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Chen Guangcheng's dilemma over whether to stay or leave China Chen Guangcheng's dilemma over whether to stay or leave China
(about 2 hours later)
To stay in China and live with harassment or to move to the United States and risk obscurity? For decades, this has been the dilemma for Chinese rights activists, but it has probably never been so dramatically illustrated as in the case of Chen Guangcheng this week. To stay in China and live with harassment or to move to the US and risk obscurity? For decades, this has been the dilemma for Chinese rights activists, but it has probably never been so dramatically illustrated as in the case of Chen Guangcheng this week.
After an audacious escape from house arrest in his Shandong village, the blind activist has very publicly revealed the mental twists and turns involved in pondering a decision that not only affects his family and his work, but also relations between the world's two superpowers, China's internal politics and the US presidential election. After escaping from house arrest in his Shandong village, the activist has very publicly revealed the mental twists and turns involved in pondering a decision that not only affects his family and his work, but also relations between the world's two superpowers, as well as China's internal politics and the US presidential election.
As he has been moved from activist safe-house to US embassy to Chinese hospital, Chen's intentions have flipped back and forth, apparently depending on how vulnerable, hopeful, reassured or worried he has been.As he has been moved from activist safe-house to US embassy to Chinese hospital, Chen's intentions have flipped back and forth, apparently depending on how vulnerable, hopeful, reassured or worried he has been.
Unsurprisingly for someone who has been through so much trauma, the emotional swings have been spectacular. On Wednesday morning, while Chen was with the US ambassador he told his lawyer he was happy.Unsurprisingly for someone who has been through so much trauma, the emotional swings have been spectacular. On Wednesday morning, while Chen was with the US ambassador he told his lawyer he was happy.
Several hours later – after he was left with Chinese officials and doctors – he told reporters he was worried about his safety and now wanted to go to the US with his family. Most recently, he has said he would like to temporarily study in the US.Several hours later – after he was left with Chinese officials and doctors – he told reporters he was worried about his safety and now wanted to go to the US with his family. Most recently, he has said he would like to temporarily study in the US.
It provoked consternation among diplomats who thought they had secured a deal for him to leave the embassy but remain in China with an assurance from the central government for his well being.It provoked consternation among diplomats who thought they had secured a deal for him to leave the embassy but remain in China with an assurance from the central government for his well being.
But activists – who have sought exile overseas or considered such a move – told the Guardian they are unsurprised that Chen has found it difficult to reach a quick decision. Most relocate only when they feel their lives are in peril.But activists – who have sought exile overseas or considered such a move – told the Guardian they are unsurprised that Chen has found it difficult to reach a quick decision. Most relocate only when they feel their lives are in peril.
The writer Yu Jie, who fled overseas this January, said he only left under extreme duress that intensified when his friend Liu Xiaobo was awarded the Nobel peace prize in 2010.The writer Yu Jie, who fled overseas this January, said he only left under extreme duress that intensified when his friend Liu Xiaobo was awarded the Nobel peace prize in 2010.
"I wanted to live in China and observe the changes in the country first hand, but I had to leave because I was tortured almost to death and my family was threatened," he said. "In the US, we can live without fear.""I wanted to live in China and observe the changes in the country first hand, but I had to leave because I was tortured almost to death and my family was threatened," he said. "In the US, we can live without fear."
Another novelist Liao Yiwu fled across the border after being refused permission to leave the country 16 times. He said we would have preferred to remain in his native Sichuan.Another novelist Liao Yiwu fled across the border after being refused permission to leave the country 16 times. He said we would have preferred to remain in his native Sichuan.
"I wanted the freedom to publish my books, but the police in China said that if I did so I would go to jail," he said. "That was not something I had to think long about. Nobody needed to persuade me.""I wanted the freedom to publish my books, but the police in China said that if I did so I would go to jail," he said. "That was not something I had to think long about. Nobody needed to persuade me."
