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| Chen Guangcheng: how China tried to lock down a blind man | Chen Guangcheng: how China tried to lock down a blind man |
| (30 days later) | |
| The campaign to keep Chen Guangcheng locked away from the world — defeated at least temporarily by his escape — has been as remarkable in its pettiness as it has been comprehensive in scope. A massive security operation has swamped the small village of Dongshigu. Scores of thugs armed with surveillance cameras, floodlights and phone-jamming technology have watched an ailing blind man, his wife, frail mother and small daughter round the clock. Relatives and neighbours who have tried to help have faced retribution. Supporters who have attempted to visit have been beaten, detained and pelted with stones. | The campaign to keep Chen Guangcheng locked away from the world — defeated at least temporarily by his escape — has been as remarkable in its pettiness as it has been comprehensive in scope. A massive security operation has swamped the small village of Dongshigu. Scores of thugs armed with surveillance cameras, floodlights and phone-jamming technology have watched an ailing blind man, his wife, frail mother and small daughter round the clock. Relatives and neighbours who have tried to help have faced retribution. Supporters who have attempted to visit have been beaten, detained and pelted with stones. |
| But beyond the lockdown lies a grindingly intrusive exercise of power. At times, according to human rights groups, seven or eight men have been stationed inside the family compound. Steel shutters bar the windows of the home. Chen's elderly mother has been harassed when working in the fields. Guards escort his six-year-old daughter to school and have confiscated her toys. | But beyond the lockdown lies a grindingly intrusive exercise of power. At times, according to human rights groups, seven or eight men have been stationed inside the family compound. Steel shutters bar the windows of the home. Chen's elderly mother has been harassed when working in the fields. Guards escort his six-year-old daughter to school and have confiscated her toys. |
| "It has been collective punishment for a non-existent crime," said Nicholas Bequelin, senior Asia researcher for Human Rights Watch. "What's very distinctive is the vindictiveness of authorities and the readiness with which they have decided to punish the entire family. That is exceptional." | "It has been collective punishment for a non-existent crime," said Nicholas Bequelin, senior Asia researcher for Human Rights Watch. "What's very distinctive is the vindictiveness of authorities and the readiness with which they have decided to punish the entire family. That is exceptional." |
| Friends and supporters describe Chen, 40, as a determined but not confrontational figure. He grew up in Dongshigu, in eastern Shandong province, losing his sight at an early age. Despite his disability he trained as a Chinese medicine specialist, taught himself law and began attempting to translate the rights that existed on paper into reality. | Friends and supporters describe Chen, 40, as a determined but not confrontational figure. He grew up in Dongshigu, in eastern Shandong province, losing his sight at an early age. Despite his disability he trained as a Chinese medicine specialist, taught himself law and began attempting to translate the rights that existed on paper into reality. |
| At first, said another lawyer, he sought to improve the lot of visually impaired people but soon took on the cases of disabled people and farmers. "Chen is one of my dearest friends … He is an idealistic but realistic, charismatic yet low-key figure who sought to use legal channels to reveal and stop local abuses," said Jerome Cohen, the co-director of New York University's US-Asia Law Institute, who has known the activist for a decade. | At first, said another lawyer, he sought to improve the lot of visually impaired people but soon took on the cases of disabled people and farmers. "Chen is one of my dearest friends … He is an idealistic but realistic, charismatic yet low-key figure who sought to use legal channels to reveal and stop local abuses," said Jerome Cohen, the co-director of New York University's US-Asia Law Institute, who has known the activist for a decade. |
| "His county had only four lawyers and none would help the impoverished victims of various kinds of discrimination. I met him and his admirable, able wife, in 2002 and we began to cooperate in China … We had plans to train some 200 'barefoot lawyers' for his county alone." | "His county had only four lawyers and none would help the impoverished victims of various kinds of discrimination. I met him and his admirable, able wife, in 2002 and we began to cooperate in China … We had plans to train some 200 'barefoot lawyers' for his county alone." |
| But Cohen's hopes that Chen would become the first blind person to study law in China were dashed by his detention. | But Cohen's hopes that Chen would become the first blind person to study law in China were dashed by his detention. |
| Seven years ago the activist and his wife, Yuan Weijing, began investigating a mass campaign of forced abortions and sterilisations in Linyi city, Shandong, angering local authorities. The abuses were illegal, but the couple's work triggered the intimidation and harassment that continues to this day. | Seven years ago the activist and his wife, Yuan Weijing, began investigating a mass campaign of forced abortions and sterilisations in Linyi city, Shandong, angering local authorities. The abuses were illegal, but the couple's work triggered the intimidation and harassment that continues to this day. |
| Wang Songlian of the Chinese Human Rights Defenders Network said the clear injustice of the case had won Chen widespread support. "It is good versus evil: a grassroots disabled man being treated really badly for seeking justice on behalf of others. It is one man against the state machinery and that symbolism is very important," she said. | Wang Songlian of the Chinese Human Rights Defenders Network said the clear injustice of the case had won Chen widespread support. "It is good versus evil: a grassroots disabled man being treated really badly for seeking justice on behalf of others. It is one man against the state machinery and that symbolism is very important," she said. |
