Chen tells US lawmakers his family is being persecuted
Blind Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng spoke to US lawmakers for the second time in a week and alleged persecution of his family by Chinese authorities.
Chen, 40, who escaped house arrest last month and took shelter in the US embassy in Beijing for six days, telephoned a hearing of the US Congress from his Beijing hospital bed Tuesday.
Chen told the hearing that "trumped up" murder charges had been brought against his nephew.
He said government-backed thugs broke into his nephew Chen Kegui's house and beat him up for three hours and police detained him when he fought back.
His speech in Chinese was translated into English by dissident Bob Fu.
Meanwhile, the US state department has said visas for Chen and his family to travel to the US were ready.
Chen has said he wants to go to the US because he feared for his safety.
He has been offered by the Chinese authorities to study law at New York University.
He had spoken to US lawmakers over the telephone two weeks ago to plead for help to leave China with his family.
Chen, a self-taught lawyer who campaigned against forced abortions under China's one-child policy, was sent to jail for four years in 2006. He was placed under house arrest after his release in 2010.
Meanwhile, US state department spokesperson Victoria Nuland told reporters that Chen, his wife and children could travel to the US once Beijing grants permission.
"We are ready when he and his government are ready," she said.
Source: The Asia News.Net
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