Chen Guangcheng's brother beaten in latest apparent revenge attack on family
Targeting of activist Chen Guangcheng's family grows in apparent case of punishment by proxy
The elder brother of exiled blind activist Chen Guangcheng was beaten by two unidentified men yesterday morning, the latest in a string of mysterious attacks on the family in the past few weeks.
Chen Guangfu , 56, said he was riding an electric bicycle towards his home village of Dongshigu in Shandong province at around 10am when a black car overtook him and stopped him. Two young men jumped out and beat him on his head and chest and kicked him, also badly damaging his bicycle.
He said the men appeared to be government-hired thugs as their actions were swift and "very professional".
He said the men appeared to be government-hired thugs as their actions were swift and very professional
As he was talking to the by phone, the black car returned and loitered around him, he said while standing by the motorway.
"I don't know whether they are trying to end my life," he said, sounding terrified.
Chen Guangfu said he feared the attacks on his family were retaliation by officials. Harassment of his family appeared to have intensified in recent weeks after his brother spoke to a US congressional panel about human rights abuses on the mainland.
"They can't do anything about Guangcheng, so they are taking revenge on me," he said.
