Blind Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng says he is happy with the Chinese government's handling of his case, despite his confinement in a Beijing hospital and the reported detention of his relatives.
Chen, an outspoken human rights activist often critical of the government, was measured in his comments during an interview Friday with VOA's Mandarin television program, Pro & Con.
"To the Chinese government, I am very happy with the cool-headedness and restraint with which they've handled this case," he said. "I hope the Chinese government, especially the central government, can continue to take steps towards further emancipating their minds, deepen reforms, and better address social injustices."
If that happens, Chen said, he believes Beijing could gain the trust of the people.
Chen has been recuperating in the Chaoyang hospital since leaving the U.S. Embassy, where he took refuge last month after breaking free from local security forces imprisoning him and his family at their Shandong province home.
Chen says police are now blocking hospital visits by friends, relatives and U.S. diplomats. The self-taught lawyer, who fell out of the favor of local authorities after protesting forced abortions and sterilizations, is awaiting a visa from Beijing to study in the United States.
Chen told VOA if he moves to the United States, he wants to live in peace.<!--IMAGE-RIGHT-->"I'd just like to mainly rest for a while, then supplement my own knowledge," he said. "It's already been more than seven years I haven't had a single weekend without tension. So really it's these two things that I hope I can do."
Chen says he suffered torture at the hands of Chinese security forces who turned his home into a virtual prison, with security cameras, covered windows and plainclothes policemen patrolling the road to his house.
Since Chen's escape, his brother and sister-in-law reportedly have been detained, and Chen's lawyers say his nephew is facing "voluntary murder" charges for attacking intruders who entered his home searching for Chen.
The activist told VOA he last spoke with Chinese authorities on Monday, and that they reaffirmed a pledge to investigate what he called the "illegal happenings" in Shandong.
"The important thing is that they will handle the case publically according to Chinese law - they expressed this very clearly. But they haven't clearly said when this will begin," he said.
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