| Taken Question Office of the Spokesman Washington, DC December 14, 2006 Question Taken at December 14, 2006, Daily Press Briefing China - Trial of Gao Zhisheng (Taken Question)Question: What is our comment on the one-day trial of Gao Zhisheng that was held on Tuesday? Answer: We have seen reports that human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng was tried on charges of inciting subversion December 12. While we are seeking further details on this case, we are concerned by reports that neither Gao's family nor his legal counsel were informed of the hearing or allowed to be present. The case against Mr. Gao represents the latest in an apparent trend to punish legal and social activists who have been working to protect the rights of their fellow citizens. We have repeatedly raised our concerns in Beijing and Washington about Mr. Gao's case, and continue to urge the chinese government to release gao and other activists who have been detained simply for peacefully exercising their internationally-recognized fundamental rights and the rights of all Chinese citizens according to China's own constitution. ### 2006/1116 |
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