Republican leader fears for blind Chinese dissident Chen's security in US

Washington, May 22 (ANI): Chris Smith, who represents the Republican Party in the Congress from New Jersey, has said that he fears for the security of blind Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng in the U.S.

Smith said Chen would need extra security in the U.S., as the Chinese Government may continue to track his movement and could even attempt to harm him.

"We've learned from ... many other dissidents who finally got here and got asylum or protection that they are tracked, they are followed, they are harassed. So he will have to be watched, there will have to be an extra layer of protection here in New York," the New Jersey Republican said.

"It has to be watched very carefully because they do things like car crashes or something happens that is made to look like an accident. So we have to keep a very, very sharp focus on his safety," the Politico quoted Smith as saying.During an interview, Smith also warned that Chen's relatives in China were still at "grave risk".

"They're being retaliated against," Smith said, adding, "They shifted, they being the Chinese Government, from going after him and beating him routinely to beating his family, especially his nephew and brother."

The Republican congressman also warned that the chances of Chen going back to China in the near future were very less due to safety concerns.

"If he goes back he and his family will be put in the crosshairs of retaliation," he said. (ANI)