In the 'Olympic Games 2008' country: Blind human rights activist Chen Guangcheng abused in prison.

Beijing/ Linyi/ Frankfurt Main (12 July 2007) - Six years ago, on 13 July 2001, the IOC decided to allocate the Olympic Games 2008 to Peking. Subsequently the IOC states its intention to monitor the human rights situation in China as well as demand the adherence of fundamental rights. However, according to the International Society for Human Rights (ISHR) no changes in the situation could be noted so far. An example of the continuous breach of human rights by Chinese authorities is the detained blind human rights activist Chen Guangcheng. On 16 June he was maltreated by fellow inmates at the gaolers' disposition. The ISHR demands a fair and humane treatment of the detained person as well as an impartial, detached and comprehensive inquiry into the infringements. "Furthermore we demand that those who are responsible for the offences are called to account", says Martin Lessenthin, Spokesman of the ISHR.

Chen Guangcheng led a campaign against forced abortions and sterilizations in the Chinese town of Linyi, which is located in the Southern province of Shandong. "The local authorities force women to have themselves sterilized in order to adhere to state-regulated family-planning quotas", explains the ISHR.

During his wife's visit to the local prison in Linyi on 19 June he gave her an account of the maltreatment. Six fellow inmates attacked him in a brutal manner and mauled him with kicks and blows, all at the gaoler's disposition. The human rights activist states that he feels pain in his chest and assumes that at least one of his ribs is broken. As a form of protest against the maltreatment and because he was denied medical treatment following the incident, he began a hunger-strike. "Since the attack on him took place, he has been refusing to eat", reports the ISHR.

From September 2005 onwards the blind human rights activist was put under house-arrest for ten months due to the alleged "deliberate destruction of collective property and the hindrance of road traffic", which later turned into a prison sentence of four years and three months. His appeal was successful to start off with but the lawsuit had to be repeated due to a lack of evidence. In the process that followed on 12 January 2007 he was given the exact same sentence on the same charge.

After the assaults had taken place, Chen Guangcheng was informed that he was being punished because of his "disobedient behaviour"- as a response to this he insists on filing an appeal at the Superior Provincial Court. Guangcheng, who went blind during his early childhood, depends on the help of his lawyer or his wife when composing a claim. Since he is only granted visitors once a month for 30 minutes, it is made impossible for him to raise his plea against his imprisonment.

Even though he has been intensively engaging himself with legal aid for the past few years, he does not hold any academic qualifications, as he is forbidden from gaining a university degree in China due to his blindness. Therefore he was merely able to obtain his knowledge through self-education.

Albeit the Chinese governments? promises to improve the human rights situation in China before the start of the Olympic Games, the maltreatment, torture and harassment of human rights activists and lawyers remains a part of everyday life. At regular intervals people are imprisoned after having had unfair trails.