The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) on Friday said it has denied a request by China’s former top religious affairs official Ye Xiaowen (???) to visit Taiwan for the funeral of Hsing Yun (??), founder of the Kaohsiung-based Buddhist organization Fo Guang Shan (FGS).

The MAC, Taiwan’s top government agency handling cross-Taiwan Strait affairs, said that in light of evidence linking Ye to religious persecution and denial of religious freedoms, it had denied the Chinese politician’s request for an entry permit.

The council added that social order considerations were also a factor, as Ye’s previous visit to Taiwan for the 2009 World Buddhist Forum had sparked widespread public protests.

In order to avoid unnecessary social disturbance, and to ensure that Hsing Yun’s memorial service proceeds smoothly, Ye will not be allowed to enter Taiwan, the MAC said.

Ye is the former director of the Bureau of Religious Affairs under the State Council. The bureau was renamed the State Administration for Religious Affairs in 1998 and subsequently the National Religious Affairs Administration.

The council, however, said it still welcomed other people from China to come to Taiwan for Hsing Yun’s memorial service.

According to the MAC, it has so far approved the entry permit requests from 120 individuals, including the relatives and friends of Hsing Yun, as well as his worshippers from China and Hong Kong.

Hsing Yun passed away on Feb. 5 at the age of 95.

A memorial service will be held at the FGS’ Cloud Dwelling Building at 9 a.m. on Feb. 13.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel