Subject: CND-EP Weekly Posting, October 25, 1990

From: Bo Xiong <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 25 Oct 90 21:44:55 -0500

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=====================  Europe / Pacific Section (CND-EP)  =====================
				October 25, 1990
 
---------------------------- Table of Contents ---------------------------
No. Subject							# of Lines

1. An Interesting CSSA Election at University of Florida, USA
   (CSSA: Chinese Students and Scholars Association)....................95

2. CND Q&A Column: Chinese Couple Divorcing in Foreign Country..........55
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1. An Interesting CSSA Election at University of Florida, USA
   (CSSA: Chinese Students and Scholars Association)
=====================================================================(95 lines)
>From: [email-masked]

    CSSA at the University of Florida held an election recently. Before the
election some very interesting things happened.

    Current CSSA-UF committee was elected on 6/3/1989 when members got together
to watch 6.4 on TV. In the past 12 months, it had aggressively and successfully
operated the organization and earned a high mark from members. But a few people
at UF did not like it. They watched, planned until one day they felt their
chance had come when the CSSA fulfilled its term and the president, Qun Feng,
indicated not running for another term.

    All of a sudden, rumors filled with Gainesville. An CCP official arrived in
town to watch the goings-on.  A few visiting scholars were manipulated to bad
-mouth CSSA and IFCSS. Some intimidated people blamed CSSA had gone too far and
put all members in jeopardy. After all these propaganda and acts, one guy from
physics, Li Jian Zhong, began to phone around trying to gain support to run for
the next president.  He announced that his goals were a) to get rid of the
IFCSS, and b) to have a close tie with the consulate.
(IFCSS = Independent Federation of Chinese Students & Scholars in USA).

    Facing this challenge, activists planned and carried out a well organized
campaign.  A current CSSA official, Chen Jienan, decided to stand out to run
against Li.  Quickly people turned their apathy to strong concern when they
noticed that Li had never attended any CSSA activity until he was suddenly
interested in running for the president.  Later, people's concerns raised to
suspicion and worry once they found out that Li, who is from Beida and was in
Beijing before and during 6.4, had some unspeakable opinions about 6.4..  He
claimed that none was killed on TAM, and that the government was entitled to
maintain order.  "Is this guy sent by CCP? Is he doing what he was ordered to
do?"

    At this point, Li and his gang knew they had made a fatal mistake in
announcing the two campaign goals, not only because they  were unacceptable to
most people but also because they led people to examine their true motivation
and to worry what may happen next. The week before the election they changed
their tone to, a) protecting people from unnecessary political involvement, and
b) deciding every important issues, including whether staying within IFCSS, by
majority votes.  But this was too little too late.

    A twist made all of this more interesting. Evidence showed that all Li's
doing and words were plotted and manipulated by a former president of CSSA who
was forced out by members on 6/3/89 because of his strong pro-CCP standing and
his special tie with the consulate.  Combining his personal hatred with
unpopular political views (and maybe something more), he had looked for every
chance to overthrow current CSSA.  At first he wanted to re-gain the lost power
himself.  But perhaps after the embarrassment last year, he pushed Li to come
out.  People were greatly outraged by this guy's arrogance, stupidity and
conspiracy.  Anger and animosity toward him as well as the feeling of
approaching danger put people in a highly excited state.  Phone calls, visits,
exchanging news and campaign tricks, people became involved in the campaign
with an unprecedented enthusiasm.  At the same time, students were carefully
preparing for the election meeting and decided on a strategy to question Li
intensively to reveal his true motivation and the hand behind him.

   6.10 evening, the election was held with an unusually big turnout. First was
report by the current president. Using strong words and analysis Feng discussed
the work by CSSA in last 12 months. A clear message was that the danger was not
from CSSA which supports democracy but from government monitors and informants
hidden behind.	His speech ended with a loud cheering by all the members except
one, the former president. Next was nomination of candidates.  Chen was
nominated but Li did not show up. Then people cheered loudly about Chen's
campaign speech. By voting time, the former president was gone.  Chen was
elected.  Many people left before the voting once they found out that the
competition was gone without fighting.	Many activists were also disappointed
by the no-show of Li and his supporters, for losing a chance to crush them.

