Chen Guangcheng to Meet With Members of Congress Wednesday

International   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Jul 30, 2012   |   7:31PM   |   Washington, DC

The human rights campaigner who stood strong against China’s one-child-policy and its forced abortion and sterilization abuses is slated to meet with leaders of Congress on Wednesday. Now that he is in the United States, Chen Guangcheng is enjoy the kind of freedoms he never had back home.

The blind attorney will head to Capitol Hill Wednesday, according to information the officer of Speaker John Boehner furnished LifeNews today. After meeting with the pro-life Speaker and pro-abortion Democratic Party Leader Nancy Pelosi, Chen will address reporters.

Boehner released the following statement during the height of the diplomatic crisis in China:

“Like millions of other Americans, I have followed the story of Chen Guangcheng with admiration for his courage and concern for his safety and that of his family.  I am deeply disturbed by the most recent report by the Associated Press, which suggests Chen Guangcheng was pressured to leave the U.S. embassy against his will amid flimsy promises and possible threats of harm to his family. In such a situation, the United States has an obligation to stand with the oppressed, not with the oppressor.  Having handed Chen Guangcheng back over to the Chinese government, the Obama administration is responsible for ensuring his safety.  While our economic relationship with China is important and vital to the future of people in both countries, the United States has an obligation to use its engagement with China to press for reforms in China’s human rights practices, particularly with respect to the reprehensible ‘one-child’ policy.”

And when Boehner hosted Chinese president Hu Jintao in January 2011, he used the meeting to bring up the one-child policy.

Chen’s high-profile standoff with the Chinese and his coming to America has put more pressure on the Chinese government related to forced abortions. Earlier this month, Chinese officials paid $11,000 to a woman forced to have an abortion seven months into her pregnancy, according to her attorney. The lawyer said the woman appreciated the financial compensation but said nothing would make up for the forced abortion and the taking of her baby’s life.

The forced abortion sparked international outrage as the picture of Feng Jianmei and the body of her aborted baby lying next to her in a hospital bed circulated the Internet.

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According to multiple news reports, Zhang Kai, the lawyer for the woman and her husband, Deng Jiyuan, said the couple agreed to the settlement of 70,000 yuan, but that the couple faces “spiritual pain” that will endure a lifetime. The state-run Xinhua news agency said the money was meant to avoid any further legal entanglements over the abortion, adding, “The signing of the agreement means neither party should raise any question related to the issue again.”

“Their child, at such a young age, was basically killed. If you pay such little money, it’s not enough,” he said, according to the Globe and Mail newspaper.

Feng was forced to have the abortion after the family was unable to pay the 40,000 yuan fine for violating China’s one-child policy and two local officials were reportedly fired over the forced abortion case.