Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng on Tuesday accused the Chinese authorities of abusing his family member, in a telephone call to the U.S. Congress in Washington from his hospital bed in Beijing.
The blind activist, who escaped from house arrest late April then followed by a one-week stay at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, telephoned for the second time to the U.S. Congress from the hospital in Beijing.
Unlike the first hearing, Mr. Chen has not shown concern about his own situation, but he accused local authorities of seeking revenge by suing his nephew Chen Kegui.
“These accusations against my nephew are falsified. These officials in Yinan County do not care at all about the law in China,” Chen said on the phone, while one of his most famous supporters, Bob Fu, translated his statements to the committee of foreign affairs.
The 40 years activist was in prison for four years, then spent two years under house arrest in his village in Shandong because of his fight against abortions and involuntary sterilization in China. He is still in hospital in Beijing to treat wounds. And he still has not received the passport that would allow him to leave the country.
“I’m not a hero, I just do what my conscience requires me to.” Chen said.
At the hearing in Congress, elected officials and U.S. activists have called for more pressure on China so that it allows Chen Guangcheng to leave for the United States.