Zeng Jinyan, an activist who has frequently been harassed and placed under house arrest, said most people in her situation have to consider the possibility of leaving at one point or another when their safety is severely threatened or official pressure becomes so great that it is difficult to do their work. A move overseas would guarantee their liberty, but it tends to be a one-way ticket, which means their ability to promote change is often compromised. Zeng Jinyan, an activist who has frequently been harassed and placed under house arrest, said most people in her situation have to consider the possibility of leaving at one point or another when their safety is severely threatened or official pressure becomes so great that it is difficult to do their work. A move overseas would guarantee their liberty, but it tends to be a one-way ticket, which means their ability to promote change inside China is often compromised.
"It depends on how you deal with everything, but if you are in exile, activism is really challenged because of the distance to people and places," Zeng said in an interview earlier this week. "The only problem is if I go to exile, I can not come back mainland China."It depends on how you deal with everything, but if you are in exile, activism is really challenged because of the distance to people and places," Zeng said in an interview earlier this week. "The only problem is if I go to exile, I can not come back mainland China.
Currently I still want to stay in China so I don't go ... I can still find a way to live in China. This is the land of my roots and creation." "Currently I still want to stay in China so I don't go ... I can still find a way to live in China. This is the land of my roots and creation."
Wan Yanhai, who runs an NGO to foster awareness about HIV/Aids, left China in 2010 after receiving dozens of phone calls from police and being targeted during a crackdown on overseas donations. In the end, he says, he was exhausted by the pressure, but would like to go back, partly because he fears that campaigners based overseas risk losing their sensitivity to key issues and tend to respond more slowly to breaking news events. Wan Yanhai, who runs an NGO to foster awareness about HIV/Aids, left China in 2010 after receiving dozens of phone calls from police and being targeted during a crackdown on overseas donations. In the end, he says, he was exhausted by the pressure, but would like to go back, partly because he fears that campaigners based overseas risk losing their sensitivity to key issues and tend to respond more slowly to breaking events.
He advised Chen to stay in China and work with the authorities. "The government has given assurance. I think it would probably be good for him to stay a while and give some face to the Chinese and US governments. He could also promote dialogue on family planning and the rights of people with disabilities," said Wan. "But it must be his choice. He has committed no crime. If he wants to stay, he should be allowed to. If he wants to leave, he should be allowed to."He advised Chen to stay in China and work with the authorities. "The government has given assurance. I think it would probably be good for him to stay a while and give some face to the Chinese and US governments. He could also promote dialogue on family planning and the rights of people with disabilities," said Wan. "But it must be his choice. He has committed no crime. If he wants to stay, he should be allowed to. If he wants to leave, he should be allowed to."
Wang Xiaoshan, a blogger and publisher, is among the many prominent public intellectuals and activists who are sometimes monitored during sensitive political events, such as the 4 June anniversary of the bloody crackdown on the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests.Wang Xiaoshan, a blogger and publisher, is among the many prominent public intellectuals and activists who are sometimes monitored during sensitive political events, such as the 4 June anniversary of the bloody crackdown on the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests.
He shrugged off the inconvenience, saying that for him the situation is not yet too bad.He shrugged off the inconvenience, saying that for him the situation is not yet too bad.
"Some friends suggest I should move abroad, but my English is bad. "Some friends suggest I should move abroad, but my English is bad. What can I do overseas? All my friends are here, my family is here."
What can I do overseas? All my friends are here, my family is here."
But, having seen the difficulties faced by Chen Guangcheng during a failed attempted to visit to his home village, Wang said that it may be better for the blind activist to leave.But, having seen the difficulties faced by Chen Guangcheng during a failed attempted to visit to his home village, Wang said that it may be better for the blind activist to leave.
"Considering his situation, he should leave and not come back. He has no life here. Maybe his life will be better if he leaves the country.""Considering his situation, he should leave and not come back. He has no life here. Maybe his life will be better if he leaves the country."