I know, I’m late to this and some of my fellow bloggers have already written it up, but after all the posts about him here I had to take note of the seemingly happy ending.
A lot of us didn’t think the Aussie government would be this charitable. Is it because they believed his story and felt compassionate, or were they under pressure from the FLG and the weight of worldwide public opinion? Or…?
1
By Richards
The head of ASIO has also been shifted sideways into a position where he gets to deal with the US on a more frequent basis (ambassador to the US)
I’m guessing that the 1000 spies charge may have stung a little.
July 10, 2005 @ 2:13 am | Comment
2
By Martyn
That’s interesting. I haven’t noticed that in the news, not that I’ve been looking of course.
Can we deduce that if Oz has done this then they either believe the 1,000 spies story or maybe even know it for true?
July 10, 2005 @ 2:26 am | Comment
3
By Mike
They made the announcement just after the London bombings: just a coincide or a case of news management. Let the embarrasing backtrack news slip out when everyone is preoccupied with someone else? I’m a cynic because I work for a newspaper and see this happening all the time.
By the way, I recently visited the Chinese consulate that Chen Yonglin was based at in Sydney. It is like a fortress, but guess who has taken out the lease on the shop right opposite the entrance? That’s right, if you want to get a passport photo taken for your visa application the only option is a shop covered with Falun Dafa posters and with “Falan Dafa Hao” meditation music wafting out across the consulate compound!
July 10, 2005 @ 2:39 am | Comment
4
By Laowai 19790204
he was in sydney? for some reason I thought he was in melbourne.
anyway, F L G is pretty clever sometimes. Not that I’m convinced it does them any good in the PR war.
July 10, 2005 @ 3:22 am | Comment
5
By richards
After a little burrowing I’ve come to the conclusion that the gov’t is looking to focus attention on China/North-Korea. I think O’Sullivans appointment is justified given that he has been involved in nuclear non proliferation circles.
July 10, 2005 @ 4:52 am | Comment
6
By Martyn
Is that really true Mark? Good grief, that’s hilarious. I’m just amazed at the balls and determination of the F*L*G and amazed that the Embassy haven’t done, I don’t know, something!?! For example, by the entire block and cancel the F*L*G lease or something dramatic like that. It’s totally humiliating and totally brilliant.
July 10, 2005 @ 4:58 am | Comment
7
By Johnny K
Some people have commented that the only reason Beijing hasn’t completely subverted Hong Kong is because of constant Western/HK civilian vigilance against their doing so.
So perhaps we are doing our part by keeping up the heat on Beijing.
Keep it up, Richard!
Also, props to FLG
July 10, 2005 @ 12:10 pm | Comment
8
By richard
Thanks Johnny, but don’t lump me with the FLG! 🙂
Those guys redefine the meaning of the word “creepy.” That doesn’t mean they should be tortured and imprisoned, oif course…
July 10, 2005 @ 12:18 pm | Comment
9
By Jing
That he would ultimately be allowed to stay was not in doubt, the manner was how Australia who try to low-key the whole thing. If he was repatriated to China, it would have been a virtual death sentence, everyone knew that.
July 10, 2005 @ 1:25 pm | Comment
10
By Fat Cat
Talking about FLG and being “creepy”, I had a really creepy experience lately. Someone started sending me copies of the Epoch Times since April this year. I also received phone calls and email messages from time to time asking me to comment on some of the articles in that newspaper. Then I changed job and moved to another state in late June to take up the new appointment. When I arrived the first day at work, a copy of Epoch Times was waiting for me on my desk. It wasn’t redirected from my previous work address. It’s got my new work address and even my new work title absolutely spot on. This really freaked me out, as if someone had been following me and knowing my every move. So Chen Yonglin was not too far off when he said that there’s an extended spy network in OZ. Has anyone of you had similar freaky experience?
July 11, 2005 @ 1:03 am | Comment
11
By Andrew Carlisle
It seemed to me, apart from some of the reasons stated above, US interest in the situation may have prodded our government to a more wakeful state.
That is a eyrie story about the newspaper turning up on your desk. Speaking of ET, what does the list think of ‘9 Ping’ , ‘Nine commentaries on the CCP’, and the impact ET claims it is having in China?. Do you think that the Chen Yonglin saga is a consequence from the ciruculation of these articles?
July 23, 2005 @ 5:17 pm | Comment
12
By Andrew Carlisle
It seemed to me, apart from some of the reasons stated above, US interest in the situation may have prodded our government to a more wakeful state.
That is a eyrie story about the newspaper turning up on your desk. Speaking of ET, what does the list think of ‘9 Ping’ , ‘Nine commentaries on the CCP’, and the impact ET claims it is having in China?. Do you think that the Chen Yonglin saga is a consequence from the ciruculation of these articles?
July 23, 2005 @ 5:28 pm | Comment