The ROC Mainland Affairs Council called on Beijing April 30 to respect human rights and treat its political dissidents with dignity.

The MAC made the remarks in a statement responding to the recent escape of blind legal activist Chen Guangcheng from house arrest in Shandong province.

“As judicial justice and human rights are universal values, it is our sincere hope that political reforms in mainland China will bring more political freedom to its people,” the MAC noted.

When individuals speak out for human rights, they should not be overlooked as they in effect represent countless others who suffer from injustice as a result of a malfunctioning legal system, the MAC added.

Chen, a self-trained lawyer who exposed forced sterilizations and abortions in a local government campaign to enforce the one-child policy, was sentenced to 51 months in prison in 2006. After his release September 2010, he had been under house detention although there were no charges against him.

In a videotaped statement made public April 27, Chen, 41, accused local officials of unlawful surveillance and brutal violence inflicted upon him and his family, including his wife, brother, nephew and 80-year-old mother. He called on mainland Chinese leader Wen Jiabao to investigate the case. Chen is believed to now be in hiding in Beijing. (THN)