Human Rights: Guo Feixiong Charges to be Dropped

C O N F I D E N T I A L GUANGZHOU 000058 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: 01/11/31 TAGS: PHUM PGOV CH SUBJECT: Human Rights: Guo Feixiong Charges to be Dropped or Worsened? Ref: A) Guangzhou 00052 B) 06 Guangzhou 32369 ¶1. (U) Classified by Consul General Robert Goldberg. Reason 1.4 (d). ¶2. (C) SUMMARY: Arrested legal activist Guo Feixiong could have his charges of "illegal business procedure" dropped, though new more serious charges might be added instead (leading to possible house arrest),according to rights protection lawyer Guo Yan. On January 10, Guo and Professor Ai Xiaoming expressed concerned for the lack of interest in Guo Feixiong's case. Guo Yan believes that Chinese intelligence officials began a plot to ruin Guo's credibility among the rights protection movement during Guo's April visit to the United States. END SUMMARY ¶3. (C) On January 10, rights protection lawyer Guo Yan and Zhongshan University professor Ai Xiaoming provided Congenoff with more details about the case of legal activist Guo Feixiong (no relation, real name Yang Maodong) who was recently allowed to retain legal counsel (ref A). Guo Yan, along with Guo Feixiong and Tang Jingling, is known for her defense of villagers from the 2005 Taishi incident and appears prominently in Professor Ai's documentary of the incident (ref hr video). ¶4. (C) Guo Yan predicted that there are two possible outcomes for Guo Feixiong's case. Guo Feixiong's charges of illegal business practice could be dropped, which is what happened to Guo's former assistant, Jiang Wei, who was arrested in 2001 in Shenyang on similar charges (Note: In 2001, Guo Feixiong is believed to have published and distributed a book entitled "Earthquake in Shenyang" - exposing corruption in the Shenyang government - which Chinese authorities point to as evidence of Guo's illegal distribution of books. End note.). However, Guo Yan fears that authorities may file new charges against Guo Feixiong such as those against Gao Zhisheng that could lead to his house arrest for at least one year. Guo Yan also mentioned that Mo Shaoping has so far left the case to his assistant. ¶5. (C) Guo Yan was also concerned about the lack of support for Guo's case in the mainstream media. Guo speculated that this was due to Guo Feixiong's lack of strong Falun Gong backing. Additionally, other sources have told the Consulate that Guo Feixiong lost credibility with many leading rights protection activists when he attended the April 2006 China Aid Association conference in Washington, because of an overly aggressive move to meet President Bush. In fact, many dissidents were surprised the Chinese government allowed Guo Feixiong to leave the country. Guo Yan said, however, that Guo Fexiong still has strong credibility among dissidents. Instead she believes that in April 2006, the Chinese government's knowledge of the rights protection was limited; consequently, its best strategy was to allow Guo to leave the country and plant intelligence officers to sow dissension among the activists. GOLDBERG