CHINESE ASYLUM SEEKER FACES RAPE CHARGES The Chinese government has released details surrounding rape charges that have been filed against the leader of Zhong Gong, a meditation sect, who has sought asylum in the US. Ever since Zhang Hongbao arrived in Guam in January with a fake Chinese passport seeking asylum, the case has been a difficult one for the US.
The US government has been seeking to improve relations with the Chinese government, including the extradition of people wanted for trial, and failure to turn over Zhang would erase much progress. However, the Chinese government has cracked down on Zhong Gong, and this, plus the fact that the Chinese government has been known to falsify charges against political dissidents makes the possibility that Zhang will not receive a fair trial a real one.
The Chinese government released to the press some of the information it provided to the US government, including statements from the alleged rape victims, photographs and arrest warrants. According to the documents, Zhang was accused of rape in 1990 and a “notice of detention” was issued, but Zhang had gone into hiding and had adopted a false identity. Other documents described rapes that occurred in 1994, but there is no police record of them until 1999, after the government crackdown on Zhong Gong had begun. Zhang was not formally charged with rape until this summer, months after making his request for asylum.
A decision on Zhang’s asylum application is due this fall. < Back | Next > Disclaimer: This newsletter is provided as a public service and not intended to establish an attorney client relationship. Any reliance on information contained herein is taken at your own risk. | 
