Activist Chen Guangcheng Gets More Support from China's Netizens

Reports are spreading online that blind rights activist Chen Guangcheng is in poor health. Chen is known for exposing forced abortions and sterilizations carried out under the Chinese regime's one-child policy. He was imprisoned for four years. Since his release in late 2010, Chen and his wife have been under house arrest. They have had little communication with the outside world.

NTD spoke to Reggie Littlejohn, whose organization campaigns against forced abortions in China.

[Reggie Littlejohn, President, Women’s Rights Without Frontiers]:
“The last direct communication we’ve gotten from his family was a video that was released by ChinaAid, followed by a letter from his wife, Yuan Weijing, where she said she was worried that Chen would not survive because he’s been tortured repeatedly, denied medical treatment.”

Many Chinese petitioners have attempted to go and see Chen, but none have succeeded.

[Mao Hengfeng, Shanghai-based Petitioner]:
“Everyone is paying attention to this, but there is no information. All the information is blocked, when people go [to see Chen] they are beaten."

Despite media coverage and a recent attempted visit by Batman star Christian Bale, no one really knows Chen and his family’s true situation.

[Reggie Littlejohn, President, Women’s Rights Without Frontiers]:
“Fact is, no one has seen Chen Guangcheng since September 9, 2010, when he was released into house arrest. We don’t know whether he is dead or alive.”

However, Chen’s cause has attracted a show of solidarity among Chinese netizens. These pictures from China were posted on the microblog service Sina Weibo. But even these “Free Chen Guangcheng” shopping bags and bumper stickers have attracted the attention of authorities.

[He Peirong, Nanjing-based Netizen]:
“Those who made bumper stickers all got questioned. We probably already have… over 30 netizens who have been questioned, they are all over the country.”

Chen’s supporters have organized several online campaigns in the past, including the “Dark Glasses Self-Portrait” campaign. Activists took photos of themselves in glasses like Chen's to show solidarity with the blind lawyer.