Chinese Dissident Escapes House Arrest

Blind Chinese human rights activist Chen Guangcheng has escaped from heavily-guarded house arrest in Shandong and has released a video through which he directly addresses Premier Wen Jiabao.

Supporters helped Guangcheng make a daring and impressive escape from his home on Sunday, after spending about 18 months in detention. No other information about the escape are available in, and his current whereabouts aren't known.

Chen's video, posted on various websites, are his first public comments.

Chen Guangchen background:

Self-taught lawyer, blinded by a fever in infancy Jailed in 2006 after exposing forced abortions and sterilizations Named by Time magazine as one of many 100 most influential people of 2006 Under house arrest since his release from prison in September, 2010 Escaped his heavily-guarded home on April 22, 2012 Posted video online days later detailing abuses he says he and his family suffered

In it, Chen says the abuse he was subject to while under house arrest was even worse than were discussed by supporters on the web. Although he's now free, he says he's worried in regards to the safety of his family.

Chen says his wife, child and mother are still under the control of the local authorities, and are therefore subject to persecution. He said he's concerned the retaliation against them may be “crazy.”

Authorities last July brutally beat Chen and his wife for four hours, based on activists, which later brought about incorrect rumors that he had died. Meanwhile, activists now say local authorities have taken into custody members of the family who brawled with them after the escape.

In his video, Chen urged the central officials to analyze the placement in his hometown near Linyi in Shandong province. He accuses local officials of being corrupt, and desirous to keep him detained in order that "their criminality just isn't revealed."

Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin refused to comment. He says he has seen what he called “relevant reports,” but that he has no information thus far.

Activists say Chen is somewhere in Beijing, and a few reports suggest that he could have fled to the U.S. embassy. Witnesses Friday said they saw no unusual Chinese security activity outside the U.S. embassy and American spokesmen said additionally they had no information at the case today.

Chen is a 40-year-old self-taught lawyer who spent four years in prison after exposing forced abortions and sterilizations by Chinese family planning authorities. He have been under house arrest since he was released from jail in September 2010.

This incident comes only a week before regular, high-level U.S.-China discussions for you to include human rights issues. Additionally it is occurring at a time when China's ruling Communist Party is attempting to make sure social stability in advance of a leadership transition later this year.

From WhatNewsToday.net

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