Letter: U.S. turns its back on citizen

Thursday, March 20, 2003 | 8:55 a.m.

What is wrong with the country that I have been so proud of? It was so strong and free. It was always willing to stand up against any human rights violations and ensure the freedom of belief in the world. I can not understand why this country is getting so weak even at protecting its own citizens from basic human rights violations.

Dr. Charles Li went to visit China in January and got arrested at the airport just because he practices Falun Gong, which is banned only in China. He is an American citizen and he has every right to practice his own belief no matter where he is. I would say he was actually taken hostage since he was given the entry visa by the Chinese Consulate, then taken into detention right after he got off the airplane.

That was a vicious and ugly scheme used by a government. Everyone knows that the Chinese government is notorious with its lies. They would lie about anything to serve their own purpose.

Since 1999 the Chinese government has arranged numerous show trials with made-up accusations to deceive its people. Now they are going to set up another show trial for Li in order to deceive all people in the world, including the American government. While Freedom of Belief is written in the Chinese Constitution, have you ever heard of that Chinese government putting anyone on trial according to its Constitution?

Until now, nearly 50 days after Li was taken hostage, the American government has not taken any specific actions to rescue its citizen. I truly hope America can recover the image it has established for the past centuries.

KELLY SUN