Love, Justice & the American Way

• Source: Global Times
• [22:52 November 22 2009]
• Comments

Officials make excuses, hide, hang up phone

Julie Harms always knew it was a long shot when she went to the embassy in Beijing.

She knew she would not get to meet the busy US president and she even knew her letter would most likely never be delivered.

She also knew she at least had to try. On entering the embassy, an official told her he could not accept her Chinese fiancé's case according to regulations and also they could not pass her letter to the president.

Harms' visit ended as the embassy busied itself preparing for the president, and she was told they had no more time for her and asked to leave.

When the Global Times called US embassy spokeswoman Susan N Stevenson Thursday morning and afternoon, the reporter was told she was too busy to answer any questions. At the final call, the secretary explained to the Global Times that due to privacy concerns, the embassy will not comment.

They are still awaiting a court date, Liu's attorney Liu Yongmei told the Global Times.

She's a foreigner and she didn't understand Chinese law, Liu said.

What has been done by the court and the prosecution has a sound legal basis. They didn't break any regulations.