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TONY JONES: A Chinese defector in Canada has emerged to support claims made in Australia that an elaborate network of spies is working around the world on behalf of the Chinese Government. Han Guangsheng is a former spy and prison camp administrator who defected to Canada in 2001. But he has only now come out publicly with his story of espionage and torture. Michael Edwards has this report.
MICHAEL EDWARDS: Fifty-two-year-old Han Guangsheng applied for political asylum on a trip to Canada four years ago. The Canadian Government has rejected the application on the grounds he is suspected of involvement in serious human rights abuses. Mr Han was a senior official in the north-eastern China labour camp system. He spoke to Lateline on the condition we disguise his identity.
HAN GUANGSHENG, CHINESE DEFECTOR (TRANSLATION): Before 1996 I used to be the deputy chief of the public security bureau in Shenyang and by the time I defected I was the chief of the judicial bureau in Shenyang. I had two jails and four labour camps under my command.
MICHAEL EDWARDS: The labour camps or laogai, as they're known, are used by the Chinese Government to hold both political and religious prisoners. The US State Department estimates they hold 250,000 inmates - many tortured and forced to work as slave labourers. Mr Han says he defected after suffering a crisis of conscience about China's record of human rights abuses. He maintains he didn't allow mistreatment in his jurisdiction but he's heard many accounts of abuse nonetheless, including the maltreatment of hundreds of Falun Gong practitioners after the Chinese Government's 1999 crackdown.
HAN GUANGSHENG: They try to brainwash Falun Gong practitioners. The ways they use is to force them to read the newspaper and to watch news from the Communist Party and then force them to write a denunciation. They talk to them 24 hours a day, so those practitioners who refuse to get brainwashed can’t get rest and if they continue to refuse they will be tortured.
MICHAEL EDWARDS: Han Guangsheng wanted to keep quiet about his former life but says the defection and public appearances of Chen Yonglin and Hao Feng Jun gave him the courage to come forward.
HAN GUANGSHENG: I didn't go public before because I was worried for the safety of my family. I only went publicly recently because I was encouraged by Mr Chen Yonglin and Hao Feng Jun, who came forward in Australia.
MICHAEL EDWARDS: He's also made claims similar to those made by Mr Hao and Mr Chen about the extent of Chinese spying abroad, particularly the work of the 6-10 Bureau - an agency set up specifically to target Falun Gong practitioners. He says 6-10 has infiltrated most of the Western world.
HAN GUANGSHENG: I do know that the Chinese Communist Party sent people to collect intelligence information, including Chinese Embassy and Consulate staff. Some of the reporters coming from state Chinese media and visiting scholars are also given special spying tasks to carry out.
MICHAEL EDWARDS: Whether a Chinese spy network exists has already posed some serious questions for the Canadian Government and its intelligence service, known as CSIS.
MAN: What specific measures have been taken to address this serious sovereignty and security breach?
ANNE MCLELLAND, CANADIAN DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER: CSIS is well aware of the allegations that have been made. CSIS is doing everything that is necessary to ensure the collective security of Canadians.
MICHAEL EDWARDS: Former diplomat Chen Yonglin says by coming forward Mr Han has increased the pressure on Beijing.
CHEN YONGLIN, FORMER CHINESE DIPLOMAT: Because when you look at the Chinese Communist regime it's like a wall, it’s like a wall – a broken wall. And when a brick was taken out from such a wall and more brick will fall down and that means this wall will collapse some day. I hope that the Canadian people, the world people, will understand that if you lend a hand to help bring down this dictatorship wall, the Chinese people will reach freedom and democracy.
MICHAEL EDWARDS: The Canadian Immigration Minister has been contacted for comment on Han Guangsheng’s case, but has so far declined to comment. Michael Edwards, Lateline.
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