"Batman" star Christian Bale refused access to blind Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng

Christian Newswire  report that "Batman" star Christian Bale traveled nine hours from Beijing to visit blind forced abortion opponent Chen Guangcheng. Bale said, "What I really wanted to do was shake the man's hand and say 'thank you,' and tell him what an inspiration he is." 

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Bale never got the chance. He was roughed up and forced away from Chen's village, according to a CNN report

Bale was in Beijing, China for the premier of "The Flowers of War," a drama about the 1937 Rape of Nanjing. About his attempt to visit Chen, Bale stated, "I'm not brave doing this . . . This was just a situation -- I can't look the other way." 

According to Reggie Littlejohn, president of Women's Rights Without Frontiers, "Christian Bale is right that the true heroes are the Chinese citizens who have been beaten and detained trying to visit Chen, and yet Bale is a hero as well. He is starring in the most expensive film ever made in China, which China hopes will win an Academy Award. Nevertheless, he has the courage to stand against official injustice and has greatly raised the visibility of Chen's case." 

Littlejohn contrasted Bale's actions with those of Relativity Media. "Christian Bale has used his star power to shine a light on the unjust treatment of Chen Guangcheng. In contrast, Relativity Media filmed '21 and Over' in Linyi, where Chen is languishing under house arrest. They did nothing to help Chen. I hope that moviegoers will demonstrate their concern for Chen Guangcheng at the box office by boycotting '21 and Over.'" 


Chen Guangcheng alive

I have blogged before about the brave opponent of China's one child policy Chen Guangcheng and also previously
Christian Newswire reports that a reliable source inside China told Women's Rights Without Frontiers that forced abortion opponent Chen Guangcheng is alive. An unconfirmed report went out in early October that Chen had died under house arrest.

According to this source, who requested anonymity, "Now his mother is allowed to go outside to buy food although escorted by three guards, and his health also is getting better."

The source attributed the improved treatment of Chen to the fact that "Chen's situation was exposed and got huge public attention." One campaign that brought considerable visibility to Chen's plight was the flow of concerned citizens attempting to visit him for his fortieth birthday on November 12. Many of these citizens were beaten and detained.

In addition, the "Chen Sunglasses Freedom" campaigns inside and outside of China have raised the visibility of his case. These campaigns post photos of people wearing sunglasses in support of Chen. The source stated, "I think it's great. I think it's very helpful for people all over the world to show they care about Chen through the Sunglasses campaigns. I think it's very important to show support inside and outside the country – we can work together." These campaigns, spearheaded by Women's Rights Without Frontiers and Dark Glasses Portrait, can be found on this link

Chinese treatment of blind lawyer Chen Guangcheng

I have blogged (most recently on 10 February 2011) about the blind Chinese lawyer, Chen Guangcheng and his treatment on the part of the Chinese authorities.  

Pro-life blogs.com now report that Chen and his wife are being transferred to a small prison ‘built specifically for them’.   The building ‘basically amounts to a jail’ so that the authorities can ‘keep tighter controls on them.’ 

The couple’s young son is living with relatives, and they are also being separated from their little five-year-old daughter. 

The report states that: ‘Chen was arrested in 2006 for exposing evidence that 130,000 forced abortions and involuntary sterilizations were performed on women in Linyi County, Shandong Province, in a single year.  Time Magazine named him one of “2006’s Top 100 People Who Shape Our World”.  Chen spent four years in prison.  Since his release, he continues under house arrest.  He and his wife have been beaten repeatedly and denied medical treatment.’

Why do we not hear more about this latest unjust treatment of this protector of unborn children and their mothers, in the world’s media?