Excerpted from BosNewsLife:
He reportedly pleaded "guilty" to the subversion charges, but Human Rights in China (HRIC) suggested there were indications that the 42-year-old Gao [Zhisheng] had been forced by authorities to make such a statement.
HRIC said there was a "lack of transparency throughout the process" and a "climate of intimidation surrounding the case, including the violent attack on Gao's wife."
HRIC Executive Director Sharon Hom said that "If the rule of law is to mean anything, defendants should at the very least be afforded effective legal representation of their choice and access to the evidence against them."
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For more information on this issue:
- Press Release:
HRIC Concerned Over Gao Zhisheng's Guilty Plea - Press Statement:
HRIC Statement on Gao Zhisheng's Sentence - China Rights Forum, No.3, 2006:
"Choosing Our Battles" - Lawyer Gao Zhisheng, in the midst of a hunger strike, calls for a realistic and courageous response to the no-holds-barred official suppression of the rights defense movement. - HRIC Trends Bulletin:
Setback for the rule of law - Lawyers under attack in China
