Human Rights: Guo Feixiong Charges to be Dropped

C O N F I D E N T I A L GUANGZHOU 000058

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

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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