HUMAN RIGHTS: DAS CHRISTENSEN RAISES GAO YAOJIE

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 000886 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR DRL, EAP/CM E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/06/2017 TAGS: PHUM PREL PGOV CH SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS: DAS CHRISTENSEN RAISES GAO YAOJIE CASE WITH MFA NORTH AMERICA DG LIU JIEYI REF: BEIJING 860 Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Daniel L. Shields. Reasons 1.4 (b/d). ¶1. (C) EAP Deputy Assistant Secretary Thomas Christensen expressed deep concern about the detention of AIDS activist Dr. Gao Yaojie to MFA Director General for North American Affairs Liu Jieyi on February 6. Local authorities have prevented Dr. Gao, who exposed the widespread AIDS infections caused by Chinese blood selling stations, from traveling to Beijing to complete visa processing for an upcoming trip to the United States. Such harassment stains China's international image and could negatively affect perceptions of China in the United States, including in the new Congress, DAS Christensen noted. ¶2. (C) DG Liu said the Central Government is investigating the reported detention. The MFA does not yet have the facts of the case and had not been aware of the matter until the Embassy raised it (reftel) with the MFA on February 5, DG Liu said. Post separately contacted the MFA again at the working level on February 6 to ask about Dr. Gao's case. Poloff told MFA North American Affairs officer Ran Bo that Vital Voices representatives met with PRC Embassy DCM Zheng Zeguang in late 2006 to discuss the awards and that Zheng had raised no objections to Dr. Gao's inclusion among the honorees. Ran said the MFA is communicating with "relevant departments" in the Chinese Government and will respond to our inquiry as soon as possible. ¶3. (C) Dr. Gao's daughter, Guo Jingxian (protect), told us by phone at 1730 local time February 6 that plainclothes and uniformed police continue to prohibit Dr. Gao from leaving her home. The doctor's phone service has been suspended, Guo said, adding that officials have urged Guo's husband, a surgeon at a local hospital, to "prevent" his mother-in-law from traveling to Beijing. Meanwhile, Dr. Gao's younger brother is preparing food for her in her home and police are allowing other family members to visit without hindrance, Guo said. ¶4. (U) DAS Christensen has cleared this cable. RANDT