World

Gao Zhisheng, Human Rights Attorney, Has Been 'Disappeared'

by Barbara McPherson | April 23, 2009 at 09:45 am

179 views | 55 Recommendations | 9 comments

US Senator Bryon Dorgan, Chairman of the Congressional - Executive Commission on China has taken an interest in the plight of Gao Zhisheng, a human rights attorney who has been 'disappeared' in China. More than 50 000 signatures of US citizens were attached to a petition expressing concerns for his welbeing.

Gao had been arrested and tortured in 2007 for his pursuit of human rights in the People's Republic.

Gao Zhisheng, who was nominated for the 2008 Nobel Peace Prize, was forcibly taken from his hometown in Shaanxi province early in the morning on February 4 by more than a dozen police officers. Currently, his whereabouts are unknown. Gao has been kidnapped and tortured for his pursuit of human rights in China.

The stonewalling of interested parties in trying to locate missing people detained by authorities, seems to be a common tactic of the Chinese government.

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Roy C

at 17:22 on April 23rd, 2009

Clinton didn't care. Bush didn't care. Obama doesn't care. Plain and simple.

Tamiya

at 17:27 on April 23rd, 2009

"Clinton didn't care. Bush didn't care. Obams doesn't care. Plain and simple."

But they should if they want to be seen as the leader of the free world, not as the biggest borrower of China.

It is important to act when the human rights violation is far away, sooner or later the same threat could become more real to us.

"First they came for the Jews

and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for the Communists

and I did not speak out because I was not a Communist.

Then they came for the trade unionists

and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for me

and there was no one left to speak out for me."

German theologian, Martin Niem”ller

Roy C

at 17:33 on April 23rd, 2009

Bill Clinton was a Wall Street president and Hillary sat on the board of Wal-Mart, of all companies of which to lend your stature.

Bush believes, as does Clinton, maybe a rationale or maybe an act of true believer faith, that free trade will ultimately undo the authoritarian government of any country over time.

The question is: what scale of time? And how much damage do they do in the meantime while we coax them along and supply them with technology that they can reverse engineer while they pile our dollars in their banks?

Obama is our "peace-and-love" candidate and doesn't think that Americans can give lectures to anyone about morality, even with the first person of color elected to high office in the West, the crowning achievement of decades of championing civil rights.

Actually, I think he lacks the spine to do it.

What is he going to do about the Iranian-American journalist in Iran, actually tortured and held on trumped-up charges?

Grace Jensen (not verified)

at 10:20 on April 23rd, 2009

I'm supplying a couple of links that are particularly interesting, IMO, in light of your story:

http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2006/03/16/china-no-medical-reason-hold-dissident

http://www.pen.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/2647/prmID/1691

There are others similar articles, but the dangerous trends of "political psychiatry" are being seen in the U.S., as well. When it will come out, if ever, is another question, but we all need to be aware. I don't know what has happened to Gao Zhisheng but, given what I know - given what I've experienced - nothing would surprise me.

Thank you for this story.

Amy Judd

at 14:42 on April 23rd, 2009

I hope nothing happened to him...

Tina Kells

at 17:17 on April 23rd, 2009

Barbara McPherson

at 17:35 on April 23rd, 2009

Thank you, Grace, for your comments and link. For anyone interested, there is a book called Troublemaker, One Man's Crusade Against China's Cruelty by Harry Wu. It's from the 90's but still applicable.

Grace Elizabeth (not verified)

at 17:53 on April 23rd, 2009

You're "spot on."

Grace Elizabeth (not verified)

at 18:06 on April 23rd, 2009

And what's he (or anyone) going to do about the extra-legal, extra-judicial system of abuse that targets some stellar citizens, stripping them of their livelihoods (by defamation and lies), and then vandalizing their homes, stealing from them, surreptitiously entering their homes and cars, terrorizing them by stealking important personal papers (some of them irreplaceable sp) and the list goes on. Some report having their pets poisoned/killed. Report, ask for help and you're labeled "nuts." It's shameful and it's fact. But few are listening or getting it.

It's a fact, but by the time it's well-known, it may very well be too late, if it isn't already. Folks who dare to speak about these outrageous criminal practices are further maligned. But what's the option? To be silent - to suffer and be destroyed silently, and thereby be complicit? Someone left a threatening note for me - a "think you can get a way, think again" message. This is more than one person and these activities cross state lines. This is serious folks. I don't have an individual stalker -- this is something organized and there is seemingly no way out.

(Oh, and the note? No fingerprints and "a hoax", according to the police. I suppose that they thought I may have written it myself to which I say, "Hogwash.")