| "On the one hand he seems very weak, like an egg against a machine. On the other hand, the moral force behind him is very powerful." | "On the one hand he seems very weak, like an egg against a machine. On the other hand, the moral force behind him is very powerful." |
| The family was placed under house arrest for a year before Chen was convicted for "intentionally damaging property" and "gathering crowds to undermine traffic order". Li Fangping, who was hired as Chen's lawyer but denied access to him, said: "The torment just made him believe he should not surrender and should fight. "He is a person who never wants to give up. He didn't feel he was guilty." | The family was placed under house arrest for a year before Chen was convicted for "intentionally damaging property" and "gathering crowds to undermine traffic order". Li Fangping, who was hired as Chen's lawyer but denied access to him, said: "The torment just made him believe he should not surrender and should fight. "He is a person who never wants to give up. He didn't feel he was guilty." |
| Chen's health deteriorated rapidly during the four years and three months he spent in jail, with no proper treatment for the chronic gastroenteritis he developed there. His family's situation was little better. Guards frequently barred Yuan from leaving home — even to see her husband, or their son, who was being raised by relatives. Friends and supporters who tried to visit or deliver food were barred. | Chen's health deteriorated rapidly during the four years and three months he spent in jail, with no proper treatment for the chronic gastroenteritis he developed there. His family's situation was little better. Guards frequently barred Yuan from leaving home — even to see her husband, or their son, who was being raised by relatives. Friends and supporters who tried to visit or deliver food were barred. |
| "The worst part is that [the guards] try to eavesdrop on us sometimes at night. The window in my room has been polished to a sheen because they constantly lean on it," Yuan told one friend. | "The worst part is that [the guards] try to eavesdrop on us sometimes at night. The window in my room has been polished to a sheen because they constantly lean on it," Yuan told one friend. |
| "She has had a very abnormal life; she has never had freedom since 2005," said Li, the lawyer, who added that Yuan completely supported her husband. | "She has had a very abnormal life; she has never had freedom since 2005," said Li, the lawyer, who added that Yuan completely supported her husband. |
| Yuan asked friends to take a low-key approach to Chen's release from prison, hoping it might persuade the authorities to relax their grip. Instead, the coercion intensified, with the family confined to their home around the clock. Chen was no longer allowed to make phone calls or to meet neighbours, as he had been before he was jailed. The number of guards was multiplied four- or five-fold. | Yuan asked friends to take a low-key approach to Chen's release from prison, hoping it might persuade the authorities to relax their grip. Instead, the coercion intensified, with the family confined to their home around the clock. Chen was no longer allowed to make phone calls or to meet neighbours, as he had been before he was jailed. The number of guards was multiplied four- or five-fold. |
| "I was in a small prison and now I am in a larger prison," Chen said in a video, which friends passed to the outside world. That recording prompted 70 to 80 men to burst into the compound and beat the couple, leaving Chen unconscious and his wife badly injured, according to a letter from Yuan that was smuggled out months later. Possessions were confiscated and metal shutters placed over their windows. It was only after an international outcry that the couple's young daughter was allowed to go to school. | "I was in a small prison and now I am in a larger prison," Chen said in a video, which friends passed to the outside world. That recording prompted 70 to 80 men to burst into the compound and beat the couple, leaving Chen unconscious and his wife badly injured, according to a letter from Yuan that was smuggled out months later. Possessions were confiscated and metal shutters placed over their windows. It was only after an international outcry that the couple's young daughter was allowed to go to school. |
| Since then, the guards have reportedly walked her to and from the classroom and watched her through the day. | Since then, the guards have reportedly walked her to and from the classroom and watched her through the day. |
| Local authorities say they know nothing of such issues. The central government has suggested Chen is unhindered. Bequelin suggested central authorities had probably ordered local officials to keep Chen at his home because there had been so much attention on his case and they saw it as a less coercive measure than prison. | Local authorities say they know nothing of such issues. The central government has suggested Chen is unhindered. Bequelin suggested central authorities had probably ordered local officials to keep Chen at his home because there had been so much attention on his case and they saw it as a less coercive measure than prison. |
| "Over time, his treatment has actually become a more inhumane way of restricting his freedom. [Local] authorities have acted in a brutal and incoherent way — but Beijing decided they didn't want to back down to foreign pressure," he said. "Even though it's embarrassing, no politician will revisit the decision, which encourages me to think it was taken at a very high level." But Bequelin added: "All the problems this case points to — the abuse of power, the illegal way security people operate, corruption — are endemic in China. People often stand firm even if they know they are wrong to prevent opening the floodgates." | "Over time, his treatment has actually become a more inhumane way of restricting his freedom. [Local] authorities have acted in a brutal and incoherent way — but Beijing decided they didn't want to back down to foreign pressure," he said. "Even though it's embarrassing, no politician will revisit the decision, which encourages me to think it was taken at a very high level." But Bequelin added: "All the problems this case points to — the abuse of power, the illegal way security people operate, corruption — are endemic in China. People often stand firm even if they know they are wrong to prevent opening the floodgates." |
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