Chen Guangcheng, the blind Chinese lawyer who won global acclaim for uncovering

Chen Guangcheng, the blind Chinese lawyer who won global acclaim for uncovering rights abuses under China’s “one child” policy, has escaped from house arrest, his supporters said.

Chen confirmed his dramatic escape from house arrest and appealed to Premier Wen Jiabao to keep his family safe, in a video posted online.

In the video, Chen — speaking with obvious emotion in a dark room in an undisclosed location — also revealed the names of several government officials he claims had beaten him and his wife, and made his son’s life a misery.

Chen had been unable to leave his home in east China since he was released from a four-year jail sentence in September 2010. He has reportedly endured several beatings and is believed to be in poor health.

The US embassy did not respond to requests for comment.

Chen gained fame for helping people sue officials over a wide variety of injustices, with corrupt officials in government a particular target.

After pursuing law at a blind school during his youth, he armed himself with legal knowledge and began giving free legal advice to villagers, although he has no formal legal qualifications.

He was jailed in 2006 after accusing family-planning officials in Shandong province of forcing at least 7,000 women to be sterilised or to undergo late-term abortions.

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Source AFP