By Hyo-Jin Paik
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia
SHANGHAI, China– A human rights activist, Feng Zhenghu, has returned home to China in time to celebrate the country’s biggest holiday, Lunar New Year, with his family after living at a Japanese airport since last November.
Eager to reunite with his family for the holidays, Feng said, “I think this request [to return home] is humble and reasonable. They [Chinese officials] should not be so nasty as to keep me from going home.”
Feng has spent more than three months in a limbo at Japan’s Narita Airport surviving on food given to him by airport passengers and personnel after the Chinese authorities refused to let him enter China.
Feng’s predicament of camping out at an airport began after he was refused entry into China eight times despite holding a valid Chinese passport, which reflects the Chinese government’s intent to silence public dissent.
As a human rights activist, Feng was imprisoned for three years back in 2000 and has angered the Chinese authorities with his support for student protests and accusations of government wrongdoings.
According to Amnesty International, Feng was jailed for his political views and for his activism, such as helping victims of forced evictions explore their legal options.
However, one Feng supporter, Zhou Minwen, said, “Feng is great. He hasn’t done anything wrong but help us fight for justice.”
During his stay at Narita Airport, Feng carried a suitcase draped with a white tank-top that said “difficulty returning home” in Chinese characters.
Feng communicated with the outside world using his cell phone and laptop via blogs and social networking sites like Twitter.
Feng received word that he would be able to return home last month when Chinese officials met with him at Narita Airport.
Once the New Year’s festivities are over, Feng said that he would seek medical consultation to see how months of living on instant noodles and sleeping at airport benches have taken a toll on his body.
“After all, 92 days of abnormal life would hurt anyone’s health. But it’s [OK]…I have a good mentality and will be able to overcome all this. I will return to normal life,” said Feng.
For more information, please see:
AFP – ‘Terminal’ activist returns home to China – 12 February 2010
AP – Chinese who camped in Tokyo’s airport arrives home – 12 February 2010
BBC – Chinese activist allowed home after living in airport – 12 February 2010
