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Chen Guangcheng, Chinese Dissident, Went to U.S. Embassy for Protection, Friends Say
Washington Post ^ | Saturday, April 28 | Keith B. Richburg

Posted on 04/28/2012 10:55:33 AM PDT by nickcarraway

The U.S. and Chinese governments maintained their official silence Saturday on the whereabouts of the blind lawyer Chen Guangcheng, but local and overseas activists said the two sides were locked in a delicate diplomatic negotiation over the fate of the dissident who fled from house arrest last Sunday and is thought to be in Beijing under U.S. protection.

The activists interviewed — some of whom were involved in helping Chen evade authorities for a week here in Beijing — said they believed Chen did not intend to seek political asylum but was sheltering in a U.S. diplomatic compound for protection and wanted to remain in China to continue his campaign for democratic rights and the rule of law.

“He believes that China is in a period of intensive changes now and it’s not far away from the final fundamental change,” said Hu Jia, a Beijing activist who said he met with Chen on Wednesday. “He told me he didn’t want to ask for political asylum in the U.S. Instead, he wants to ‘stay in this land and continue to fight.’ ”

Chen’s escape and the possible involvement of the U.S. Embassy in sheltering him have resulted in another major embarrassment for China’s Communist rulers, who are already grappling with their gravest political crisis since the Tiananmen Square crackdown of 1989. The firing of and investigation into once-rising star Bo Xilai and the arrest of Bo’s wife on suspicion of murder have exposed high-level corruption and leadership rifts just months ahead of what was supposed to be a carefully choreographed handover of power this fall.

Chen’s flight to Beijing and the U.S. Embassy, if confirmed, also come just days before Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner are due here for a round of senior-level talks on strategic

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Politics/Elections
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1 posted on 04/28/2012 10:55:34 AM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway

Hillary! will probably roll over and hand him to
the Chicoms as a good faith gesture.


2 posted on 04/28/2012 11:00:44 AM PDT by tet68 ( " We would not die in that man's company, that fears his fellowship to die with us...." Henry V.)
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To: nickcarraway

The traitors in this government will turn him over to the Chinese.


3 posted on 04/28/2012 11:08:26 AM PDT by Wordkraft (Remember who the Collaborators are.)
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To: tet68

I’m sure our quisling president will return him to the Chinese government. Dissidents are ripe for organ harvesting.


4 posted on 04/28/2012 11:08:39 AM PDT by huckfillary (qual tyo ta)
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To: Wordkraft

At least it’s public knowledge.

Obama will pay a political price, if he surrenders him now.

The GOP candidates might consider publicly taking a position on this right now - if for no other reason (for example, that it’s the right thing to do) to further complicate Obama turning the guy over.


5 posted on 04/28/2012 11:13:04 AM PDT by Cringing Negativism Network (Obama ate his own dog as a child in Indonesia??)
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To: Wordkraft
The traitors in this government will turn him over to the Chinese.

You're probably right.But if they do I hope the Embassy staff is forced to pry him out of there with a crowbar...not that that would bother any current State Dept employee.Just ask Elian Gonzalez's family.

6 posted on 04/28/2012 11:35:31 AM PDT by Gay State Conservative (Unlike Mrs Obama,I've Been Proud Of This Country My *Entire* Life!)
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To: nickcarraway

We need to watch what the Obama administration does about this. They better not turn him over to the Communists!


7 posted on 04/28/2012 12:18:03 PM PDT by abclily
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To: tet68

Unless he is black, he can expect to be handed to the Chicoms.


8 posted on 04/28/2012 1:56:50 PM PDT by OldArmy52 (Scratch a Democrat, expose a Fascist.)
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To: Cringing Negativism Network
The GOP candidates might consider publicly taking a position on this right now - if for no other reason (for example, that it’s the right thing to do) to further complicate Obama turning the guy over.

I agree, besides the fact that it's the right thing to shelter him from the Commies, they should pressure Obama to save the guy, because it's rare that Obama is truly put on the spot.
9 posted on 04/28/2012 4:54:41 PM PDT by af_vet_rr
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