Fujian Dissident Calls for Efforts on Behalf of

C O N F I D E N T I A L GUANGZHOU 032161

SIPDIS

C O N F I D E N T I A L

SIPDIS
SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/CM AND DRL
PACOM FOR FPA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/06/16
TAGS: PHUM PGOV SOCI CH
SUBJECT: Fujian Dissident Calls for Efforts on Behalf of
Gao Zhisheng

REF: A) Guangzhou 30533; B) Beijing 18544


1. (U) Classified by Consul General Robert Goldberg.
Reason 1.4 (d).


2. (C) SUMMARY: Former Tiananmen-era activist and
dissident writer Lin Xinyu discussed with poloffs his
efforts, along with other activists, to pressure the
Chinese government for the release of detained activists
Gao Zhisheng and Guo Feixiong. Lin said that outside
pressure on courts was less effective once judgments have
already been rendered. END SUMMARY.


3. (C) On October 30, Beijing Poloff and Guangzhou Poloff
met with Lin Xinyu (protect),a dissident writer from
Fuzhou, Fujian province, who, in 1989, was imprisoned for
eight months following the Tiananmen crackdown for
allegedly inciting students to participate in the movement.
Despite government pressure, Lin has remained an active
writer. Lin claims he was the first mainlander to publicly
demand reparations from Japan (1986) and a reassessment of
the Tiananmen Square incident (1991).


4. (C) Lin urged the U.S. Government to lodge protest with
the Chinese Government over the detentions of legal
activists Gao Zhisheng (detained August 15, ref B) and Guo
Feixiong (detained September 18, ref A). Lin said that he
had spearheaded a letter writing campaign among China's
intellectuals and activists for the release of China
Democracy Party activist Wang Youcai in 1998. In part due
to this pressure, Wang was initially released, Lin said.
Unfortunately, Wang was subsequently detained again and
sentenced to 11 years for subversion. Lin argued this
pressure must be brought early in a case to be effective.


5. (U) This cable has been coordinated with Embassy
Beijing.

GOLDBERG