Double trouble for Chinese leaders

The blind human rights activist Chen Guangcheng is now the latest major headache for China's leaders.

Since 2006 he has been jailed, illegally detained and, he claims, beaten. His wife, he says, has also been seriously assaulted.

Bejing is currently dealing with the fallout of the Bo Xilai scandal, the former Party Boss is linked to the death of the British businessman Neil Heywood last November. Bo's wife is suspected of his murder. The scandal is putting the leadership under uncomfortable scrutiny. Now they have another crisis to cope with.

The Chen case illustrates the gap between the actions of local governments which often try to hide and detain campaigners and protesters and central government which has often been able to offer official denials that the state is aware anything illegal is going on.

Chen has now, it appears, made it to Beijing so China's leaders now find themselves in the spotlight. International human rights organistations and, more significantly, the US government is watching how they will handle the escaped dissident.

Hillary Clinton, who has repeatedly called for Chen's release is due to meet Chinese leaders in Bejing next week. Good timing for Chen.

If Chen is found in the capital and sent back into detention there will be howls of protest from the West. Bejing will be seen to be directly involved in any repercussions against the campaigner and his family.

By making a direct appeal to China's Premier Wen Jianbao, Chen is hoping that media and the Chinse blogging sites will take up his case and press Wen for a response.

China's state media is not covering the Chen case at all. The internet is being censored, even the word 'blind' cannot be seen. Chen has been blind since childhood.

Beijing is hoping the vast majority of people in China will not be able to see or hear anything about the plight of the human rights campaigner who's managed to escape house arrest.