WASHINGTON D.C. -- Chairman John Moolenaar wrote to the President of Harvard University today, seeking answers after students were forcibly removed by an unidentified individual during an April event with Chinese Ambassador Xie Feng. The students aimed to highlight the Chinese Communist Party’s record of human rights abuses. During the incident, an alleged Harvard student from China dragged one of the protesting students out of the event. Following this, another Harvard student expressed fear after an alleged event organizer approached her and sought the names of students who challenged the Ambassador.
Chairman Moolenaar stated, “This incident raises serious questions regarding possible transnational repression by the Chinese government and the involvement of international students from China at Harvard in acts of harassment and intimidation condoned by the Chinese government against its critics.”
He continued, “This spring, a Boston court convicted and sentenced a former Berklee College of Music student from China for threatening and harassing a fellow Chinese student for posting pro-democracy fliers on campus. Repeated incidents involving some students from China infringing on their fellow students’ freedom of expression also call into question whether our universities are doing enough to educate students about civil liberty and ensure students’ safety for freedom of expression.”
The number of Chinese students in the United States has increased significantly since 2009. Concurrently, attempts by the Chinese government to monitor, control, and manipulate these students have also risen dramatically. The Chinese government often uses organizations like Chinese Students and Scholars Associations to infiltrate American campuses and harass those who may speak out against CCP abuses.
In his letter, Chairman Moolenaar posed several questions to Harvard regarding security at the event with Ambassador Xie Feng:
- Did Harvard exercise sole responsibility for security at the event? If not, did Harvard partner with representatives of the Chinese government or any private agency? If so, were those representatives bound by Harvard’s regulations?
- Did any faculty members of the Harvard Kennedy School liaise with outside agencies or the Chinese government on security policies for the event? Were they present at the event? Did they approve what transpired? If not, will there be an investigation?
- Absent official written authority to engage in a security function, does this individual's actions constitute assault and battery under Massachusetts law?
- Does Harvard have a written agreement making this individual a designated agent for providing security at such events? If so, provide a copy.
- Does Harvard have a policy for reporting criminal acts on its campus to state and local authorities? If so, provide a copy.
- Did Harvard follow its crime reporting policy if this individual was not designated as an agent for providing security?
Additionally:
- Does Harvard Kennedy School’s Greater China Society coordinate activities with the Chinese government or diplomatic missions?
- What is Harvard doing to educate international students about their civil liberties?
