Chinese activist camps out at Narita airport

Friday 13th November, 03:11 PM JST

TOKYO —

A Chinese human rights activist said Friday he has been camping out at Narita international airport since Nov 4 because Chinese authorities have kept him from re-entering China.

Feng Zhenghu, a Shanghai-based activist reached by cell phone at Narita airport, said he has been sleeping on a couch near the immigration checkpoint and surviving on food and water given to him by passing travelers.

His sister, Natsuki Suzuki, who lives in Japan and is married to a Japanese, said Feng arrived in Japan in April. Since then, he has tried unsuccessfully to return to China eight times.

Four times airlines didn’t allow him to board, and four times—including his most recent attempt earlier this month—he got as far as Shanghai’s Pudong airport, but Chinese authorities refused him entry and sent him back to Tokyo, Suzuki said.

Fumio Ikeda, an immigration official, said Feng arrived from Shanghai on Nov 4 with a valid Chinese passport and a visa to enter Japan—but he has refused to leave Narita airport.

“I want to go back to China. I have no reason to stay in Japan,” Feng, 55, told The Associated Press by phone. He declined to say how long he would stay at the airport.

Ikeda said Japanese officials can’t force him to leave the airport.

Amnesty International has called Feng a prominent human rights defender in China.

In 2001, Feng was sentenced to three years in prison for “illegal business activity.” Since his release in 2004, Feng has written critical pieces highlighting alleged malpractice by local governments and forced evictions, according to a 2009 report by the London-based rights group.

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Latest 15 of 27 Total Comments Show All

downundercafe at 08:07 PM JST - 13th November

Where/how he got visa for Japan? Something funny if not fishy here.

Nothing fishy there.. Japan give 3 month visas to 1000s of people everyday. His sister lives here.... He is only from China.

He should move to HongKong or Taiwan..
borscht at 08:15 PM JST - 13th November

Hirota56

If he wants to go home, let him go home

If you read the article, you'd notice that he wants to go home but 'home' won't let him in. Unless I'm reading the article incorrectly.

downundercafe, I believe Hong Kong is part of China, isn't it? Since 1997, anyway.
spudman at 09:24 PM JST - 13th November

He should move to HongKong

That's China these days.
chotto at 10:16 PM JST - 13th November

Does anyone know what terminal he's at? If he's still there the next time I go, I'll treat him to lunch!
chotto at 10:20 PM JST - 13th November

Here's what he looks like!!

T-Shirt 'n' all! You can't miss him!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/picturesoftheday/6550687/Pictures-of-the-day-12-November-2009.html?image=23

And he's apparently at Terminal 1

http://www2.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/story.html?id=72dad45f-a0aa-4298-a80f-4a2b1e09ba95
BurakuminDes at 10:25 PM JST - 13th November

"interesting we don't see a pro-communist leave a comment here."

Don't worry, you won't see many posters on JT defending that awful rabble across the Sea of Japan! I hope Mr Zenghyu is allowed to stay here and provide an insight into how "modern China" is just a sham with corrupt government at all levels.
Badge213 at 11:08 PM JST - 13th November

Well this is a bit different, usually we hear about over stayers wanting to stay in Japan, this guy just wants to leave.
PepinGalarga at 12:18 AM JST - 14th November

he's asking for it I think. If China were to let him in, he would be sent to a nuthouse and that's the last time you'll hear from him.

He should parlay this into refugee status or try to get shipped to EU or USA and live over there.

His sister has a Japanese name, so i suspect she has already been naturalized.
bushlover at 02:52 AM JST - 14th November

Taiwan would be much better than China. And when they let him in it'll show Beijing that well really Taiwan is a separate entity. Ef Beijing.
yosun at 03:47 AM JST - 14th November

But he didn't say he want to come to Taiwan~
bushlover at 05:45 AM JST - 14th November

True. Maybe he thinks Taiwan is part of China due to their propaganda so he didn't consider it.
bdiego at 05:59 AM JST - 14th November

He should just apply for asylum, considering China is hostile to him for his crazy ideas about human rights and freedom.
usaexpat at 06:37 AM JST - 14th November

Cool did he get past the gate so he has access to duty free goods. I'm with others, apply for assylum.
nandakandamanda at 12:11 PM JST - 14th November

Bet he's wishing that Narita provided showers and comfortable seating for departing passengers.
yosun at 09:01 PM JST - 14th November

Mr. Obama can really rescue this guy: to spend like a minute talking to Mr. Hu about pity homeless Feng Zhenghu during China stop of this Asia trip.