(WiPC/IFEX) – The WiPC is seriously concerned for the safety of scholar Gao Zhan, whose whereabouts are unknown following her detention on 11 February 2001. International PEN fears that Gao may be detained solely for her legitimate research activities, and therefore in violation of Article 19 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. […]
(WiPC/IFEX) – The WiPC is seriously concerned for the safety of scholar Gao Zhan, whose whereabouts are unknown following her detention on 11 February 2001. International PEN fears that Gao may be detained solely for her legitimate research activities, and therefore in violation of Article 19 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. WiPC calls upon the Chinese authorities to disclose further details as to the reason for Gao’s arrest, and urges that she be immediately and unconditionally released unless there is compelling evidence to charge her with a recognisable criminal offence.
According to WiPC’s information, Gao, a research fellow at the American University in Washington, D.C., was detained with her husband and their five-year-old son at Beijing airport on 11 February. Gao’s husband, Xue Donghua, and their son, Andrew Xue, were released after twenty-six days, but Gao Zhan remains detained incommunicado. The Chinese Foreign Ministry has issued a statement saying that Gao is under investigation for “engaging in activities damaging state security,” although no details of these activities are specified.
The family had travelled to China on 19 January to visit relatives, and were detained as they were preparing to board a plane back to the United States. Security police reportedly searched their luggage for an hour and a half, but found nothing incriminating. The family was then separated and taken to unknown locations. Andrew Xue was not allowed any contact with his parents or grandparents during his detention. Xue Donghua reports that he was repeatedly interrogated about his wife’s research, publications, and two visits she made to Taiwan in 1995 and 1999, and told that he could only see his son if he first incriminated his wife. Xue Donghua and Andrew Xue were released and reunited on 8 March, and immediately returned to the U.S. Neither were allowed any contact with Gao before they left China, and there has been no news of her whereabouts or condition.
Gao’s research reportedly focuses primarily on Chinese family and women’s issues, but she has also written on China’s relations with Taiwan, including an article published last year that examined the role of women in Taiwanese politics and contrasted the high level of political participation by women in Taiwan with lower levels in mainland China. Her trips to Taiwan in 1995 and 1999 were reportedly academic exchanges organised by the Association of Chinese Political Studies. On both occasions, Gao was said to be among a group of fifteen scholars who visited Taiwanese research organisations, universities and government officials.
Gao and Xue Donghua are Chinese citizens who immigrated to the United States in 1989, although Xue Donghua claims that neither he nor his wife took part in the pro-democracy protests of that year. The couple have permanent U.S. residency, and have applied for U.S. citizenship. Their son Andrew is a U.S. citizen. Xue Donghua said that he and his wife were planning to return to China, and had been looking for teaching jobs at Chinese universities in their home cities of Xian and Nanjing after spending Chinese New Year with relatives.
Gao, 40, reportedly suffers from heart disease and other medical problems, and there are concerns for her health. She is the second Chinese academic to be detained after returning to China from the U. S. in less than two years.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
- expressing serious concerned that research fellow Gao may be detained solely for her legitimate research activities, and therefore in violation of her right to freedom of expression and association, as guaranteed by Article 19 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights
- calling upon them to provide further details of any charges against her, and urge for her immediate and unconditional release unless there is compelling evidence to charge her with a recognisable criminal offence
- noting serious concern about the well-being of Gao, and asking that she be granted access to legal representation, her family, and any necessary medical treatment, in accordance with Chinese law and international standards of human rights
Appeals To
His Excellency Jiang Zemin
State Council
Beijing 100032
P.R.China
His Excellency Xiao Yang Buzhang
Minister of Justice
Sifabu
Xiaguangli
Beijing 100016
P.R.China
Please note that fax numbers are no longer available for the Chinese authorities, so you may wish to ask the diplomatic representative for China in your country to forward your appeals.
Please copy appeals to the diplomatic representative for China in your country and the source if possible.
