{"id":73,"date":"2023-04-26T18:52:40","date_gmt":"2023-04-26T22:52:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chenguangcheng.org\/?p=73"},"modified":"2023-07-05T21:15:28","modified_gmt":"2023-07-06T01:15:28","slug":"chinas-blind-activist-chen-guangcheng","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chenguangcheng.org\/?p=73","title":{"rendered":"China&#8217;s blind activist Chen Guangcheng"},"content":{"rendered":"<header class=\"ssrcss-1eqcsb1-HeadingWrapper e1nh2i2l5\">\n<h1 id=\"main-heading\" class=\"ssrcss-15xko80-StyledHeading e1fj1fc10\" tabindex=\"-1\">\u00a0<\/h1>\n<div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-13nu8ri-GroupChildrenForWrapping e1ojgjhb2\">\n<ul>\n<li class=\"ssrcss-30fcoe-MetadataStripItem e1ojgjhb1\" role=\"listitem\">\n<div class=\"visually-hidden ssrcss-1f39n02-VisuallyHidden e1y6uwnp0\">Published<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-m5j4pi-MetadataContent e1ojgjhb0\"><span class=\"ssrcss-1pvwv4b-MetadataSnippet ecn1o5v3\"><span class=\"ssrcss-1if1g9v-MetadataText ecn1o5v1\"><time datetime=\"2012-05-19T11:32:30.000Z\" data-testid=\"timestamp\">19 May 2012<\/time><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11faxz6-TagShareWrapper e1nh2i2l0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1ynay8h-StyledInformationPanel e15ad6a66\">\n<div>\n<div><button class=\"ssrcss-i42p3a-Button etotop31\" type=\"button\" aria-haspopup=\"true\" aria-expanded=\"false\"><span class=\"ssrcss-1a1fy59-IconWrapper etotop30\" data-testid=\"actions:share\"><span class=\"visually-hidden ssrcss-1f39n02-VisuallyHidden e1y6uwnp0\">Share<\/span><\/span><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1y79c70-ComponentWrapper ep2nwvo1\" data-component=\"image-block\">\n<figure class=\"ssrcss-wpgbih-StyledFigure e34k3c23\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-ab5fd8-StyledFigureContainer e34k3c21\"><span class=\"ssrcss-11kpz0x-Placeholder e16icw910\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/240\/mcs\/media\/images\/49035000\/jpg\/_49035954_010133638-1.jpg 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/320\/mcs\/media\/images\/49035000\/jpg\/_49035954_010133638-1.jpg 320w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/mcs\/media\/images\/49035000\/jpg\/_49035954_010133638-1.jpg 480w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/624\/mcs\/media\/images\/49035000\/jpg\/_49035954_010133638-1.jpg 624w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/800\/mcs\/media\/images\/49035000\/jpg\/_49035954_010133638-1.jpg 800w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/976\/mcs\/media\/images\/49035000\/jpg\/_49035954_010133638-1.jpg 976w\" type=\"image\/jpeg\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"ssrcss-evoj7m-Image ee0ct7c0\" src=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/304\/mcs\/media\/images\/49035000\/jpg\/_49035954_010133638-1.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/240\/mcs\/media\/images\/49035000\/jpg\/_49035954_010133638-1.jpg 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/320\/mcs\/media\/images\/49035000\/jpg\/_49035954_010133638-1.jpg 320w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/mcs\/media\/images\/49035000\/jpg\/_49035954_010133638-1.jpg 480w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/624\/mcs\/media\/images\/49035000\/jpg\/_49035954_010133638-1.jpg 624w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/800\/mcs\/media\/images\/49035000\/jpg\/_49035954_010133638-1.jpg 800w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/976\/mcs\/media\/images\/49035000\/jpg\/_49035954_010133638-1.jpg 976w\" alt=\"Chen Guangcheng (file photo 2006)\" width=\"304\" height=\"171\" \/><\/picture><\/span><\/div><figcaption class=\"ssrcss-1mget3o-StyledFigureCaption e34k3c22\"><span class=\"visually-hidden ssrcss-1f39n02-VisuallyHidden e1y6uwnp0\">Image caption,<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-y7krbn-Stack e1y4nx260\">Blind activist Chen Guangcheng exposed the harsher side of China&#8217;s family planning policies<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\"><b class=\"ssrcss-hmf8ql-BoldText e5tfeyi3\">Blind since a young age and a self-taught legal activist, Chen Guangcheng rose to prominence for helping to expose harsh realities about China&#8217;s family planning policies.<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">His activism landed him in jail between 2006 and 2010 but even after he was released, Mr Chen and his family were placed under virtual house arrest at his home in Shandong province.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">But events took a dramatic turn in late April 2012 when Mr Chen escaped from house arrest and sought refuge at the US embassy in Beijing. He stayed there for six days sparking a diplomatic crisis with the US and only left on 2 May for a hospital.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">He was offered a fellowship at a US university &#8211; as part of what many analysts believe was a deal to get Mr Chen out of the China &#8211; and on 19 May he left China for New York.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">The activist has long been a cause celebre around the world, not least for his treatment in his home village of Dongshigu at the hands of local security figures, apparently acting outside the law but with the authorities&#8217; approval, analysts believe.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">For years US congressmen and diplomats, including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, all voiced their concern.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"piano-inline1\">\u00a0<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">But it is really his prior activism which inspired Chinese dissidents and campaigners around the world.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-19w8cxh-ComponentWrapper-HeadlineComponentWrapper egtrm1f0\" data-component=\"subheadline-block\">\n<h2 id=\"Path-to-prison\" class=\"ssrcss-y2fd7s-StyledHeading e1fj1fc10\" tabindex=\"-1\"><span role=\"text\">Path to prison<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">Mr Chen first rose to prominence in June 2005 when he filed a class action lawsuit accusing officials in the city of Linyi in Shandong province of forcing women to late-term abortions, imposing compulsory sterilisation and midnight raids and beatings, according to a Human Rights Watch profile.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">His outspoken and passionate campaign earned him a label as China&#8217;s &#8220;barefoot lawyer&#8221;.