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