Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BEIJING16960
2006-08-17 10:26:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Beijing
Cable title:
HUMAN RIGHTS: ACTIVIST LAWYER GAO ZHISHENG
how-toVZCZCXRO2886 OO RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC DE RUEHBJ #6960 2291026 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 171026Z AUG 06 FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4139 INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 016960
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/17/2031
TAGS: PHUM PGOV CH
SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS: ACTIVIST LAWYER GAO ZHISHENG
DETAINED IN SHANDONG PROVINCE
Classified By: Classified by Political Internal Unit Chief Susan
Thornton. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 016960
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/17/2031
TAGS: PHUM PGOV CH
SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS: ACTIVIST LAWYER GAO ZHISHENG
DETAINED IN SHANDONG PROVINCE
Classified By: Classified by Political Internal Unit Chief Susan
Thornton. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Beijing-based democracy activist Hu Jia
telephoned poloff August 17 to report that Gao
Zhisheng, a Beijing-based lawyer who has drawn Chinese
Government ire for defending dissidents, was detained
on August 15 in Shandong Province. Gao was having
lunch with a mutual friend of Hu's when two people
presumed to be non-uniformed security officials
approached Gao and took him away. Gao's family has
not heard from him since then, Hu told poloff.
2. (C) In the recent past, Gao has written open
letters critical of the Communist Party's mistreatment
of Falun Gong practitioners, organized a hunger strike
to protest human rights abuses and defended pro-
democracy activists, religious figures and
petitioners. His law firm was shuttered last year and
his law license suspended for one year. Most
recently, Gao helped to organize Beijing-based
attorneys to travel to Shandong Province to protest at
the postponed July 20 hearing for legal activist Chen
Guangcheng.
3. (C) The city where Gao was arrested, Dongying, is
several hours drive from Linyi, Shandong Province
where Chen is slated to be tried tomorrow. Hu had no
information on whether Gao's arrest was related to the
upcoming trial, but Gao has traveled in Shandong in
the past collecting information about abuse of Falun
Gong practictioners.
RANDT
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/17/2031
TAGS: PHUM PGOV CH
SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS: ACTIVIST LAWYER GAO ZHISHENG
DETAINED IN SHANDONG PROVINCE
Classified By: Classified by Political Internal Unit Chief Susan
Thornton. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Beijing-based democracy activist Hu Jia
telephoned poloff August 17 to report that Gao
Zhisheng, a Beijing-based lawyer who has drawn Chinese
Government ire for defending dissidents, was detained
on August 15 in Shandong Province. Gao was having
lunch with a mutual friend of Hu's when two people
presumed to be non-uniformed security officials
approached Gao and took him away. Gao's family has
not heard from him since then, Hu told poloff.
2. (C) In the recent past, Gao has written open
letters critical of the Communist Party's mistreatment
of Falun Gong practitioners, organized a hunger strike
to protest human rights abuses and defended pro-
democracy activists, religious figures and
petitioners. His law firm was shuttered last year and
his law license suspended for one year. Most
recently, Gao helped to organize Beijing-based
attorneys to travel to Shandong Province to protest at
the postponed July 20 hearing for legal activist Chen
Guangcheng.
3. (C) The city where Gao was arrested, Dongying, is
several hours drive from Linyi, Shandong Province
where Chen is slated to be tried tomorrow. Hu had no
information on whether Gao's arrest was related to the
upcoming trial, but Gao has traveled in Shandong in
the past collecting information about abuse of Falun
Gong practictioners.
RANDT