\u00a0<a class=\"ssrcss-k17ofw-InlineLink e1no5rhv0\" href=\"http:\/\/www.time.com\/time\/magazine\/article\/0,9171,1376215-1,00.html\">According to those who spoke to him<\/a>\u00a0, he believed that by exposing abuses by local bureaucrats he could persuade high-level officials to put an end to them.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">But just months later, in August 2005, officials put Mr Chen and his entire family under house arrest for six months.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">A\u00a0<a class=\"ssrcss-k17ofw-InlineLink e1no5rhv0\" href=\"http:\/\/www.time.com\/time\/magazine\/article\/0,9171,1103579-1,00.html\">high profile interview with Time magazine\u00a0<\/a>about the forced abortion cases is thought to have further angered authorities.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">He was formally arrested in June 2006 for disrupting traffic and damaging property. After a brief trial, where he did not have access to his defence lawyers, he was sentenced to four years in prison.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"piano-inline2\">\u00a0<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">He denied the allegations and many believe the charges were brought simply to silence him.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">Correspondents say that in the past 18 months since his release he has repeatedly complained of local security thugs beating him and his wife.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">There have also been reports from one Chinese human rights group that he has been unwell.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">Scores of journalists and other high-profile figures have attempted to visit him in his home only to be turned away by local security officials.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">Late last year the BBC&#8217;s Michael Bristow tried to visit him in Dongshigu but was stopped by plainclothes security officers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">When the BBC visited, it was clear the men who stopped them were well drilled and organised &#8211; although it was impossible to say who had hired them, says our correspondent.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"piano-inline3\">\u00a0<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">Another activist who tried to visit Mr Chen told our correspondent that he was severely beaten in an attempt to reach the home in Dongshigu.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">Mr Chen&#8217;s life under apparent confinement in the village has been\u00a0<a class=\"ssrcss-k17ofw-InlineLink e1no5rhv0\" href=\"http:\/\/chinalawandpolicy.com\/tag\/china-one-child-policy\/\">widely reported on and documented by various groups.\u00a0<\/a>It is just such reports that have fuelled international concern on his behalf.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-19w8cxh-ComponentWrapper-HeadlineComponentWrapper egtrm1f0\" data-component=\"subheadline-block\">\n<h2 id=\"Selftaught-lawyer\" class=\"ssrcss-y2fd7s-StyledHeading e1fj1fc10\" tabindex=\"-1\"><span role=\"text\">Self-taught lawyer<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">Chen Guangcheng was born 12 November 1971 in a rural area of Shandong province. He lost his sight early in life &#8211; but there are several accounts about exactly when and how this happened.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">Reports of his early life from social media websites and blogs say that he was illiterate until 1994 when he was finally enrolled by the Qingdao High School for the Blind, where he studied for four years.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">He is also said to have told friends that he had a happy childhood untroubled by his blindness.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\"><a class=\"ssrcss-k17ofw-InlineLink e1no5rhv0\" href=\"http:\/\/seeingredinchina.com\/2011\/11\/12\/who-is-chen-guangcheng%E2%80%94-a-celebration-of-life-on-his-40th-birthday\/\">One account<\/a>\u00a0says that he began his activism early, reportedly campaigning for the enforcement of a law exempting people with disabilities from various taxes and payments.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">He is then reported to have studied at the Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine from 1998 to 2001, when he returned to his home province of Shandong.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">But he managed to enrol in law classes and he is said to have learned enough to help his fellow villagers when they sought his help.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">But these were just the precursors for his defining campaign on forced abortions, which ultimately contributed to his imprisonment and raised his international profile.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u00a0 Published 19 May 2012 Share Image caption, Blind activist Chen Guangcheng exposed the harsher side of China&#8217;s family planning policies Blind since a young age and a self-taught legal activist, Chen Guangcheng rose to prominence for helping to expose harsh realities about China&#8217;s family planning policies. His activism landed him in jail between 2006 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-73","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-4","category-report-en"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chenguangcheng.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/73","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chenguangcheng.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chenguangcheng.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chenguangcheng.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chenguangcheng.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=73"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/chenguangcheng.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/73\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":74,"href":"https:\/\/chenguangcheng.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/73\/revisions\/74"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chenguangcheng.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=73"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chenguangcheng.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=73"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chenguangcheng.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=73"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}