Progress for Chinese activist's bid to study in US

[May 16, 2012]  BEIJING (AP) -- A blind Chinese activist who sparked a diplomatic crisis by fleeing into the U.S. Embassy last month filled out a Chinese passport application and posed for a photo Wednesday, moving forward in his bid to study in the United States.

Paperwork for Chen Guangcheng, his wife, and two children was completed in the hospital where the family of four has stayed since he left the embassy in Beijing two weeks ago.

Chen said the officials who handled the paperwork were sent by the central government.

"I am sure they were sent by the central government, which appears to be fulfilling its responsibility," he said.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry has said Chen is free to study abroad like any other Chinese citizen, but security officials have kept him under virtual house arrest in his hospital room for two weeks. Until Wednesday, there was no clear sign that the government would let him apply for a passport.

Chen made a dramatic late-night escape from abusive house arrest in Shandong province last month and after several days hiding from security officials in Beijing wound up in the protection of U.S. diplomats. He left the embassy after six days with assurances from China that he and his family would be relocated to a new city away from the abusive officials in their home village.

A few hours after leaving the embassy, however, Chen changed his mind, insisting he wanted to leave China with his family as soon as possible to travel and study. He insists he does not want political asylum.

Chen said he plans to attend New York University, probably as a visiting scholar, and has been given relevant paperwork for the posting from a U.S. official.

The U.S. has said visas for Chen and his family have been prepared and can be issued as soon as they obtain Chinese passports.

A blind, self-taught legal activist, Chen gained recognition for crusading for the disabled and fighting against forced abortions in his rural community. But he angered local officials and was convicted in 2006 on what his supporters say were fabricated charges. After serving four years in prison, he then faced an abusive and illegal house arrest.

Also Wednesday, two lawyers tried to visit Chen's nephew, who is being held at a detention center in Shandong province's Yinan county, but were unsuccessful.

Chen Kegui, 32, is accused of attempted homicide related to a clash he had with local officials who stormed his house after discovering his uncle had fled house arrest.

Attorney Ding Xikui said police officers in Yinan told him and Shanghai lawyer Si Weijiang that permission for the lawyers to see Chen Kegui could not be granted because the person in charge was away for a few days. The lawyers said earlier they have written permission from Chen Kegui's family to represent him and there should be no legal impediment to their visit.

Other lawyers who have tried to take up Chen Kegui's case say they have been threatened or been unable to renew their legal licenses.

Chen Kegui allegedly hacked at local officials with knives. Chen Guangcheng says Chen Kegui was defending himself after being brutally beaten. Chen said Sunday that his nephew was beaten so badly in the clash that his pants were shredded.

[Associated Press; By DIDI TANG]

Associated Press journalist Isolda Morillo contributed to this report.

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