General dissent or disagreement with a government or the desire for more personal freedom or an improved economic situation, without more, does not satisfy this element. Objective component - fear must be based on facts. It must be well-founded. The applicant should present specific facts through objective evidence or credible testimony. These facts should lead one to conclude that a reasonable person in the applicant's circumstances would fear persecution .
Withholding is a mandatory remedy which requires a higher standard of proof than asylum.
C. Persecution 1. Harm must be more than harassment. Cumulative incidents may constitute persecution even if each incident alone would not. The persecutor must be a government actor or a non-governmental entity which the government is unable or unwilling to control. The law is currently in state of flux regarding whether certain government activities constitute legitimate investigation and prosecution or persecution.