NEW YORK—Human rights groups and organizations advocating democracy in China gathered in front of the United Nations headquarters in Midtown Manhattan on Friday to support human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng, who was recently tried in secret in China. One of the key speakers at the event, a former Canadian official, also questioned China's ability to host the 2008 Olympics, slated for Beijing.
"If this trend continues, which athlete, government, company, or spectator of conscience would want anything to do with the Olympic Games?" asked former Canadian Secretary of State for Asia-Pacific David Kilgour. "How can China expect to hold the world's Olympics in their country? The Olympics stand for Honor, Goodness, Truth, and Justice."
Kilgour and other speakers decried the arrest and imprisonment of Gao, a well-known figure in China's legal and political community, who apparently didn't commit any crime.
"Few people have the courage to take a firm stand for justice in the face of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), but human rights attorney Gao Zhisheng is one of those few," said Dr. Wenyi Wang, addressing the crowd outside of the United Nations. Dr. Wang herself disrupted a speech given by China's leader Hu Jintao at the White House in April to call attention to human rights conditions in China.
In 2001, Gao was rated by China's Ministry of Justice as one of the ten best lawyers in the country. Gao dared to represent dissidents, religious believers, entire villages with land disputes against officials and Falun Gong adherents, who he said came to his office many times with stories of persecution and torture by police and prison officials.
After conducting his own independent investigation of Falun Gong and allegations of persecution, Gao concluded that the peaceful spiritual practice was indeed being unjustly persecuted. In October, 2005, he wrote a public letter critical of the Chinese Communist regime's policies toward Falun Gong.
In the months that followed, Gao was harassed by government agents and subject to constant surveillance. His firm's license to practice was suspended, his law license was revoked and attempts were made on his life.
Despite the pressure, Gao continued to expose political corruption, and became a rallying point for rule of law and religious freedom in China. He reported his findings to the United Nations' Special Rapporteur on Torture and heads of state around the world.
Gao wrote, "I have anticipated the plight that I am in and the consequences! Anything that happens to me will be normal to the CCP. If I was not in prison, it would be abnormal to them."
In August of this year, Gao was arrested and charged with "inciting subversion of state power."
"They arrested and secretly tried Gao Zhisheng without his family present, and without following the proper legal procedure," said Dr. Wang.
The arrest of Gao Zhisheng highlights a recent crackdown on human rights lawyers in China, and the long standing issues that they represent. It also questions the understanding that China's notoriously bad human rights record would become increasingly better as a result of winning the Olympics bid.
"In applying for the coming games, the government of China undertook to improve human rights; it continues to move briskly in the opposite direction," said Kilgour.
Dalai Or of Israel said she came to the rally for Gao Zhisheng. "I came out of love and respect for a lawyer, husband, father and family man, who became a beacon of light for the oppressed and persecuted… I came to raise my voice in recognition of a brave man who stood up to the communist party in Mainland China."
A campaign is also being launched to nominate Gao for the Nobel Peace Prize, Dr. Wang, who will head the campaign, announced at the rally.
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