Beijing, China -
Chinese blind dissident Chen Guangcheng has called congress for a second time, saying his family is being harassed over the high profile incident when he escaped house arrest and made it to the US Embassy in Beijing.
Beijing, China -
The blind Chinese dissident who escaped house arrest and made it to the US Embassy says he wants to stay in China and does not want political asylum in the United States.
That announcement came after the US brokered a deal with Chinese authorities for his continued safety and protection. Chen said all he wanted was to be able to live a normal life. He was reunited with his family at a local hospital where he received treatment for minor injuries sustained during his harrowing escape.
China's security services have begun a wide-spread crackdown on activists and dissidents in an attempt to find out who helped Chen Guangcheng escape his house arrest and get to the US Embassy and has also been blocking news of the blind dissident's escape.
Chen, who is blind, faked an illness for a prolonged period to get his guards to ease their watch over him and then successfully escaped his house and was taken by a network of activist and dissidents across China to the US Embassy, deemed the only safe place in China for such activists.
CRACKDOWN
Well known Chinese Dissident Chen Guangcheng has escaped his house arrest in the Shandong province and is at the US Embassy in Beijing according to fellow dissidents who helped him escape. Mr. Guangcheng is blind and was released on house arresting from his four year prison sentence for protesting government human rights abuses.
Chen has made three demands:
1- Premier Wen investigate and prosecute local officials Mr Chen says beat up his family members
2- The safety of his family be ensured
3- Corruption in general in China be dealt with and punished according to the law