Chinese dissident’s escape could endanger his supporters

The blind lawyer had help with his escape: The story of Chen Guangcheng, the self-taught Chinese lawyer who escaped 19 months of home imprisonment, could prove dangerous for the people who supported his escape, with American and Chinese activists concerned that the Chinese government will strike back. Chen is reportedly being held at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, though U.S. officials have not confirmed this. (A top U.S. official showed up Sunday, however,  suggesting they had a crisis on hand.) Most at risk? Hu Jia, an AIDS activist who was put into police custody Saturday; Nanjing-based activist He Peirong, who was arrested Friday; and Guo Yushan, a scholar who hasn’t been heard from since Saturday. “At this point, I’m more worried about Hu, He and Guo than Chen Guangcheng,” said Human Rights Watch’s Nicholas Bequelin. source

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