INTERVIEW WITH CHEN GUANGCHENG

CHEN: THE PEOPLE MUST DRIVE REFORMS

Courtney Brooks

Asia Times, April 22, 2013

Blind civil-rights activist Chen Guangcheng, who gained international recognition for taking on China's one-child policy and other causes, set off a diplomatic firestorm last year when he escaped house arrest in China and fled to the US Embassy in Beijing.

Following diplomatic intervention by Washington, he was allowed to travel to the United States to study law in New York, where he currently lives with his family.

RFE/RL correspondent Courtney Brooks sat down with Chen to discuss his views on current events in China, as well as his and his family's experiences since leaving Beijing.

RFE/RL: How has your transition to the United States been?

Chen Guangcheng: As far as cultural conflict is concerned, I haven't felt much of anything significant. Of course, there are things to acclimatize to, but I can get used to most of it. But the real difficulty has been in dealing with the ongoing effects of my treatment in China. For example, to this day, my bones have not healed in my foot, and psychologically there are things I can't even mention. It will take a really long time to thoroughly heal from that experience.

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