Blid activist Chen Guangcheng has reportedly escaped the house arrest in the well-guarded house in Shandong village of Dongshigu.
Reports say Chen’s current whereabouts are still unknown. However, many have expressed fear of retaliation against his wife Yuan Weijing and children who remained in Shandong.
Chen Guangcheng has for years denounced abortion and forced sterilization in China.
Meanwhile, groups of thugs with the police reportedly assaulted the brother of Chen and his family, arresting his nephew as well.
The United Nations human rights chief Navi Pillay today voiced concern about the welfare of Chinese activist.
“I’m disturbed to hear reports that other family members, including his brother Chen Guangfu and nephew Chen Kegui, have now been detained.” – UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay
Ms. Pillay has previously raised concerns with the Chinese authorities over Mr. Chen’s case.
She once again urged China “to investigate the treatment of both him and his family, to ensure their physical integrity, and to provide redress for any wrongdoing by local officials.”
Self-taught lawyer Chen exposed the systematic use of forced abortion and involuntary sterilization in implementing China’s One Child Policy. Time Magazine named him in its list of “2006’s Top 100 People Who Shape Our World,” in the category of “Heroes and Pioneers.” He has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize as well.
Women’s Rights Without Frontiers and China Aid Association are spearheading an international effort to free Chen.
WRWF President Reggie Littlejohn stated, “The coercive enforcement of China’s One Child Policy causes more violence against women and girls than any other official policy on earth. It is the greatest women’s rights issue in the world today. It does not matter whether you are pro-life or pro-choice on this issue. No one supports forced abortion, because it is not a choice.”
Ms. Littlejohn said Chen Guangcheng is a hero in China, because he has had the courage to stand up against the hated One Child Policy. Chen exposed the systematic and widespread use of forced abortions and sterilizations in Linyi City in 2005. For this he was jailed for four years and three months, tortured, and denied medical treatment. Last year a video featuring Chen Guangcheng was leaked to the West.
Reports say Chen and his wife, Yuan Weijing, were “beaten senseless” in retaliation for the release of the video. They were denied medical treatment as well.
Reports say 130 thousand cases of forced terminations by the authorities for family planning were reported.
In 2006, Chen was sentenced to four years and three months. He was later released in September of 2010. The Chinese authorities have reportedly forced the total isolation of Chen, with his wife and his six year old daughter, unable to go to school.
