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China Accused of Denying Care to Relative of Dissident China Accused of Denying Care to Dissident’s Imprisoned Nephew
(about 9 hours later)
BEIJING — Human rights advocates have accused the authorities in eastern China of denying urgent medical care to the nephew of the blind dissident Chen Guangcheng, a move they say is aimed at punishing the uncle for his continued anti-government activism abroad after his daring escape to the U.S. Embassy in Beijing. BEIJING — Human rights advocates have accused the authorities in eastern China of denying urgent medical care to the jailed nephew of the blind dissident Chen Guangcheng, a move they say is aimed at punishing Mr. Chen for his continued antigovernment activism abroad after his daring escape to the United States Embassy in Beijing last year.
Family members say the nephew, Chen Kegui, 34, has acute appendicitis, but that prison officials are refusing to send him to a hospital for treatment. “We’re very worried for his survival,” his father, Chen Guanfu, said on Thursday, speaking from the prison in China’s Shandong Province where his son is being held. Family members say the nephew, Chen Kegui, 34, has acute appendicitis, but prison officials are refusing to send him to a hospital for treatment. “We’re very worried for his survival,” his father, Chen Guanfu, said on Thursday, speaking from the prison in Shandong Province where his son is being held.
Mr. Chen was sentenced last November to 39 months in jail for “intentional injury” after he was convicted of attacking a government official who had broken into his family’s home in the frantic search for his uncle, who had escaped house arrest from a nearby farmhouse. Chen Kegui was sentenced in November to 39 months in jail for “intentional injury” after he was convicted of attacking a government official who had broken into his family’s home in April 2012 in a frantic search for his uncle, who had escaped house arrest from a nearby farmhouse.
Unknown to local officials, Chen Guangcheng had by then fled to Beijing, and later to the U.S. Embassy, prompting a diplomatic imbroglio that complicated an official visit by then-Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. Unknown to local officials, Chen Guangcheng had by then fled to Beijing, and later to the United States Embassy, prompting a diplomatic imbroglio that complicated an official visit by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Mr. Chen, a self-taught lawyer who was once hailed by the state media for his advocacy work, earned the government’s enmity after he took on the case of thousands of local women who had been subjected to forced abortions and sterilizations.Mr. Chen, a self-taught lawyer who was once hailed by the state media for his advocacy work, earned the government’s enmity after he took on the case of thousands of local women who had been subjected to forced abortions and sterilizations.
In 2006, he was sentenced to 51 months and jail on what supporters say were trumped-up charges; upon his release, he and his family were confined to their home, watched day and night by surveillance cameras and a cordon of men. His improbable escape – by scaling a wall one night and crawling through fields to freedom – electrified the world and deeply embarrassed the Chinese government. In 2006, he was sentenced to 51 months in jail on what supporters say were trumped-up charges; upon his release, he and his family were confined to their home, watched day and night by surveillance cameras and a cordon of men. His improbable escape — by scaling a wall one night and crawling through fields to freedom — electrified the world and deeply embarrassed the Chinese government.
After several days of tense negotiations last May, Chinese officials allowed Mr. Chen and his family to leave the embassy for New York. They also promised to investigate Mr. Chen’s illegal detention and the claims that his relatives had also been subjected to harassment, according to officials involved in the negotiations.After several days of tense negotiations last May, Chinese officials allowed Mr. Chen and his family to leave the embassy for New York. They also promised to investigate Mr. Chen’s illegal detention and the claims that his relatives had also been subjected to harassment, according to officials involved in the negotiations.
Mr. Chen, now studying at New York University Law School, has continued to press for an investigation into his mistreatment and to speak out publicly about the lack of rule of law in China. The government’s response, he has said, has been an escalating campaign of intimidation against those he left behind in Dongshigu village.Mr. Chen, now studying at New York University Law School, has continued to press for an investigation into his mistreatment and to speak out publicly about the lack of rule of law in China. The government’s response, he has said, has been an escalating campaign of intimidation against those he left behind in Dongshigu village.
His nephew was convicted during a brief trial that legal experts say was rife with irregularities. While in prison, family members say he has been ill-fed and subjected to frequent abuse. His nephew was convicted during a brief trial that legal experts say was rife with irregularities. While in prison, family members say, he has been ill-fed and subjected to frequent abuse.
His father says Mr. Chen Kegui was diagnosed with appendicitis on April 24, but that prison doctors had insisted on treating him with antibiotics. His condition, he said, has worsened in recent days but senior prison officials have refused to send him to a hospital. “I’m here at the prison but the warden won’t meet with me,” Mr. Chen said by phone Thursday morning. His father says Chen Kegui was given a diagnosis of appendicitis on April 24, but prison doctors insisted on treating him with antibiotics. The inmate’s condition has worsened in recent days, his father said, but senior prison officials have refused to send him to a hospital. “I’m here at the prison but the warden won’t meet with me,” Chen Guanfu said by phone Thursday morning.
Reached by phone, a senior official at the prison in Linyi city declined to comment, saying he was not authorized to speak to foreign journalists.Reached by phone, a senior official at the prison in Linyi city declined to comment, saying he was not authorized to speak to foreign journalists.
The case has prompted an outcry from rights advocates; on Monday, an American organization, Freedom Now, submitted an appeal on his behalf to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture. The case has prompted an outcry from rights advocates; on Monday, an American organization, Freedom Now, submitted an appeal on his behalf to the United Nations special rapporteur on torture.
“Chen Kegui’s life and health are now in the hands of the same authorities who have authorized or tolerated other abuses against him in prison and his family in their village,” Sophie Richardson, the China director at Human Rights Watch, said in a statement. “To deny him appropriate treatment reflects at best incompetence and at worst a twisted effort to torment the Chen family.”“Chen Kegui’s life and health are now in the hands of the same authorities who have authorized or tolerated other abuses against him in prison and his family in their village,” Sophie Richardson, the China director at Human Rights Watch, said in a statement. “To deny him appropriate treatment reflects at best incompetence and at worst a twisted effort to torment the Chen family.”
In recent weeks, the Chen family has reported increasing harassment that appears to be timed to the anniversary of Chen Guangcheng’s audacious escape from house arrest. In recent weeks, the Chen family has reported increasing harassment, which appears to be timed to the anniversary of Chen Guangcheng’s escape from house arrest.
Chen Guanfu says the thugs hired to keep watch over him and his extended family have been tossing bricks, beer bottles and dead chickens into their courtyard at night and placing funereal paper money at their doorstep, a gesture of intimidation. During one such attack earlier this week, Mr. Chen says he tried calling the police but that his cell phone had been remotely disabled. Chen Guanfu says the thugs hired to keep watch over him and his extended family have been tossing bricks, beer bottles and dead chickens into their courtyard at night and placing funereal paper money at their doorstep to intimidate them. During one such attack earlier this week, Mr. Chen says, he tried calling the police but found that his cellphone had been remotely disabled.

Shi Da contributed research.

Shi Da contributed research.