Chen Guangcheng: 'I'm Very Disappointed at the U.S. Government.'
Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng is in a Beijing hospital and he's making phone calls to anyone who will listen to his plight. This translated transcript of an interview he gave CNN last night is just horrible to read. Here are a few excerpts explaining what caused him to leave the safety of the U.S. embassy:
Q: What prompted your change of heart?
A: The embassy kept lobbying me to leave and promised to have people stay with me in the hospital. But this afternoon as soon as I checked into the hospital room, I noticed they were all gone.
Q: Has the U.S. disappointed you?
A: I'm very disappointed at the U.S. government.
Q: Why?
A: I don't think (U.S. officials) protected human rights in this case.
Q: What would you say to U.S. President Obama?
A: I would like to say to (President Obama): Please do everything you can to get our whole family out.Q: Is this your most urgent wish?A: That's right.
He goes on to explain the threats made against his wife's health and safety and how surveillance teams have overrun their home. He explains how the embassy misled him about what would happen if he went to the hospital.
Q: Is it true no one from the embassy picked up your calls?
A: Yes. I called two embassy people numerous times.
Q: What do you want to say to the U.S. government?
A: I want them to protect human rights through concrete actions. We are in danger. If you can talk to Hillary (Clinton), I hope she can help my whole family leave China.
Q: The whole world is watching you -- how do you feel about this?
A: I feel very grateful. I feel they are sincere in their concern, not just for show.
Q: Do you feel you were lied to by the embassy?
A: I feel a little like that.
Q: What has this ordeal taught you?
A: I feel everyone focuses too much on their self-interest at the expense of their credibility.
Q: You're both still up at 3 a.m. -- feeling anxious?
A: Yes, we feel a lot of anxiety.... I told the embassy I would like to talk to Rep. Smith (Congressman Chris Smith) but they somehow never managed to arrange it. I feel a little puzzled.
Q: What would you say to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton?
A: I know Sino-U.S. relations encompass many issues and they have to consider many things. But the reality about my family is that our lives are in obvious danger. If we stay here or get sent back to Shandong, our lives would be at stake. Under such circumstances, I hope the U.S. government will protect us and help us leave China based on its value of protecting human rights.
Q: Are there people watching you at the hospital?
A: They have security guards here.
Q: Have the embassy people have left?
A: Yes. They promised to stay here with Guangcheng -- that would give us some sense of security. But we haven't seen anyone since we checked into this hospital room. I was actually persuading Guangcheng to seek treatment in a hospital -- but I didn't know the embassy (people) were lobbying him to leave (the embassy).
This is not a proud moment for the U.S. We pressured him to leave? We won't let him speak with Chris Smith? We lied about whether we'd accompany him in his hospital room? We're not answering his calls?
It's humbling to see what great hopes Chen has put in our country and I pray that we do not let him down. And I fear that we might, given how the embassy has behaved thus far.
This man has risked so much to speak the truth about China's brutal repression of human rights. It may not be popular to stand by such a man who has fought on behalf of unborn children and their mothers and fathers against the Chinese government, but this should be non-negotiable for us.
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Jan '11
Re: Chen Guangcheng: 'I'm Very Disappointed at the U.S. Government.'
Ah sorry Chen. You see China owns a bunch of our bonds and they're the only ones who will babysit North Korea. So we really don't have much leverage with these guys. We could have Barry come over and apologize to you. Maybe take you to watch a basketball game...er well not watch - er attend a basketball game...
A really gutsy call would be a Nobel Peace Prize winner ordering State Team Zero, led by Hillary Clinton; to "Get Chen" and get him out of China.
Edited on May 4, 2012 at 4:05pmNov '11
Re: Chen Guangcheng: 'I'm Very Disappointed at the U.S. Government.'
Given the State Department's response to the Green Revolution, this should not surprise anyone. The fact that it is not surprising does not make it less disheartening.
Sep '11
Re: Chen Guangcheng: 'I'm Very Disappointed at the U.S. Government.'
Most. Incompetent. Administration. Ever.
Nov '11
Re: Chen Guangcheng: 'I'm Very Disappointed at the U.S. Government.'
I didn't think I could be surprised, but this one does shock, precisely because the people who have decided this must have known that the ugly truth would come out, and were willing to take the risk. Nothing like having a lap-dog press. Hillary Clinton needs to resign.
May '10
Re: Chen Guangcheng: 'I'm Very Disappointed at the U.S. Government.'
Obama is the anti-Reagan.
Mar '11
Re: Chen Guangcheng: 'I'm Very Disappointed at the U.S. Government.'
I am contacting my congressfolk, FWIW.
Jan '11
Re: Chen Guangcheng: 'I'm Very Disappointed at the U.S. Government.'
I confess, this story doesn't add up for me. Here's another case where I'm willing to wait a little, to see how it shakes out.
The initial narrative is that Team Obama talks a lot, and lectures others a lot, about human rights - but when it comes time to actually doing something, they're nowhere to be found. Well, that may be true, but I'm willing to give them a little more time to prove it wrong.
