CAA Urges the Release of the Kidnapped China Top Human Rights Christian Attorney Gao Zhisheng

Contact: Bob Fu, China Aid Association, 267-205-5210, [email protected], www.ChinaAid.org, www.monitorChina.org

MIDLAND, Texas, Aug. 23 /Christian Newswire/ -- China Aid Association learned on August 21, six detained House Church leaders have been formally arrested after their church was destroyed on July 29th in Xiaoshan, Zhejiang Province while ten Christians who had been detained since the church demolition were released.

The six arrested were accused of “resisting the carry-out of the law by instigating violence.” Their names are Brother Ni Weimin, Sister Shen Zhuke, Elder Shen Chengyi, Pastor Wang Weiliang, Brother Feng Guanglian and Brother Guo Lijun

 CAA learned at least 4 Christian human rights attorneys including Dr. Li Baiguang, Dr. Fan Yafeng, attorney Zhang Xingshui and attorney Sun Hongye have volunteered to defend the arrested six church leaders.

CAA also learned that the Zhejiang government bulldozed the Dalin church in Shaoxing City. We are still waiting for details.

The arrest of well known human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng, August 15, 2006, aroused concerns both domestically and internationally.

Gao was kidnapped by a dozen of Chinese security agents at 12 noon on August 15 at his sister’s home in Shandong province. Only until two days later, the Chinese official news agency confirmed Gao’s arrest by accusing him as a suspect of committing crime. Since then, Gao’s whereabouts’ is still unknown.  Outsiders are not able to contact his family. His wife, two young children are still under house arrest. When visitors came to their home officers of the National Security Bureau (NSB) answered the door. A group of NSB officers stayed with Mr. Gao’s wife and children (ages 13 and 2) in their apartment after his arrest in order to monitor them. These visitors also found plain-clothed policemen around.

“The formal arrest of the six House church leaders in Zhejiang and arbitrary detention of Mr. Gao will be the litmus test to the whole world as to whether the Chinese government will truly carry out its promise to rule of the law and religious freedom,” said Rev. Bob Fu, President of CAA, "The house arrest of Mr. Gao’s family members is absolutely illegal. Forcibly entering and occupying private property is completely in violation of the China’s Constitution. Putting two children under house arrest also violates the International Covenant on Children’s Rights.”

CAA calls upon the international community to urgently take prayerful actions to secure Mr. Gao’s release. CAA urges President Bush and Secretary Rice to personally intervene for the safety of Mr. Gao and his family members.

Attachment, Brother Wang Weiliang’s official arrest notification received August 21, 2006:

Hangzhou Public Security Bureau Xiaoshan District Branch

Notification to the Family or Unit of the Arrested

Document Number: Xiao Gong Xing Zi (2006) No. 1340

Wang Weiliang was arrested, on the approval of the Xiaoshan District Prosecutor, by our bureau August 19, 2006, for resisting the carry-out of the law by instigating violence. He is currently held in the Xiao Shan Detention Center.

Special Notification

Family or unit of detained: Wang Weiliang’s family

Address: Kanshan Town, Xiaoshan District

August 19, 2006

List of Chinese Embassy and Consulates in the US:

Embassy of the People’s Republic of China

2300 Connecticut Ave NW

Washington DC 20008

Tel:(202) 328-2500 Fax: (202) 588-0032

Director of Religious Affairs

(202) 328-2512

Chinese Consulate General in Chicago, IL

Address: 100 West Erie Street, Chicago, IL 60610

Tel: (312) 803-0095

Fax: (312) 803-0110

Chinese Consulate General in Houston, TX

Address: 3417 Montrose Blvd., Houston, TX 77006

Tel: (713) 524-0780

Fax: (713) 524-7656

Chinese Consulate General in Los Angeles, CA

Address: 443 Shatto Place, Los Angeles, CA 90020

Tel: (213) 807-8018

Fax: (213) 380-1961

Chinese Consulate General in New York, NY

Address: 520 12th Avenue, New York, NY 10036

Tel: (212) 244 9392

Fax: (212) 502 0258

Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco, CA

Address: 1450 Laguna St. San Francisco, CA 94115

Tel: (415) 674-2940

Fax: (415) 563-4861