China deports British woman for having links with Tibetan youth congress

The Chinese Foreign Ministry has confirmed the recent deportation of a British citizen, and said that the case was not necessarily linked to Olympic-related changes to visa policies and security measures.

New Delhi, July 11 : The Chinese Foreign Ministry has confirmed the recent deportation of a British citizen, and said that the case was not necessarily linked to Olympic-related changes to visa policies and security measures.

"The expelled British citizen, Dechen Pemba, is a key member of the ethnic separatist organization the Tibetan Youth Congress," Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said.

She had engaged in numerous illegal activities while she was in China and had confessed to it when police questioned her; The China Daily quoted Liu, as saying.

Police reportedly escorted the ethnically Tibetan, British-born 30-year-old from her apartment in Beijing earlier this week, and she was expelled from the country for engaging in illegal activities.

Pemba came to China in 2006 on a work visa and earned a living teaching part time at a private school in Beijing.

According to media reports, she was once active in Berlin, Germany, on behalf of the International Campaign for Tibet, which works closely with the Dalai Lama.

But Liu said the deportation was not directly linked to the heightening of security in the lead-up to the Games.

"Any person who violated Chinese law at any time will be subject to legal investigation," Liu said.

He also said hosting "a safe and peaceful" Olympic Games remains a top priority.

ANI