Chen Guangcheng one step closer to U.S., while his family is tortured
Beijing
(AsiaNews) - The blind dissident Chen Guangcheng said that he and his family
should have their passports in 15 days that will allow him to leave China for
the U.S.: "Some officials came yesterday and we filled out forms for
passports for me, my wife and my children, " said Chen from the hospital in
Beijing where he has been staying for several days. "We were told that the
documents should be ready within 15 days."
Chen, who escaped from house arrest in his home village in Shandong, is known worldwide for his battles
against forced abortions and illegal expropriation of land. After his escape he
fled the American embassy in Beijing
where he spent 6 days. Persuaded to leave with various assurances from both the
Americans and Chinese, he is in fact again under arrest in a hospital in the
capital.
In the meantime, however, the Chinese regime continues to pursue its vendetta
against the family of the dissident. Chen Guangfu, Guangcheng's elder brother,
was tortured and beaten in late April, after blind activist's escape from arrest.
According to Chinese Human Rights
Defender, citing anonymous sources, local officials in Shandong had beaten Chen Guangfu's hands
with a leather belt, hit him in the ribs and stepped on his foot with force
during an interrogation that lasted several hours.
Guangfu was then forced to leave his village and has not yet regained feeling
in his left hand or right foot. The Chen Guanfu's son, Chen Kegui, and his wife
were beaten. Chen Kegui was arrested on charges of attempted murder for having
stabbed a few officers who had raided his home. Yesterday, lawyer Si
Weijiang, tried
to obtain permission from the authorities to visit Chen Kegui in prison. So
far, no-one has been able to meet with or speak to Chen Guangcheng's nephew.
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