Saturday, June 18, 2011

Blind Chinese pro-life activist beaten unconscious, tortured: wife

by John Jalsevac

Blind human rights activist Chen Guangcheng.

LINYI, Shandong, June 17, 2011 (LifeSiteNews.com) – “They beat and tortured my husband Chen Guangcheng and me for more than 2 hours,” writes Yuan Weijing, the wife of blind Chinese pro-life human rights activist Chen Guangcheng, in a disturbing letter released today.

“My husband and I were wounded severely, yet not allowed to leave home for any medical aid,” she continued. “More than 10 men covered me totally with a blanket and kicked my ribs and all over my body.”

Chen has gained international renown for his fearless efforts to systematically expose and put an end to China’s brutal one child policy. He was released in October of last year after spending four years in prison for his activism, during which time he was repeatedly tortured and beaten.

But Chinese authorities have not let up on Chen since then, putting him under house arrest and 24-hour surveillance. The torture described in Yuan’s letter reportedly occurred in February, after the couple managed to smuggle out and release a video shot inside their house, showing the conditions under house arrest.

“I saw more than ten men surrounded Chen Guangcheng, torturing him,” writes his wife. “Some of them twisted his arms forcefully while the others were pushing his head down and lifting his collar up tightly.”

“My left eyebrow bone and one of my bottom left ribs might be broken. My left eye lost vision for 5-6 days because of the bruise, blood in the white of my eye, and swollenness. Even today, I still cannot stand with my body straight and I suffer pain when breathing.”

Yuan’s letter also states that the police sealed their windows with sheets of metal, seized their computer, confiscated their books, stole Chen’s blind cane, and grabbed toys belonging to their young daughter. She also says that Chen has been denied medical treatment and his health is in jeopardy.

Yuan’s letter ends with a plea for legal action to protect her family.

Reggie Littlejohn, the President of Women’s Rights Without Frontiers, a human rights organization, today condemned the house arrest of Chen and Yuan and demanded their immediate release.

She also urged supporters not to forget those for whom Chen “has sacrificed his freedom: the families of China who are being shattered daily by forced abortion, forced sterilization and infanticide.”

“The coercive enforcement of China’s One Child Policy causes more violence against women and girls than any other official policy on earth,” she observed. “It is the greatest women’s rights issue in the world today. No one supports forced abortion, because it is not a choice.”

Littlejohn praised Chen, saying that despite being “impoverished, beaten and blind,” he “possesses the surpassing backbone to stand alone against the grinding juggernaut of this totalitarian regime.”

To sign a petition demanding the release of Chen and his wife, go here.

Chinese Embassy in the USA

Tel: (202) 495-2266
Cell: (202) 669-8024 (For Emergency Only)
Fax: (202) 495-2138
3505 International Place, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20008
Email: chinaembpress_us@mfa.gov.cn

Chinese Embassy in Canada

515 St. Patrick Street, Ottawa, Ont. K1N 5H3
Tel: 613-7893434 Fax: 613-7891911
Website:  http://ca.chineseembassy.org
E-mail Address: chinaemb_ca@mfa.gov.cn

Chinese Embassy in Ireland

40 Ailesbury Road,
Ballsbridge,
Dublin 4,
Ireland
Tel:00353-1-2691707 or 2601119
Fax:00353-1-2839938

Chinese Embassy in the United Kingdom

49 Portland Place , London W1B 1JL
Tel:020-72994074
Fax:020-76362981
Email:political@chinese-embassy.org.uk

Other countries here.

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