Did the Obama administration abandon Chen Guangcheng?

Hotair ^ | 05/02/2012 | Ed Morrissey

[SeekAndFind]

The story of Chinese democracy activist Chen Guangcheng took a bizarre turn this morning. The dissident escaped house arrest and ended up at the US embassy in Beijing, with an injury to his foot in the escape. The US then announced that they had negotiated safe passage to a hospital with the Chinese government, where Chen could be reunited with his family. However, the AP reported a few minutes ago that the US told him that if he didn't leave, the Beijing government would beat his wife to death ... and now he fears for his life:

Blind legal activist Chen Guangcheng says a U.S. official told him that Chinese authorities threatened to beat his wife to death had be not left the American Embassy.

Speaking by phone from his hospital room in Beijing on Wednesday night, a shaken Chen told The Associated Press that U.S. officials relayed the threat from the Chinese side.

Chen, who fled to the embassy six day ago, left under an agreement in which he would receive medical care, be reunited with his family and allowed to attend university in a safe place. He says he now fears for his safety and wants to leave.

Here was the story earlier today, from LifeNews and an earlier report from the AP:

In a new deal between the United States and China, Chen has left to a local hospital and is reportedly under American protection, as U.S officials have guaranteed his safety. U.S. Ambassador Gary Locke escorted Chen, according to an AP report, to the Chaoyang Hospital and, on the way there, Chen called his lawyer, Li Jinsong, who said Chen told him: “‘I’m free. I’ve received clear assurances.’” …

As part of the agreement that ended the fraught, behind-the-scenes standoff, U.S. officials said China agreed to let Mr. Chen receive a medical checkup and be reunited with his family at the hospital; his wife and two children joined him there Wednesday afternoon. He would then be relocated to a safe place in China where he could study at university — all demands activists said Mr. Chen had raised.

Clinton, in a statement, said Mr. Chen’s exit from the embassy “reflected his choices and our values” and said the U.S. would monitor the assurances Beijing gave. “Making these commitments a reality is the next crucial task,” she said.

It doesn’t sound as though Chen feels particularly “free” at the moment. Did the Obama administration sell out Chen to the Beijing government? If so, that sends a chilling message to democracy activists and dissidents around the world about American commitment to freedom, and Obama’s own insistence that he would be on the side of freedom-loving activists.

[SeekAndFind]

For those who want to know about Chen Guangcheng's background...



Chen Guangcheng (born 12 November 1971) is a Chinese civil rights activist who works on human rights issues in rural areas of the People's Republic of China. Blind from an early age and self-taught in the law, Chen is frequently described as a "barefoot lawyer" who advocates for women's rights and the poor. He is best known for exposing alleged abuses in official family planning policy, often involving claims of violence and forced abortions.

In 2005, he became internationally known for organizing a class-action lawsuit against the city of Linyi in Shandong for excessive enforcement of the one-child policy. As a result of this lawsuit, Chen was placed under house arrest from September 2005 to March 2006, with a formal arrest in June 2006.

During his trial, Chen's attorneys were forbidden access to the court, leaving him without a proper defender. On 24 August 2006, Chen was sentenced to four years and three months for "damaging property and organising a mob to disturb traffic".

Chen was released from prison on 8 September 2010 after serving his full sentence, but remained under house arrest or "soft detention" at his home in Dongshigu Village.

Chen and his wife were reportedly beaten shortly after a human rights group released a video of their home under intense police surveillance on 9 February 2011.

Chen's case received sustained international attention, with the U.S. State Department, the British Foreign Secretary, Human Rights Watch, and Amnesty International issuing appeals for his release; the latter group designated him a prisoner of conscience.

Chen is a 2007 laureate of the Ramon Magsaysay Award and in 2006 was named to the Time 100.

On 22 April 2012, Chen escaped his house arrest and fled to the U.S. Embassy in Beijing After negotiations with the Chinese government he left the embassy for medical treatment on May 2, 2012.

[SeekAndFind]

RE: We caved to a stronger and dominant government

WHAT? stronger and dominant? When did that happen?

[kabar]

The Chinese are our bankers. We owe them over $1 trillion. They call the tune and we dance to it. There is no way we would allow Chen to stay in the Embassy given that relationship.

[JimSEA]

The Chinese have passed us, at least in the minds of the current administration. We don’t want to make our banker mad. What else do you call this. What am I talking about? Chen is just a chink, why should we care what happens to him?

[Digger]

A question comes to my mind ... WHAT WOULD REAGAN DO?

Since that man left office this nation has deteriorated in geometric proportions. Washington is a cesspool & this cancer is spreading throughout the country. Each hour another freedom lost, another capitulation to the dark side, Christianity frowned on, Islam rewarded with Sharia law in parts. No jobs, more debt, with elites stealing by fiat currency & entrenched by public school indoctrination & media. Instead of a shining city on the hill we got the present with no effort to change it.

[windcliff]

LOL

[TexasRepublic]

This is what communism always progresses to, terror and even brutal killing of dissidents and their families. It will happen here if we don’t overthrow communism at any cost.

[Paleo Conservative]

[KingofZion]

shame on obama and clinton for abandoning this man who sought shelter in what is known throughout china as “the only safe place in beijing.” to turn out a blind man who went through hell to reach the embassy... back to the chicom thugs. so much for the beacon of light.

[piasa]

Hillary state dept Bump...all this time a US official named Candace Claiborne in Beijing was busy accepting gifts from her Chinese handlers...

Speaking by phone from his hospital room in Beijing on Wednesday night, a shaken Chen told The Associated Press that U.S. officials relayed the threat from the Chinese side.

[piasa]

Bump...all this time a US official named Candace Claiborne in Beijing was busy accepting gifts from her Chinese handlers...

Speaking by phone from his hospital room in Beijing on Wednesday night, a shaken Chen told The Associated Press that U.S. officials relayed the threat from the Chinese side.