What can we learn from this election?

1. Last 12 months has taught people a valuable lesson that a trustful CSSA
   would be vital to their life in US. A CSSA close to the consulate only means
   threats to them.  People appreciate for what IFCSS has done for them, and
   wish it grow better and better.

2. It is not a wolf-crying if we are called to be alarmed at the possibility
   that Embassy is mobilizing to take control of CSSAs.  If you have read the
   PRC government secret documents, you may agree that the main task of CCP
   agencies in the US is to subvert IFCSS since IFCSS has great influence which
   simply means great anger to them.  Moreover, CCP knows a painful fact that
   they can not attack IFCSS in public like it did to FDC.  In the same
   documents CCP orders her organs two things: establishing communist party
   organizations and controlling CSSA's.  Most of us know that Chinese
   government puts overseas Chinese students into five categories.  Probably
   not too many are aware that CSSAs in the US were also classified into three
   groups by the Embassy as early as last October.  For each the Embassy uses
   a different strategy as described in the document. a) For "good" ones,
   Embassy would firmly safeguard the power of these CSSAs.  b) For those in
   middle Embassy would pressure them not to engage in anti-government
   activities and to withdraw from IFCSS publicly.  The embassy would pay
   particular attention to these CSSAs' election, and would select some skilled
   core elements to take over in these universities.  c) For those CSSA's
   controlled by "extreme liberal elements", Embassy would form opposition
   organizations against them.
===============================================================================

2. CND Q&A Column: Chinese Couple Divorcing in Foreign Country
=====================================================================(55 lines)
CND Q&A Column on Visa/Job/Legal Matters (Selected from CND-US)
From: CND Q&A Editor Bo Xiong <[email-masked]>

NOTE: All discussions on this column are for readers' information only, one
      should consult his/her lawyer or proper professionals before handling
      his/her own visa/job/legal matters.

Q:  From a CND reader in the US

    Two persons got married in China, they are both in North America now.
    1.  What are the procedures to get a divorce?
    2.  If one person disagrees to divorce, what will happen?

A:  As required by Chinese Marriage Law, if both parties are Chinese citizens
    and none of them is permanent resident of a foreign country, they must
    file their request of divoirce with Chinese authority, if both of the
    concerned parties are overseas, they may go to near-by Chinese consulate
    for their divorce certifacte if 1) both parties agree on all matters.  2)
    they are able to present proper documents as proof of their marriage.

    If one party disagrees to divorce, they have to go to Chinese court to
    settle the dispute, this can only be done inside China.  It's once heard
    that an overseas Chinese couple filed their divorce case with a Shanghai
    court without going back to China, one party asked parents as legal agent
    and the other party hired a Chinese lawyer.

    If one party is now in PRC, and even if both agree to divorce, the party
    inside PRC has to go through Chinese court if the overseas party does not
    return to PRC to appear at Chinese marriage registration office to file
    their request for divorce in person.

    If one of the parties is a PR or citizen of a foreign country, they may go
    to the concerned foreign lawyer/marriage registration office/court (of that
    country) to divorce, the divorce certificate will be recongnized by Chinese
    law.

    Of course, the judgement made by Chinese court will be accepted by foreign
    government if a concerned is Chinese citizen.

    Finally, if one party is in the US, according to the law of many states,
    he/she may file his/her request of divorce with the court of the state
    six months after he/she resides in that state.  In those states, it is not
    required that both parties appear at the court, the cost of hiring a lawyer
    could be between $350 (uncontested) and $1,000 (if contested, i.e., the
    other disagrees to divorce) and it may take one to three months to settle
    the case (only one court appearance is needed in most case).  However, BE
    AWARE of that the judgement entered by US court in this matter might not be
    honored by Chinese authority if none of the concerned parties is US PR or
    US citizen, though the judgement is valid as long as the concerned is in
    the US.

    One should contact Chinese consulate in his/her area or a lawyer for the
    details of whole procedure before taking any action on this matter.

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