Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07GUANGZHOU1229
2007-11-20 08:31:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Guangzhou
Cable title:
Human Rights: Guo Feixiong Receives Fine and Jail
how-toVZCZCXRO0830 RR RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC DE RUEHGZ #1229 3240831 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 200831Z NOV 07 FM AMCONSUL GUANGZHOU TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6680 INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RUEKJCS/DIA WASHDC RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
C O N F I D E N T I A L GUANGZHOU 001229
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/CM AND DRL
PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/20/2017
TAGS: PHUM PGOV CH
SUBJECT: Human Rights: Guo Feixiong Receives Fine and Jail
Time; Appeal Possible
Ref: Guangzhou 962
C O N F I D E N T I A L GUANGZHOU 001229
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/CM AND DRL
PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/20/2017
TAGS: PHUM PGOV CH
SUBJECT: Human Rights: Guo Feixiong Receives Fine and Jail
Time; Appeal Possible
Ref: Guangzhou 962
1. (U) Classified by Consul General Robert Goldberg for
reason 1.4 (d).
2. (C) The trial of democracy activist Guo Feixiong ended
November 14 with a conviction for "illegal business
practices," resulting in a sentence of five years in prison
and a fine of CNY 40,000 (approximately USD 5,387).
Because Guo has ten days from the date of the ruling to
decide whether to file an appeal, the Tianhe District Court
has not yet announced where Guo will serve his sentence.
3. (C) Guo's wife, Zhang Qing, told a consulate political
assistant that she and Guo's lawyers originally had been
optimistic when the July 9 trial had ended in a ten-week
recess to allow the prosecutor to develop additional
evidence. (NOTE: The ten-week recess should have expired
in late September. END NOTE) Zhang says she now believes
that the court further delayed Guo's conviction and
sentencing to avoid drawing international attention to
China's human rights situation until after the Seventeenth
National Party Congress.
4. (C) Zhang said she hoped to convince her husband to
appeal his case, and that Guo's lawyers would discuss this
option when they meet with him this week. Zhang also plans
to continue to write open letters to influential
individuals and groups to raise public awareness of her
husband's case. (NOTE: As reported reftel, Zhang penned an
open letter to Hu Jintao in August. END NOTE) She said
that two websites -- Boxun.com and rfa.org -- had agreed to
publish any forthcoming letters.
GOLDBERG
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/CM AND DRL
PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/20/2017
TAGS: PHUM PGOV CH
SUBJECT: Human Rights: Guo Feixiong Receives Fine and Jail
Time; Appeal Possible
Ref: Guangzhou 962
1. (U) Classified by Consul General Robert Goldberg for
reason 1.4 (d).
2. (C) The trial of democracy activist Guo Feixiong ended
November 14 with a conviction for "illegal business
practices," resulting in a sentence of five years in prison
and a fine of CNY 40,000 (approximately USD 5,387).
Because Guo has ten days from the date of the ruling to
decide whether to file an appeal, the Tianhe District Court
has not yet announced where Guo will serve his sentence.
3. (C) Guo's wife, Zhang Qing, told a consulate political
assistant that she and Guo's lawyers originally had been
optimistic when the July 9 trial had ended in a ten-week
recess to allow the prosecutor to develop additional
evidence. (NOTE: The ten-week recess should have expired
in late September. END NOTE) Zhang says she now believes
that the court further delayed Guo's conviction and
sentencing to avoid drawing international attention to
China's human rights situation until after the Seventeenth
National Party Congress.
4. (C) Zhang said she hoped to convince her husband to
appeal his case, and that Guo's lawyers would discuss this
option when they meet with him this week. Zhang also plans
to continue to write open letters to influential
individuals and groups to raise public awareness of her
husband's case. (NOTE: As reported reftel, Zhang penned an
open letter to Hu Jintao in August. END NOTE) She said
that two websites -- Boxun.com and rfa.org -- had agreed to
publish any forthcoming letters.
GOLDBERG