Chen Guangcheng case a wind gauge for the persecuted Church

China (MNN) ― The Chinese government is reportedly attacking the family of a blind human rights activist.

Chen Guangcheng is known for speaking out against forced abortions and China's one-child policy. His escape from house arrest last year brought shame to the Chinese government. Since then, they've been instigating violence against his family.

According to a report from China Aid Association, the home of Guangcheng's eldest brother has come under multiple attacks. Early last week, government-hired thugs drove up to the home and started throwing beer bottles and bricks at it.

Chen Kegui, one of Guangcheng's nephews, is currently in jail suffering from appendicitis, and authorities haven't offered him surgery. Reportedly, U.S. Secretary of Defense John Kerry plans to raise the case with senior Chinese officials.

China Aid is also helping Guangcheng get justice. They've helped the activist since his escape from China, with ChinaAid founder and president Bob Fu acting as an informal liaison between Guangcheng and the U.S. government.

Now, ChinaAid is calling people to act as a proxy for Guangcheng's family. Check out our Featured Links section to see how you can help.

Although Chen Guangcheng is not a Christ-follower, underground church leaders told the Wall Street Journal his case has become an anemometer. They're watching the development of Guangcheng's case to see how far China's Communist government will go to punish those it views as a threat.

Pray that no matter what happens, the Gospel will keep going forward in China. Pray the faith of Chinese believers remains strong.

Chen Guangcheng's Family is Told to Pack Up for the USA Today - Christian Newswire

Chen Guangcheng's Family is Told to Pack Up for the USA Today - Christian Newswire: "BEIJING, May 19, 2012 /Christian Newswire/ -- ChinaAid just learned that the blind activist Chen Guangcheng's family is heading to Beijing airport now and they were informed to pack up and get ready to leave China for the USA today.

Bob Fu made a phone call with Chen a moment ago. Chen said the Chinese official informed them to pack up and leave for the USA today though they have not received passports yet. Nor is their itinerary known. Chen also said he is looking forward to coming to the USA."

Read more...

Chen Guangcheng's Report Released: Forced Abortion and Sterilization

LINYI, China, Nov. 12, 2011 /Christian Newswire/ -- Women's Rights Without Frontiers has obtained a report from Chen Guangcheng's 2005 investigation into coercive family planning in Linyi County, Shandong Province. This report was drafted by human rights attorney, Teng Biao. Read the report here.

 

Since Chen's investigation exposed the fact that there were 130,000 forced abortions and sterilizations in Linyi in 2005, he was jailed for four years and three months. He remains under house arrest, where he has been tortured and denied medical treatment. His health is in jeopardy. Thousands will celebrate Chen's 40th birthday today, November 12.

 

Women's Rights Without Frontiers President, Reggie Littlejohn, stated, "It is an honor to release this report on the 40th birthday of Chen Guangcheng. For the first time, the world can read actual witness statements from cases that landed Chen in jail. The Chinese Communist Party has attempted to silence Chen, but they cannot silence the voices of millions in China crying for freedom."

 

In this report are accounts of a woman forcibly aborted and sterilized at seven months; villagers sleeping in fields to evade Family Planning Officials; Officials who broke three brooms over the head of an elderly man and forced a grandmother and her brother to beat each other. There is a detailed discussion of the practice of "implication" – the detention, fining and torture of the extended family of One Child Policy "violators."

 

"Chen is suffering for doing what we are doing: exposing the truth behind forced abortion and sterilization in China," Littlejohn said. "A report went out that Chen may have paid for this with his life, so we are even more determined to carry on this work in his name. We demand the immediate release and medical attention for Chen and his family."

 

Things may not have improved in Linyi since 2005. Earlier this year,Family Planning Officials stabbed a man to death.  In addition, a woman who was six months pregnant recently died during a forced abortion in Lijing County, also in Shandong Province.

 

"The spirit of the Cultural Revolution lives on in China's Family Planning death machine. We have chosen to release the names of the perpetrators of these crimes against humanity, so that they can be held accountable before the world," said Littlejohn.

 

Littlejohn urges those who support Chen to join the Chen Sunglasses Freedom Campaign.  "People everywhere are taking a picture of themselves wearing sunglasses in honor of Chen, and sending it to be posted on the WRWF website and Free Chen websites inside China, showing that they care about Chen and want him to be free."

 

Watch a 3 minute video about Chen and sign a petition to free him.

Personal Prison Prepared for Chinese Forced Abortion Opponent Chen

By Jeremy Reynalds
Senior Correspondent for ASSIST News Service


FAIRFAX VA. (ANS) -- Blind forced abortion opponent Chen Guangcheng and his wife, Yuan Weijing, will be transferred to a small prison built specifically for them, according to a Radio Free Asia report.

According to a news release from The Jubilee Campaign, activist He Peirong said the couple will be forcibly removed from their home and transferred to a building, “which basically amounts to a jail,” so that authorities can “keep tighter controls on them.”

They will be separated from their five-year-old daughter in the move. Their young son, living with relatives, was reportedly strip-searched leaving the family home.

The Jubilee Campaign said Reggie Littlejohn, President of Women's Rights Without Frontiers, condemned the action.

Speaking in the news release Littlejohn said, “The Chinese Communist Party has already beaten and tortured Chen and his wife, denied them medical treatment, stolen their television, phone, computer and books, and appears to be slowly starving them to death. The couple is constantly surrounded by 66 guards and multiple surveillance cameras tracking their every move inside and outside their home.”

Littlejohn added, “Why is the CCP so threatened by a blind, sick, penniless man that they have to build a personal prison for him? They seek to make an example of Chen, to demonstrate how they will punish anyone who challenges their forced abortion policies. But they are really making an example of their own, shameful brutality.”

Bob Fu, President of China Aid, said in the news release, “The treatment of Chen Guangcheng and the torture and disappearance of human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng, are unconscionable. These are not the acts of a government that respects the rule of law. Since the beginning of this year, the CCP has launched an offensive against human rights lawyers and activists, religious leaders, house church Christians and even dissident artists. We urge the release of those unjustly imprisoned, tortured and disappeared.”

The Jubilee Campaign said Chen was arrested in 2006 for exposing evidence that 130,000 forced abortions and involuntary sterilizations were performed on women in Linyi County, Shandong Province in a single year. Time Magazine named him one of “2006's Top 100 People Who Shape Our World.”

Chen spent four years in prison. Since his release, he continues under house arrest. He and his wife have been beaten repeatedly and denied medical treatment.

Women's Rights Without Frontiers and China Aid are spearheading a campaign to free Chen Guangcheng. The Jubilee Campaign and World Youth Alliance are partners in the effort.
Jubilee Campaign USA promotes the human rights and religious liberty of ethnic and religious minorities in countries which imprison, terrorize or otherwise oppress them.
For more information go to www.jubileecampaign.org

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Jeremy Reynalds is Senior Correspondent for the ASSIST News Service, a freelance writer and also the founder and CEO of Joy Junction, New Mexico's largest emergency homeless shelter, http://www.joyjunction.org He has a master's degree in communication from the University of New Mexico, and a Ph.D. in intercultural education from Biola University in Los Angeles. His newest book is "Homeless in the City." Additional details on "Homeless in the City" are available athttp://www.homelessinthecity.com. Reynalds lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico. For more information contact: Jeremy Reynalds at jeremyreynalds@comcast.net.

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