China Human Rights Briefing: Special Edition – Shandong Police Torture Chen Guangfu, Brother of Chen Guangcheng, As Relatives Live in Fear

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China Human Rights Briefing: Special Edition

 

May 16, 2012

 

Shandong Police Torture Chen Guangfu, Brother of Chen Guangcheng; Relatives Live in Fear

 

CHRD has learned that Chen Guangfu (陈光福), the elder brother of activist Chen Guangcheng (陈光诚), was reportedly tortured while in the hands of Yinan County police in Shandong Province in late April. He is still suffering serious effects from the abuse, according to a reliable source within China. The abuses against Chen Guangfu represent the most physically violent treatment to surface so far among the spate of retaliatory acts towards those with links to Chen Guangcheng after his flight from house arrest. In addition to the reported torture, it is believed that Linyi authorities are maintaining tight controls over many of Chen Guangcheng’s other relatives, with their movements strictly limited as they live in a state of extreme fear.

 

In the early morning of April 27, Zhang Jian (张健), a head of Shuanghou Township (that has jurisdiction over Dongshigu Village), and accompanying thugs climbed over the wall to Chen Guangfu’s home and banged on the front door, eventually seizing Chen and blindfolding him before dragging him away. Chen was taken to the Yinan County Public Security Bureau, where he was questioned mainly about how Chen Guangcheng escaped—and subjected to several hours of torture. Authorities handcuffed Chen Guangfu and shackled his legs, slapped him, and then whipped his hands with a leather belt, struck him in the ribs, and stomped hard on his toes. At this time—nearly three weeks later—Chen still reportedly has not regained any feeling in the area stretching from his left thumb through his wrist, and his right foot also remains numb.

 

After seizing Chen Guangfu on April 27, the group later re-entered the home and severely beat his wife, Ren Zongju (任宗举), and his son, Chen Kegui (陈克贵). The intruders also smashed a bowl of medicine the family was using to treat Chen Kegui’s five-year-old son, who was suffering from a high fever at the time. Chen Kegui tried to defend the family by wielding knives to fend off the aggressive officials and thugs. He was later detained and, on May 9, formally arrested on a charge of “intentional homicide”—a charge made although Chen was acting in self-defense and defending his family, with no one dying from any injuries suffered in the altercation.

 

Other relatives of Chen Guangcheng—his cousin Chen Guangcun (陈光存), and Chen Guangcun’s son, Chen Hua (陈华)—were also taken into custody in late April, as was a fellow villager, Liu Yuancheng (刘元成). These individuals were all reportedly held for two days before being released.

 

On the evening of May 16, CHRD also spoke with Chen Guangcheng’s cousin, Chen Guangcun (陈光存),* who resides in Linyi City but not near Dongshigu Village, and he said he was not fully aware of the situation in Dongshigu, since he has been under strict controls and unable to contact his relatives. Chen Guangcun said he too was taken away on April 27 and that Linyi authorities released him two days later.

 

Read more information on CHRD’s website about ongoing acts of retaliation against Chen Guangcheng’s relatives and supporters, as well as harassment of Chinese citizens who have attempted to assist the family since the blind activist’s escape from house arrest. (CHRD)[1]
Edited by Victor Clemens and Renee Xia

 
* In the China Human Rights Briefing distributed by email on May 16, CHRD incorrectly identified “Chen Guangcheng’s eldest brother” as Chen Guangfu, but in fact this “brother” is Chen Guangcun, a cousin of Chen Guangcheng.

 


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