Chinese Activist Stuck At Narita Because China Doesn't Want Him

[Mulboyne]

Straits Times: Chinese activist in limbo
A CHINESE rights activist said on Thursday he had been stuck in limbo at a Tokyo airport for nine days after his country's communist government denied him the right to return home. In a situation reminiscent of the stateless man portrayed in the movie The Terminal, Feng Zhenghu has been camped out on a couch near the immigration checkpoint at Narita International Airport since Nov 4. 'I've been here for nine days, eight nights. I have not had a lot to eat or drink,' he told AFP on Thursday at Narita's Terminal 1. 'I have a Chinese passport that is valid for three more years. I have a valid visa for Japan, but I do not want to stay in Japan. I want to go home.' He told AFP, speaking in Chinese, that, after a stay of several months in Japan this year, he had tried to go back to China eight times. 'Four times I was turned back by Shanghai authorities at the Pudong airport. They did not let me into the country,' he said. 'The other four times, Japanese airlines refused to allow me onto the aeroplane. I strongly protest these actions. According to the UN (charter), no nation has the right to refuse the citizenship of its nation.' Despite his ordeal, Mr Feng looked well-kempt and clean shaven, but speaking in broken Japanese, he said, 'My stomach has become small.'

[Iraira]

He's got some CNN coverage now

Chinese activist in limbo at Tokyo airport

Tokyo, Japan (CNN) -- If you've passed through Tokyo on an international connection this past month, chances are you've seen a Chinese man wearing a homemade t-shirt with scribbling all over it. His name is Feng Zhenghu, a Chinese citizen who has moved into Narita Airport's international arrival concourse.

"Moved in" in the non-traditional sense, and reminiscent of Tom Hanks in the movie, "The Terminal," a story of an Eastern European man denied entry into the U.S., so he decides to live at JFK's airport.

In 55-year-old Feng's case, he's not being denied entry into Japan. Rather, his homeland won't let him back in. He was denied entry into China eight times. Four times he boarded planes and landed in Shanghai before Chinese immigration turned him around. The other four times Japanese officials didn't let him board the plane, saying he'd be refused entry. The reason has never been given, though Feng suspects it's due to his prior work in China as a human rights activist. The result: a frustrated Feng who decided after eighth rejection he wouldn't leave Tokyo's airport until China allowed him back in.

More of Tom Hanks (whom Peter Scolari hates) at
http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/12/03/japan.chinese.activist/index.html

[Mulboyne]