Chen Guangcheng: the world must help Beijing’s transition to democracy
August 2, 2012: China "has not kept its promises to me and other dissidents" and
"continues to persecute those who seek justice." The "United States and all other
nations that embrace the fundamental values of constitutionalism, democracy, freedom
and the rule of law must support and assist with a smooth transition in China". This
was the message that the blind Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng brought to the U.S.
Congress yesterday during a visit.
While the values of tolerance
and universal brotherhood are celebrated in London - with China playing a major role
in all competitions - the communist regime continues to intimidate and violate the
rights of dissidents and human rights activists. Chen's denunciation is coupled to
the case of the dissidents Zeng Jiuzi and Song Ningsheng, sentenced to 14 months'
hard labor for having participated in the July 1 march in Hong Kong for democracy
in China.
Chen, accompanied by a bevy of American lawyers, denounced
this situation in Congress. The dissident, whose case in recent months sparked no
small amount of diplomatic tension between Washington and Beijing, was welcomed by
the Speaker of the House John Boehner and the House Minority leader, Nancy Pelosi.
The United States, Boehner said during a press conference, "must demand China
respect human rights." For his part, the dissident blind stressed that "before leaving,
I had obtained assurances from the Chinese government. They said they would investigate
the various threats and violations that I and my family have suffered in Shandong.
But they have done nothing".
His concern is for his nephew, Chen Kegui,
accused of "murder" immediately after his escape from his uncle's house and still
being held by local authorities. Democratic senator John Kerry said the young man
"must be treated fairly and humanely, and granted access to whatever defence counsel
he chooses". Chen arrived in New York in May last year after escaping from house arrest
and claiming asylum in the U.S. Embassy in Beijing. Change in China, he said, "is
inevitable as more and more people find the courage to demand their rights." However,
the news continues to report cases of egregious violations of all kinds by the communist
authorities.
The son of Jiuzi Zeng, Liu Zhonghua, was threatened with
death by Chinese police after he gave an interview to the international press in which
he tells the epic story of his mother. After having marched in the Territory in favor
of democracy in China, not only was she sentenced to hard labor, but was suddenly
transferred to another camp thousands of miles from the previous one. All this, without
any warning to the family.