April 15, 2005
SCORE ANOTHER ONE FOR CANADIAN VALUES:
Chinese fugitive is denied asylum (Ian Gunn, 4/15/05, BBC News)
A man described by the Chinese government as its most wanted fugitive has failed in an attempt to secure refugee status in Canada.Lai Changxing had asked a federal court to overturn a lower ruling that said he was not a genuine political refugee and should be returned to China.
Mr Lai has argued he faces execution in China if Canada deports him.
Posted by Orrin Judd at April 15, 2005 7:43 AM
So you get the Catholic farm workers from Mexico and we have to give asylum to Chinese smugglers? Plenty of trouble with Oriental gangs up here as it is.
Or are you arguing against the death penalty?
Or am I missing something?
Posted by: Randall Voth at April 15, 2005 7:49 AMAlso, China has sent a diplomatic note that he will not be executed if returned.
Do you want him? I'll sign a petition if you do.
Posted by: Peter B at April 15, 2005 9:31 AMIf his name was Mumia and the US wanted him extradicted, i bet they'd grant him asylum.
Posted by: Mike Morley at April 15, 2005 9:45 AMPeter:
We'll take him. His kids will be winning the Spelling Bee in a couple years.
Posted by: oj at April 15, 2005 9:47 AMUnless there's more than appears from the BBC coverage, the guys a smuggler of luxury goods into a Communist country. This is as likely about his failing to make guanxi payments to high party muckamucks as anything else. We'd be glad to take him.
Posted by: David Cohen at April 15, 2005 9:55 AMA multi-billion dollar smuggler is described by the Chinese government as its "most-wanted fugitive"?
For a very large and up-to-date dictatorship to claim that fighting economic crime is its top priority is a bit of a stretch in creative writing.
Posted by: John J. Coupal at April 15, 2005 10:04 AM