As Chen Guangcheng Waits to Leave China, Supporters Beaten, Arrested
And now the waiting game is on. Before leaving Beijing on May 5, visiting U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton gave positive indications that Chinese legal activist Chen Guangcheng might be allowed by his homeland to go to the U.S to study. Ref. Source 2
Chen Guangcheng's Nephew Charged With Homicide, May Face Execution
The nephew of forced abortion opponent Chen Guangcheng has been formally arrested and charged with "intentional homicide" for his role in defending himself from guards and officials who stormed his home in the aftermath of Chen's escape from house arrest.
The crime, which carries the death sentence, is the latest in the international situation involving Chen, who is seeking the ability to go the United States to escape persecution in China after he exposed a massive campaign of forced abortions and sterilizations in his hometown of Linyi.
The formal arrest of Chen's nephew Chen Kegui took place on Wednesday, according to officials with ChinaAid, a human rights group that has been actively working with Chen and assisting him and his family and supporters. The formal arrest notification with the charge of "intentional homicide" was delivered to Chen Kegui's mother, Ren Zongju, yesterday. They were executed by the Yinan County People's Procuratorate and the Yinan Public Security Bureau. Ref. Source 8
Chen Guangcheng Could Get Passport to Visit U.S. In 15 Days
After a second Congressional hearing, during which he called to update members of Congress on the current status of his tenuous situation in China, forced abortion opponent Chen Guangcheng may finally be close to getting his ticket out of the Communist nation.
Chen has languished in a Chinese hospital since American officials reportedly agreed to a deal with Chinese leaders to allow Chen to come to the United States to study and escape the nation that imprisoned him and forced him to endure house arrest for years because he exposed and helped the victims of a massive forced abortion and sterilization campaign in his hometown of Linyi. Ref. Source 7
For specific Discussion on Chen Guangcheng a new Thread has been started here: Chen Guangcheng.
Hong Kong Cracks Down on Chinese Evading One-Child-Policy
The former British colony of Hong Kong used to be a sea of freedom nestled into Communist China, which treats its citizens to extensive human rights abuses via the one-child policy limiting couples to having one baby.
In the past, women looking to evade the policy, with its provisions for forced abortions and sterilizations, went to Hong Kong in order to give birth to a child who would have normally been born illegally - subjecting families to fines, imprisonment or worse. Ref. Source 6
China Hits Couple With Record Fine for Second Child
If you thought it was costly to have a child, consider how much one couple in China paid. For violating China's one-child policy by having a second child, the parents were fined 1.3 million yuan ($204,114).
Local family planning authorities worked with commerce, industry and township officials to investigate the couple's finances. The parents were deemed "rich in assets" and hit with the highest fine on record. Ref. Source 7
Chinese Officials Abduct Woman, Threaten Forced Abortion
Chen Guangcheng may have made it to the United States safely, after fleeing Chinese persecution against him for exposing campaigns of thousands of forced abortions and sterilizations, but the persecution continues. Ref. Source 5
China: Angry Protests Follow Brutal Seven-Month Forced Abortion
Angry protests are taking place in China following a brutal forced abortion that saw a woman forcibly aborted at seven months of pregnancy on June 3 in Shanxi Province, China.
A report from the China-based human rights organization 64Tianwang indicates the woman, Feng Jianmei, was beaten and dragged into a vehicle by a group of family planning officials while her husband, Deng Jiyuan, was out working.
The officials asked for RMB 40,000 in fines from Feng Jianmei's family and, when they did not receive the money, they forcibly aborted Feng at seven months, laying the body of her aborted baby next to her in the bed (pictured right). Feng is under medical treatment in Ankang City, Zhenpin County, Zengjia Town, Yupin village. Ref. Source 7