China says missing lawyer 'is where he should be'

AP on Yahoo ^ | 1/22/10 | Cara Anna - ap

[NormsRevenge]

BEIJING – A Chinese human rights lawyer missing for almost a year has been judged by legal authorities and "is where he should be," a Foreign Ministry official said in China's first public comment on the case.

Gao Zhisheng, one of China's most daring lawyers, has drawn international attention for the unusual length of his disappearance and for his earlier reports of the torture he said he faced from security forces. In a memoir, he described severe beatings, electric shocks to his genitals and cigarettes held to his eyes.

His brother said earlier this month that the Beijing police officer who took Gao away in February 2009 told him he "went missing" in September, leading to fears for the lawyer's safety.

But at a regular press conference Thursday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu indicated that Gao was in custody, after he was asked whether he knew where Gao was.

"The relevant judicial authorities have decided this case, and we should say this person, according to Chinese law, is where he should be," Ma said.

"As far as what exactly he's doing, I don't know. You can ask relevant authorities," he said.

[NormsRevenge]

China’s gubamint , using the term ‘gubamint’ loosely , does not even approach the level of ‘fledgling’ democracy.

It is what it is.. it is Death to those who question it’s policies and agenda. Stuck on Regime.

[EagleUSA]

Isn’t communism pretty???

[a fool in paradise]

[Brouhaha]

It’s nice to know that our national debt makes us completely beholden to them.

Hopefully, I’ll get to see a few useful idiot libtards go up against the wall before it’s my turn.

[sportutegrl]

Don’t worry. He is probably with the Ministry of Love.

[mdmathis6]

There are a few liberal lawyers I can think of that need to be where that other person is...and quite a few politicians as well!