A video of activist Chen Guangcheng has been released by US-based rights group China Aid and provides a rare interview with Chen, who has been under house arrest since his release from prison five months ago. From AFP:
The hour-long video, obtained Wednesday by the US-based rights group China Aid from a person it said was a “reliable government source who is sympathetic to Chen?s cause”, contains Chen’s first public comments since his release.
“The conservative forces of the Communist Party have reached their worst point in openly ignoring the constitution and laws to crack down on villagers and activities aimed at defending rights,” Chen said.
“They are using hooligan methods to provoke and make trouble (for us) — they say we will beat you and beat you and the judicial departments will ignore it,” added Chen, who was wearing dark glasses and a black jacket in the video.
Chen said three teams, each comprising 22 people, monitor his home 24 hours a day, following orders from the Communist Party and the secretive state security ministry. His mobile phone service has been cut off.
“I have come out of a small jail and gone into a bigger jail,” he said.
China Human Rights Defenders has reported that Chen and his wife were “beaten senseless” following the release of the video. From the Telegraph:
However, reports suggested Mr Chen had paid a high price for smuggling out the video. China Human Rights Defenders, another NGO, said an “inside source” had confirmed to them that Mr Chen and his wife had been beaten senseless in punishment.
“They cannot move from bed, and they have not been allowed to go to hospital,” said a statement.
Read more about Chen Guangcheng via CDT.
