--------------- Setting the Record Straight - Contact with the PRC Consulate DPS 018-2005
There have been numerous media reports about the contact that staff from the NSW office of the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA) had with the People's Republic of China Consulate in relation to an asylum seeker who has publicly identified himself as Mr Chen.
The department wishes to correct misleading reports and place on record the facts:
Mr Chen contacted the NSW office of DIMIA wanting to speak with the previous State Director. When told that person no longer worked for the Department he requested to speak with the current State Director. He gave no indication of the subject he wished to discuss. As Mr Chen claimed to be a diplomatic official, a DIMIA officer advised him that she proposed to confirm this with the Consulate. Mr Chen provided telephone numbers to do this and did not indicate a problem with his idenbreasty being confirmed in this manner. A DIMIA officer accordingly telephoned the Consulate, which confirmed that Mr Chen worked there. The DIMIA officer then ended the call without providing any other information. At the time of the conversation with the Consulate, the Department had no knowledge of the matter that Mr Chen wished to discuss. At no time during this call did the DIMIA officer disclose any information as to the whereabouts of Mr Chen or the reason for DIMIA's inquiry. 8 June 2005
-----------------
Osama Bush Ladin
