to practise quietly and not publicly.

Problems first started with my marriage. When I had to apply for the necessary papers, a marriage certificate at the civil registry office at the Embassy. They told me they would process my application only if I signed a declaration proclaiming that I would stop practising Falun Gong. I refused to do so and spoke personally with the Ambassador. Finally I received the document.

Article 35

All citizens of the Peoples Republic of China enjoy freedom of speech, press, public assembly, association, procession and demonstration.

The Constitution of the People's Republic of China

Yong Wang (front right) at a candlelight vigil in front of the Chinese Embassy