It's conceivable that instead of confronting the issue directly, Hillary and Obama are trying to work out a deal with the Chinese - following the old Rahm Emmanuel rule, never let a crisis go to waste. Maybe they're trying to use the international spotlight to pressure China into action about North Korea, or Pakistan, or something else. (Of course, I'm not very confident in this Administration's ability to negotiate for our national interests.)
Or maybe Team Obama is just as cowardly as the narrative suggests.
Either way, it's too early to tell. I'm going to wait a little longer before I get outraged.
Jul '10
Re: Chen Guangcheng: 'I'm Very Disappointed at the U.S. Government.'
I thought it was only the GOP that put politics and business ahead of human rights?
May '11
Re: Chen Guangcheng: 'I'm Very Disappointed at the U.S. Government.'
The Obama administration knows..... KNOWS that the main stream media will NEVER report this story truthfully, so it is a win-win for the administration. The bet I made in >> THIS << thread I would have been happy to lose. A very sad day for freedom loving people all over the world, shame on you America for voting in this vapid soulless man as president.
Jul '10
Re: Chen Guangcheng: 'I'm Very Disappointed at the U.S. Government.'
Many here do not understand Smart Diplomacy because it requires an Ivy League education.
Feb '11
Re: Chen Guangcheng: 'I'm Very Disappointed at the U.S. Government.'
I am feeling physically ill over this story. I believed as soon as I heard that Mr. Chen had escaped house arrest and gone to the American Embassy that he was doomed. There was no way that our State Department was going to protect him. I am sick to my stomach and heartsick over the betrayal of this man. I am praying for Mr. Chen and his family, and also for Chris Smith of New Jersey, who is one of the bravest members of Congress in the history of our nation, because I am sure that the powerless feeling of rage that I have is teeny tiny compared to the way he must feel.
Edited on May 3, 2012 at 5:28pmSep '11
Re: Chen Guangcheng: 'I'm Very Disappointed at the U.S. Government.'
I listened this morning to the John Batchelor Show from last night (Stitcher) and he covered it with several guests. I think it was Ann Lee that gave a good round up of the events. I recommend it for anyone wanting to know more.
What I got from the guests' discussions indicates that the State Department received assurances from China (that the central government would look out for Chen) and the SD staff actually took those assurances at face value.
This comes on the heels of the Wang Lijun rejection. Complete incompetence.
Nov '10
Re: Chen Guangcheng: 'I'm Very Disappointed at the U.S. Government.'
Chen is pro life. The minute I heard he'd left the embassy I knew the administration threw him under the bus. I hate feeling so cynical. I will also contact my representative. This story makes me ill.
Sep '10
Re: Chen Guangcheng: 'I'm Very Disappointed at the U.S. Government.'
Chen was just driven over by the bus he was thrown under.
Mar '11
Re: Chen Guangcheng: 'I'm Very Disappointed at the U.S. Government.'
Like KC, I hope there is going to be more to this though I have no faith in Obama or Clinton. If we have, though, cravenly caved to the ChiComs in protecting Chen and his family the ChiComs will feel much more confident that we will not lift a finger to protect Taiwan either. From a small act can a war be started.
Jun '11
Re: Chen Guangcheng: 'I'm Very Disappointed at the U.S. Government.'
An anecdote of Derb's proving how ... disappointing... US embassies could be to fugitives back in 1979.
"It is the little things that stick in the mind, those transient items that show up on an inside-page paragraph of one's newspaper for a day or two, then vanish, forgotten by everyone else but oneself. Here is one of those oddities from the Carter years. In mid-September 1980 a Russian soldier sought refuge in the U.S. embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan. Astoundingly — this, please remember, was nine months into the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, a geostrategic event of the first magnitude — there was no one at the embassy who could understand Russian. After a few days, during which the air in the embassy must have been well-nigh crystalline with embarrassment, a deal was struck — no doubt "assurances" were given — and the unfortunate squaddie was returned to the tender care of the Soviet military authorities. I often wonder what became of him. Better not to know, perhaps."
(Even when after the 2008 election you wore your "Welcome Back, Carter" tee-shirt, you never thought it could ever get that bad again. )
http://johnderbyshire.com/Reviews/PoliSci/ourendangeredvalues.html
Aug '10
Re: Chen Guangcheng: 'I'm Very Disappointed at the U.S. Government.'
The Clinton and Obama administrations (campaigns) take millions of dollars from the Chinese communist military government. In exchange they give away our sovereignty, our military secrets, and our economy.
If you think that giving up one or two protesters, Wang Lijun and Chen Guangcheng is a problem for those two, think again.
Principles aren't part of the package with the democrats.
Jul '11
Re: Chen Guangcheng: 'I'm Very Disappointed at the U.S. Government.'
Tricked because they're incompetent or forced through threats? The answer is important although either is a black mark.
May '10
Re: Chen Guangcheng: 'I'm Very Disappointed at the U.S. Government.'
This story is so disgusting and disappointing. Let's all put pressure on our representatives and senators to get this family out!
Apr '11
Re: Chen Guangcheng: 'I'm Very Disappointed at the U.S. Government.'
How can we expect our stalwart, hard-working State Dep't to get anything accomplished in China when they are focused like a lasar beam on the terrible human rights crisis happening in the police state of Arizona where, heaven forbid, someone may have to show proof of residency in the USA when pulled over for a traffic violation!!!