Contact: Rachel Sparkman, Media Coordinator, 888-889-7757, Rachel@ChinaAid.org; Mark Shan, Spokesperson, 267-205-5210, Mark@ChinaAid.org; both with ChinaAid Association; www.ChinaAid.org; www.MonitorChina.org

MIDLAND, Texas, Feb. 16, 2011 /Christian Newswire/ -- ChinaAid Association on Tuesday Feb. 15 released the following statement about the continuing Chinese government retaliation triggered by the release overseas of a secret video made by blind human rights activist Chen Guangcheng.

ChinaAid has learned that in the past 72 hours several foreign journalists and other visitors attempting to see and interview the family of Chen Guangcheng, in Dongshigu village, Linyi county, Shandong province, have been mistreated and even beaten.

"The events today are reminiscent of the China of the Cultural Revolution and are not worthy of the new, globally-engaged China," said Bob Fu, president of ChinaAid. "The international community should condemn these actions with one voice. China cannot be a trusted partner until journalists are free to pursue their newsgathering activities and to report the facts freely and lawyers like Chen Guangcheng are free to defend the vulnerable."

Three journalists from two French newspapers and a radio station were stopped by guards hired by the government when they tried to approach Chen's home, at Dongshigu village of Yinan, Linyi, of Shandong province, to on foot on Sunday who pushed and shoved them, then took their press cards, keys to their vehicles and the memory cards to audio recorders. Two reporters from The New York Times were also attacked by guards, who also confiscated press cards and electronics and destroyed a laptop.

For more details, go to www.chinaaid.org/2011/02/visitors-of-chen-guangcheng-flocked-to.html. According to a reliable ChinaAid source, German reporters and reporters from CNN also have had similar experiences.

A Chinese citizen, Gao Xingbo from Zhejiang, was beaten severely after he managed to enter Chen's village. A friend who was speaking by cellphone with Gao heard him being beaten by guards and heard his "bloodcurdling shrieks." Afterwards, he was thrown into a remote field about 15 miles away from Chen's village by security officials.

Last Thursday and Friday, authorities held Chen's older brother, Chen Guangfu, for two continuous days of questioning about the channels through which the video was smuggled out. He was also threatened by the authorities.

A longer press release is available at:
www.chinaaid.org/2011/02/government-retaliation-continues.html#more