19 March 1999
We are writing to protest the irresponsible treatment by a majority
of the
media and some public figures and officials of the Wen-ho Lee spying
case.
Dr. Wen-ho Lees innocence or guilt is not the central issue here.
Most of
the media has
concluded and branded him guilty with hardly any facts, and in so doing,
has started a feeding frenzy of China espionage in this country.
We are
further concerned that some public officials have joined in this feeding
frenzy for whatever purpose, in the process stripping Dr. Lee of his
cherished rights of fair play.
Almost every mention of this spying case is coupled with a recounting
of
the number of Chinese American professionals who have access to sensitive
information invaluable to a China intent on developing her nuclear
arsenal
and their susceptibility of being recruited by the Chinese government
to
pass on this information intentionally or unintentionally. In
their haste
to decry the alleged espionage by an individual, not only are these
public
officials and said media guilty of a rush to judgment but of tarring
with a
broad brush other American citizens who are guilty of nothing else
other
than of having the same ethnicity as the suspect. Their act is
egregious
and despicable, precisely because it is not subject to redress.
For how
can a minority group protect itself from insinuations of disloyalty
to its
adoptive country and of susceptibility to spying for its country of
origin? How can our good names and reputations be restored once
this
incident blows over? Should we prove our loyalty by some
mass kamikaze
act?
Therefore, we ask no more than what is due to every citizen of this
country, namely, to be treated with respect and dignity. We resent
those
who would question our loyalty any time a particular Chinese American
is
suspected of an egregious act. We do not relish our current role
as
potential spy any more than our role as model minority, both being
straitjackets that are forced on us.
Finally, we demand that fundamental principles of fair play be applied
to
the Wen-ho Lee case.
-The reasons for his dismissal should be publicized and his
response, if any, be heard as loudly and clearly as declarations of
his
supposed misdeed.
- If, as reported, Dr. Lee had been fired summarily from his
job, rescind his firing and allow him to avail himself of all employee
grievance rights, including a fair hearing. If no misdeed
is proven in
the hearing, Dr. Lee should be restored to his former position with
full
pay and a formal and written apology from his employers and those who
had
cast aspersions on him in public.
- If Dr. Lee is charged with a crime, he should be accorded
the usual presumption of innocence and due process of a fair trial.
