Breaking News
On Air Weekend Breakfast! 7:00AM to 10:00AM The Isle of Wight in Real Time
Listen Live Listen Online Follow us
Follow Isle of Wight Radio on Facebook Follow Isle of Wight Radio on Twitter
Current Weather
Sunny
NNW 4mph
4 mph
Sunny
10°C

Transcript: Chen Guangcheng Speaks To Sky News

Thu, 03 May 2012 7:13AM

Read the transcript of blind Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng speaking to Sky's Holly Williams in Beijing, and his appeal to the US President for protection.

The activist and lawyer recently escaped house arrest, spending six days at the American embassy before being taken to hospital.

Speaking in Mandarin, Williams asked Mr Chen about his current predicament:

Holly Williams: Chen Guangcheng, I want to ask you, what is your situation now?
Chen Guangcheng: I'm now in hospital, lying in a hospital bed.

HW: How's your health?
CG: At 10am, I'm going to have a colonoscopy. I'm not sure about the details.

HW: How are your family members?
CG: I can't get in touch with them now, so I don't know now.

HW: Where are they?
CG: My wife and two children are with me, my mother is still at home and I don't know anything about her situation.

HW: I understand you feel threatened, could you explain why?
CG: Firstly, last night, I couldn't reach any of my family (by phone) at all. Secondly, on my mobile phone last night, I couldn't dial out or receive calls. This morning, I can answer calls but can't dial out.

HW: When you were in the (US) embassy, did the Shandong local officials threaten your family?
CG: Yes, they made terrible threats, threatened them with sticks, threatened to beat them to death.

HW: So how did they threaten your family?
CG: The (local officials) broke into my home armed with sticks and wanted to beat my family to death. They've installed seven video surveillance cameras in our garden, on the roof, and inside our house. And they're going to install an electric fence around my house.

HW: And what do you hope for now?... You don't want to stay in China, is that right?
CG: Yes.

HW: Why don't you want to stay in China?
CG: Because it's not safe, because the rights of citizens here can't be guaranteed.

HW: What help do you want from the US government?
CG: I hope they will help me to leave.

HW: When you were inside the embassy, you didn't seem to want to leave China.
CG: Yes, yes. At that time, I didn't have all the information. I couldn't get information. Now I have it, and I sense certain things, so I've changed my mind.

HW: Do you feel the US officials not protect you enough?
CG: No (I don't think that). I don't know what to say... It's hard to explain.

HW: If you could speak directly to Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama, what would you say? What would you ask of them?
CG: I would ask them to do something concrete to protect my family.

HW: How long do you plan to stay in hospital?
CG: I don't know, it's not something I can plan for.

More National News

Two Men Charged Over Diverted Pakistan Flight

Two Men Charged Over Diverted Pakistan Flight

Sun, 26 May 2013 7:53AM
Boston Marathon: Runners Complete Race

Boston Marathon: Runners Complete Race

Sun, 26 May 2013 7:21AM
Woolwich Murder: 'Tasered' Suspects Quizzed

Woolwich Murder: 'Tasered' Suspects Quizzed

Sun, 26 May 2013 6:01AM
Hay Festival Embraces Reading Revolution

Hay Festival Embraces Reading Revolution

Sun, 26 May 2013 5:21AM
Texas Flash Floods: More Than 200 Rescued

Texas Flash Floods: More Than 200 Rescued

Sun, 26 May 2013 5:00AM
US: Teenager Arrested Over School Bomb Plot

US: Teenager Arrested Over School Bomb Plot

Sun, 26 May 2013 4:54AM
Man Killed In South London Betting Shop

Man Killed In South London Betting Shop

Sun, 26 May 2013 3:37AM
Google Boss Urges 'Reasonable' Debate On Tax

Google Boss Urges 'Reasonable' Debate On Tax

Sun, 26 May 2013 1:56AM
Cameron To Crack Down On Preachers Of Hate

Cameron To Crack Down On Preachers Of Hate

Sun, 26 May 2013 12:49AM
Froch Beats Kessler

Froch Beats Kessler

Sun, 26 May 2013 12:41AM

Local News

Pirate Steals Show At Chillerton Scarecrow Festival 2013

Pirate Steals Show At Chillerton Scarecrow Festival 2013

Chillerton couple Candice and Frank Quinton's "Pirates" scooped first prize in the third Scarecrow Festival.
Red Jet and yacht collide

Red Jet and yacht collide

A Red Jet and a yacht collided this afternoon (Friday) as the high-speed vessel was leaving Cowes for Southampton.
Council to hear child protection and education update

Council to hear child protection and education update

Raising the standards of child protection and education will be a top priority for the new-look Isle of Wight Council.
Volunteers to help tackle speeding motorists

Volunteers to help tackle speeding motorists

Speeding motorists are being educated about the dangers of their actions by volunteers taking part in a police scheme on the Isle of Wight.
170 Years Of Pirates And Play At Blackgang Chine

170 Years Of Pirates And Play At Blackgang Chine

The Isle of Wight’s oldest theme park is celebrating its 170th anniversary this bank holiday weekend.
Vases Not Balloons At Queen Victoria's Birthday Bash

Vases Not Balloons At Queen Victoria's Birthday Bash

Staff at Osborne House are celebrating what would have been the birthday of Queen Victoria.
Registrar service to move for festival

Registrar service to move for festival

The Island's registrar service will move temporarily due to the Isle of Wight Festival.
New charity aims to support mental health service users on the Isle of Wight

New charity aims to support mental health service users on the Isle of Wight

Helping to support mental health service users is the aim of a newly established charity on the Isle of Wight.
Open verdict on Compton Cliff death

Open verdict on Compton Cliff death

An open verdict has been recorded by Coroner Caroline Sumeray at the inquest into the death of a Dorset woman.
Top awards for Isle of Wight tourist attractions

Top awards for Isle of Wight tourist attractions

Two Isle of Wight tourist attractions are celebrating after being given a prestigious award from travel website TripAdvisor.