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May 4, 2012

China: Chen Can Apply for Overseas Study 
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The Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng made a direct appeal to U.S.
lawmakers on Thursday in his bid for entry into the United States.
Speaking through an interpreter, Chen told a congressional hearing he
fears for his safety and wants to flee China.

Chen Guangcheng: "I want to meet with Secretary Clinton. I hope I can
get more help from her. I also want to thank her face to face. I really
afraid of my other family member's lives and they have installed seven
video cameras and even with electric fence and now, he wanted —
those security officers in my house basically said we want to see what
else Chen Guancheng can do. So the thing I'm most concerned right now is
the safety also my mother, my brothers and I really want to know what's
going on with them."

Chen escaped house arrest and took refuge at the U.S. embassy last week.
He was freed under a deal with the Chinese government, but now says he
wants to come to the United States aboard the return flight of Secretary
of State Hillary Clinton, who's currently in China for talks. In a move
that could signal the end of the standoff, the Chinese government issued
a statement today saying Chen is free to apply for permission to study
abroad.

 

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