A LOBBY group's bid to win compensation from Japan for the Sino-Japanese war has run into trouble because its leader's passport has been confiscated.
Veteran campaigner Tong Zeng confirmed yesterday his passport was taken back by the authorities on Friday. He also said at least two members of the 13-strong unofficial delegation had been refused passports.
He blamed 'dishonest' administrative measures and said his passport was being withheld illegally.
His delegation is scheduled to travel to Tokyo early next month to lobby Japanese legislators and civilians for war reparations.
Mr Tong, who has been campaigning for war victims in China for six years, accused the Beijing Public Security Bureau of tricking him into returning the passport, issued on July 20 for the Tokyo trip.
'They told me there were minor errors that needed to be corrected,' said Mr Tong, head of the Chinese Committee for Demanding War Reparations from Japan. 'But later they refused to give it back to me, saying relevant departments disagreed with my position.
'Their confiscation was illegal. I haven't committed any crimes and should have been allowed an overseas trip.' Two of his delegation members, former 'comfort women' from Shanxi, also had passport applications turned down.