ASIA NEWS REPORT:
It was announced by the dissident this morning. "I do not have a passport. I do not know when I will leave. I think I'll go to New York." Thus the events that began on April 26 with the daring escape of the blind activist, come to an end.
Beijing (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The blind dissident Chen Guangcheng is at the airport in Beijing and is waiting to leave for the United States. He announced as much this morning. "I'm at the airport. I do not have a passport. I don't know when I will be leaving. I think I'm going to New York"- he told AFP.
According to Chen, the Chinese authorities will give his passport directly to U.S. officials to fill out a visa for the U.S. before handing it over to him.
Chen, known worldwide for his battles against forced abortions and illegal expropriation of land, and his family were informed Saturday to "pack your bags and be ready to leave China" for the United States. The same activist reported the news to ChinaAid's president, Bob Fu, on Saturday.
This morning, a photographer who was outside the hospital where Chen was hospitalized reported seeing a motorcade leaving the building.
Chen Guangcheng's case exploded last April 26, when the dissident succeeded in escaping from the illegal house arrest that had been imposed on him by the regime after four years in prison. Chen took refuge in the U.S. embassy in Beijing, sparking a diplomatic battle between Beijing and Washington, engaged in the annual bilateral economic talks. After two days, the dissident left the embassy with the reassurance of being able to leave the country and was hospitalized.
It was announced by the dissident this morning. "I do not have a passport. I do not know when I will leave. I think I'll go to New York." Thus the events that began on April 26 with the daring escape of the blind activist, come to an end.
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Beijing (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The blind dissident Chen Guangcheng is at the airport in Beijing and is waiting to leave for the United States. He announced as much this morning. "I'm at the airport. I do not have a passport. I don't know when I will be leaving. I think I'm going to New York"- he told AFP.
According to Chen, the Chinese authorities will give his passport directly to U.S. officials to fill out a visa for the U.S. before handing it over to him.
Chen, known worldwide for his battles against forced abortions and illegal expropriation of land, and his family were informed Saturday to "pack your bags and be ready to leave China" for the United States. The same activist reported the news to ChinaAid's president, Bob Fu, on Saturday.
This morning, a photographer who was outside the hospital where Chen was hospitalized reported seeing a motorcade leaving the building.
Chen Guangcheng's case exploded last April 26, when the dissident succeeded in escaping from the illegal house arrest that had been imposed on him by the regime after four years in prison. Chen took refuge in the U.S. embassy in Beijing, sparking a diplomatic battle between Beijing and Washington, engaged in the annual bilateral economic talks. After two days, the dissident left the embassy with the reassurance of being able to leave the country and was hospitalized.
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