China’s most wanted says Beijing can’t be trusted
One of China’s most wanted has sounded a note of caution for New Delhi about Beijing after Chinese premier Li Keqiang's recent visit to the country.
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LONDON: One of China's most wanted has sounded a note of caution for New Delhi about Beijing, despite "Hindi-Chinibhaibhai" being theflavour of the season in the Indian capital after Chinese premier Li Keqiang recent visit to the country.
"The Chinese government can't be trusted," Chen Guangcheng, a blind activist who last year became the first person to escape house arrest in Beijing, told TOI in a rare interview. "Chinese people aren't like that, but the government's word can never be trusted. It is an authoritarian regime."
Expressing the desire to visit India to talk about his story, Chen urged the Manmohan Singh-led government to be more vocal about China's human-rights situation. "It is in favour of all democracies in the world that India must play a part in voicing support for activists working in China for more transparency," said Chen. "If the international community does not speak up, it will permit the Chinese government to continue with the attitude of impunity towards its people."
Chen said he wholeheartedly supported talks with the Dalai Lama. "Tibetans are treated badly," he said. "I say a big yes for China to talk to the Dalai Lama. It is China's own propaganda to defame the Dalai Lama. It is important the international community pressurises the Chinese government to give freedom to Tibet." There have been no talks between the Chinese government and the Dalai Lama for the second year in succession — the longest gap between talks over the past decade.
Chen, who has been blind since childhood, was sentenced to four years in jail in 2006 for exposing forced abortions and sterilizations. He was released from prison in 2010 but remained under house arrest. After his escape, Chen eventually slipped out of China, took refuge in the US and became an international hero.
These days, he speaks on human-rights issues but is constantly worried about the safety of his family and friends.
"The Chinese government can't be trusted," Chen Guangcheng, a blind activist who last year became the first person to escape house arrest in Beijing, told TOI in a rare interview. "Chinese people aren't like that, but the government's word can never be trusted. It is an authoritarian regime."
Expressing the desire to visit India to talk about his story, Chen urged the Manmohan Singh-led government to be more vocal about China's human-rights situation. "It is in favour of all democracies in the world that India must play a part in voicing support for activists working in China for more transparency," said Chen. "If the international community does not speak up, it will permit the Chinese government to continue with the attitude of impunity towards its people."
Chen said he wholeheartedly supported talks with the Dalai Lama. "Tibetans are treated badly," he said. "I say a big yes for China to talk to the Dalai Lama. It is China's own propaganda to defame the Dalai Lama. It is important the international community pressurises the Chinese government to give freedom to Tibet." There have been no talks between the Chinese government and the Dalai Lama for the second year in succession — the longest gap between talks over the past decade.
Chen, who has been blind since childhood, was sentenced to four years in jail in 2006 for exposing forced abortions and sterilizations. He was released from prison in 2010 but remained under house arrest. After his escape, Chen eventually slipped out of China, took refuge in the US and became an international hero.
These days, he speaks on human-rights issues but is constantly worried about the safety of his family and friends.
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