A U.S.-based China rights organization says the blind Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng is under U.S. protection and that talks are underway between U.S. and Chinese officials.
The group ChinaAid released the statement Saturday, citing sources with reference to Chen, although there have been few details. ChinaAid President Bob Fu, a former Tiananmen Square activist, called the Chen situation "a pivotal moment for U.S. human rights diplomacy."
On Friday, ChinaAid said Chen is safe and at a location faraway from his home village.
Also Friday, the us expressed concern about Chen's fate, but refused all touch upon his whereabouts, amid reports he fled to the U.S. embassy in Beijing.
Chen, a lawyer and activist, was arrested after documenting abuses in China's policy on restricting the dimensions of most families. He disappeared Sunday from village of Dongshigu within the eastern province of Shandong, although authorities didn't realize he was missing until Thursday. It's not clear where he went, but his friend and fellow activist Hu Jia said Friday he believed that Chen was admitted into the embassy.
U.S. diplomats there declined any comment and a spokesman for the Chinese government said he knew nothing of the reports.
The development comes days before U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner are because of visit Beijing for talks. Â
Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai said at a briefing in Beijing Saturday at the upcoming talks that he had no information on Chen's case.
In Washington, U.S. Republican Congressman Chris Smith said he's relieved that Chen has escaped. Smith chairs a commission on China featuring members of Congress and presidential appointees.
"i'm relieved to listen to the reported news of human rights advocate Chen Guangcheng's escape from extended illegal home confinement and hope that he's safe as his supporters have indicated," said Smith.
But Smith expressed concern in regards to the safety of Chen's family and supporters in China.
A relative of Chen told VOA that many cops, some armed, have converged on his home in Dongshigu.
In a video posted online Friday, Chen detailed the abuses he and his family have allegedly suffered in his year-and-a-half under house arrest. He also known as on Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao to enquire human rights abuses in China. Â
Chen, who campaigned against forced abortions under China's "one child" policy, were held under house arrest since he was released from a four-year prison sentence in September 2010.
Fu, of ChinaAid, said Chen was ready to leave his home on April 22 and his friends escorted him to a secure location. Fu said Chen's wife, daughter and mother are still on the family's home, which was surrounded by local authorities once they found him gone on Thursday.
From WhatNewsToday.net
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