China Cheng Guangcheng still under house arrest
Chen Guangcheng is a blind self-made lawyer and a human rights activist. In 2005 he helped villagers to start legal proceedings against the local authorities of Linyi City who, as part of the one-child policy, had forced thousands of women to have abortions and sterilisations, in violation of national Chinese law. After this case, Guangcheng was arrested and sentenced to four years in jail. After serving this term, Guangcheng was released as early September 2010. Since his release Guangcheng and his family have been kept under house arrest and his house is being watched.
In February 2011 Guangcheng had published a video to share his and his family’s living conditions with the world. This video can be watched on the L4L YouTube channel. In response to the publication of this video, he and his wife were severely beaten.
Guangcheng and his family have not been allowed to leave home since his release, even to buy food. Mr Chen Guangcheng is kept a prisoner in his own home and suffers from intimidation and interference. L4L is now organizing a letter writing campaign to keep the attention on Guangcheng and keep the pressure on the Chinese authorities high to discontinue the house arrest of Guangcheng and his family.
Other organizations also have given renewed attention to the continued house arrest of Guangcheng. Front Line Defenders made a video on the situation of Guangcheng. Click here to view this video.