Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng confirms he has left hospital and is at Beijing airport
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Sky News Newsdesk (@SkyNewsBreak) May 19, 2012Late Friday night, Twitter lit up with news that Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng had left the hospital where he had been holed up and was headed to the Beijing aiport to fly to the U.S.
MORE: Chen Guangcheng tells @AP "thousands of thoughts are surging to my mind" as he prepares to leave China: apne.ws/J8CfvY -JM—
The Associated Press (@AP) May 19, 2012
Blind China activist preparing to head to US – by AP's Didi Tang @tangdidi yhoo.it/JmPBcS—
Gillian Wong / 黄敬龄 (@gillianwong) May 19, 2012
BREAKING: Blind Chinese activist Chen leaves hospital, says he expects to depart for the U.S. later Saturday—
The Associated Press (@AP) May 19, 2012
NBC News has learned that the blind activist Chen Guangcheng and his family are due to leave Beijing today for the US. behindthewall.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/05/…—
NBC News (@NBCNews) May 19, 2012
An @ap photo shows a van with covered windows leaving the hospital where Chen Guangcheng is staying apne.ws/KM42oI—
Michael Roston (@michaelroston) May 19, 2012
Bob Fu at ChinaAid says Chen Guangcheng and family do not yet have passports bit.ly/KAvI0U via @storyful—
Michael Roston (@michaelroston) May 19, 2012
Human Rights in China website just posted a translation of @isunaffairs ' piece "Who Rescued Chen Guangcheng?" hrichina.org/content/6056—
Yaxue Cao (@YaxueCao) May 19, 2012
A reminder of what Guangcheng’s family suffered:
A detailed account, in English, of how local police tortured Chen Guangcheng's brother following his escape in April chrdnet.com/2012/05/16/chi…—
Yaxue Cao (@YaxueCao) May 16, 2012
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.
We’ll update with developments throughout the weekend.
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Update 3:23am -
Sky News told by Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng that he and his family have passports and will board flight to U.S. shortly—
Sky News Newsdesk (@SkyNewsBreak) May 19, 2012
Chen Guangcheng tells Sky News he now has passport and is boarding plane to US shortly—
Nathan Tyler (@Nathan1Sky) May 19, 2012
Update 7:30am -
US State Dept: "We can confirm that Chen Guangcheng, his wife and two children have departed China and are en route to the US."—
Ann Curry (@AnnCurry) May 19, 2012
Update 3:15pm -
White House says welcomes Chen's departure for the U.S. reut.rs/K167fa—
Reuters Top News (@Reuters) May 19, 2012
Update 5:58pm -
Great news Chen Guangcheng heading to USA, now we must ensure his relatives & associates in #China aren't harmed nyti.ms/L1idWz—
John McCain (@SenJohnMcCain) May 19, 2012
Update 6:31pm -
Chen Guangcheng and his family arrive in the United States.
BREAKING: Blind Chinese activist who escaped house arrest arrives in US after negotiated departure. -RJJ—
The Associated Press (@AP) May 19, 2012
Pres Obama did not mention the release & flight to America by Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng & family. WH reaction deliberately low key.—
Mark Knoller (@markknoller) May 19, 2012
Freedom!! RT @BreakingNews Plane carrying Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng arrives in US after negotiated departure—
Danielle (@MississippiMama) May 19, 2012
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Previous Twitchy coverage:
Romney calls Obama’s handling of Chen Guangcheng situation ‘dark day for freedom’
Obama/Clinton face Twitter outcry over Chen Guangcheng
Friend of Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng tweets about China’s threats to family
