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A rumor is spreading online that the missing human rights
lawyer Gao Zhisheng has died under custody in Inner Mongolia.
But Gao's family have not received official news of it, nor
do their know of his whereabouts since more than a year ago.
An online message of Nov. 15th claims the human rights activist
Gao Zhizheng has died under custody in Inner Mongolia.
But his family has not been notified of such news.
And renown Beijing activist Hu Jia doesn't believe such news.
Hu Jia, Beijing Activist "I don't believe this.
I don't think Gao' life is that fragile. What I believe,
is that he is enduring and persisting to see a change
in China's political system, a chance to learn about the truth."
Beijing human rights lawyer Jiang Tianyong points out there
is no evidence to prove the news of Gao's death are true.
Jiang Tianyong: "I saw this news from internet,
but nothing can prove this, how can I believe it's true or not."
Hu Jia, Beijing Activist: "All the information I've got is
from a year ago, from those close to Gao's family and those who went to see him last year."
Gao Zhisheng has gone missing for more than a year.
His father-in-law, Geng Yun Di,
says that during the U.S. Vice President Joe Biden's visit
to China last August, he was told by the Urumqi police that Gao had been released.
And so did the local police station who asked him to arrange for Gao's accommodation,
but then Geng heard no further news.
To this day, Gao Zhisheng's family have not had any
response from the Chinese regime's authorities.
Hu Jia, Beijing Activist: "Not responding is seen as normal
for the institutions of the Chinese Communist Party,
like the Public Security, the Court and the Procuracy.
They will never admit to any wrongdoing.
Gao Zhisheng's sister and brother have both been prevented
from contacting him.
His brother Gao Zhiyi wanted to go to Beijing to post a
missing person notice, but was refused travel and is now under house surveillance in Shanxi province.
Last time Gao's sister, Gao Yan-fang, had news was from
Gao's father-in-law but was also prevented from traveling to Beijing.
Hu Jia, Beijing Activist: "Every time Gao Zhisheng made
an appearance, he clearly expressed he was under the control of local authorities."
Hu Jia urged the international community, human rights
organizations and the international media to keep paying attention to Gao Zhisheng's disappearance case.
Wether Gao Zhisheng is alive or indeed dead,
their need to keep putting pressure on Chinese authorities
as the Beijing State Security police will not escape
from their wrong doing.
Over the years Gao defended social vulnerable groups
and was awarded "China's Top Ten Outstanding Lawyers".
Gao sent three open letters to Chinese regime officials
appealing to stop their persecution of Falun Gong.
But later he suffered persecution himself,
including beatings, tracking, kidnapping, harassment, unlawful detention.
Authorities even apparently attempted to plot traffic accidents
to kill him.
Beijing First Intermediate People's Court charged Gao with
"inciting subversion of state political power" in February 2007.
Gao Zhisheng was then sentenced to three years in prison
and was suspended for five years.
Then on February 4th, 2009, the public security police
kidnapped Gao Zhisheng once again.
In April 2010, Gao was seen in Beijing, when he accepted
an interview with the Associated Press where he told of his mistreatment under police custody.
Soon after the AP interview, Gao Zhisheng once again lost
contact with the outside world.
His own family has not had any news of him for
more than a year.
NTD reporter Liang Xin, Li Yun and Sun Ning
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