On April 7, 2010, the Associated Press reported an in-person conversation with activist lawyer Gao Zhisheng (高智晟). Gao’s reappearance is a welcome reassurance to his family and supporters that he is safe. The recent reported statements about his desire to reunite with his family are powerful testaments to the universality of the most basic of human bonds: the family. However, Gao’s declining to talk about his disappearance and treatment by the authorities as cited in press reports raises unresolved questions about any “choice” he has made. If Gao is allowed to reunite with his family, will he be allowed to leave China or would his family be allowed to return to China freely if they choose? If they return, will Gao be able to exercise his fundamental rights and freedoms protected under international and Chinese law?
The Chinese government needs to demonstrate to Gao, his family, Chinese citizens, and the international community that there is room in China for citizens who are simply exercising these protected fundamental rights and freedoms.
For more information on Gao Zhisheng, see:
- “Statement by Geng He, Wife of Gao Zhisheng,” February 17, 2010
- “Top EU Official Asks China to Account for Missing Chinese Lawyer Gao Zhisheng,” February 10, 2010
- “Wife of Disappeared Lawyer Says to Chinese Government: Give Back My Husband,” February 4, 2010
- “Wife of Abducted Rights Defense Lawyer Gao Zhisheng Requests Urgent Help From U.S. Congress in Open Letter,” April 23, 2009
- “Family of Missing Rights Defense Lawyer Gao Zhisheng Arrives in U.S.,” March 11, 2009
- “Torture Account by Missing Rights Defense Lawyer Gao Zhisheng,” February 8, 2009
- Joint statement by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and Human Rights in China, “Human Rights Lawyer in Arbitrary Detention,” February 2, 2009
- Kerry Brown, Review of Gao Zhisheng's A China More Just, China Rights Forum, 2008, No.1
- “HRIC Statement on Gao Zhisheng's Sentence,” December 22, 2006
- “HRIC Concerned Over Gao Zhisheng’s Guilty Plea,” December 13, 2006
Gao Zhisheng’s account of his September 2007 kidnapping and torture:
- 黑夜、黑头套、黑帮绑架 (Chinese original)
- Dark Night, Dark Hood, and Kidnapping by Dark Mafia (English translation)