The Epoch Times | Brave Attorney Seen as Future National Leader of China

Renowned Chinese human rights attorney Gao Zhisheng stunned the world by thrice writing to the top Chinese Communist Party leadership on the taboo subject of the persecution of Falun Gong.

A number of scholars, including Zhou Fengsuo, one student leader of the Pro-democracy demonstration that was crushed on Tiananmen Square in June 1989, Yuan Hongbing, legal expert and professor, Xu Shuiliang, Editor of Digest Online , Wu Fan, Editor of China Affairs , and respected human rights attorney Guo Guoting, agreed that Gao's letters were a powerful challenge to the CCP dictatorship. They called human rights fighters such as Gao "talents prepared for China's future," and urged the international community to protect them at this historic moment to lead China on the path of democracy and the rule of law.

Gao's Letters Are a Powerful Challenge to the CCP Dictatorship

Mr. Zhou Fengsuo said, "Gao Zhisheng risked his life to gather first-hand information, and tell the world that the CCP has always persecuted and harmed the Chinese people. The use of persecution has not abated despite the economic development and changes in party leadership. The CCP uses persecution as a response to Gao Zhisheng's letters, which proves that they are afraid that the truth can no longer be hidden.

As a fellow person from Shaanxi Province, Zhou expressed tremendous admiration for Gao. "Many Chinese people today only care about their immediate interests. They care about the practical things and are quite slick, sometimes even at the expense of their own souls. From Gao, we can see the courage of our Shaanxi people. It is a courage stemming from patriotism, and from being unafraid of difficulties, even when the likelihood of winning appears impossible," said Zhou.

Professor Yuan Hongbing called Gao "the conscience of China" during an interview with Sound of Hope Radio. "The CCP's responses to the open letters showed that Gao Zhisheng's letters aren't that easily dismissed. They were the most powerful challenge to the dictatorship. The Falun Gong issue is a taboo subject in China. In the face of its brutal persecution, so many people have kept their silence, or just nominally protested. In contrast, attorney Gao not only bravely discussed the issue, but also publicized the bloody persecution the CCP police have wrought on Falun Gong practitioners. He risked his own life to protest the CCP's brutal regime and to protect Falun Gong practitioners' rights to religious freedom."

Xu Shuiliang posted the three open letters by Gao on his own website. Many people have forwarded the letters to their friends inside and outside of China. Xu urges the International Community to pay closer attention to Gao. "As a lawyer, Gao takes legal responsibility for every word in the open letters. He faces great danger for doing so. Because Gao is not a Falun Gong practitioner himself, he is an objective outsider, and his words carry a lot of weight." Mr. Xu believes that the greater Gao's visibility, the safer he is. That's why support and attention from the International Community are extremely important.

"If Gao Were to Run for Office, I Would Vote for Him as President"

As more people withdraw from the CCP and the Communist Youth League, many people are discussing the rebuilding of China after the CCP collapses. Some people also worry that there is not enough political strength or leadership to replace the leaders of the CCP. Mr. Wu Fan believes that these talents have already emerged, "The group of people [demonstrating these talents] includes Gao Zhisheng, Guo Guoting, Guo Feixiong, and Zheng Enchong, they are very familiar with the day-to-day life of the people at the lowest social strata. They also have kind hearts, faith in god, noble principles, legal knowledge, high morals, and overwhelming popularity. When the CCP collapses, they would be the best talents to rule the country.

"The CCP wants to eradicate these talents, and the world should protect them. With these people leading China on the path of democracy and the rule of law, there would be one less menace in the world, and that would be very fortunate for the entire human race."

Mr. Wu said that in most democratic countries, many leaders started out as lawyers. They used their legal knowledge and experience to rule the country, and truly relied on the law to govern. In the CCP regime where the Party trumps everything else, all nine Politburo Standing Committee members started out as engineers—with no legal background. When the CCP collapses, the new officials should have been trained in governance and China's laws. This way China will flourish and quickly become one of the democracies in the world.

Guo Guoting also said that to be a great leader, the person should not only have an understanding of how the common people live, but also be wise and brave. These qualities describe Gao Zhisheng well. When China becomes a free society, all the politicians need to be trained in social sciences and the laws. In China, this force is forming and growing.

Yuan Hongbing praised the group of human rights fighters led by Gao Zhisheng who are firmly guarding human rights, not giving in to compromises, and exposing the brutal nature of the CCP. "They will receive more and more support from the Chinese people. Their actions have written chapters of history," said Yuan.

As a survivor of the Tiananmen Square Massacre, Zhou Fengsuo said people often come to him to discuss issues related to China. They worry that China is getting farther and farther away from democracy. Zhou said, "After Mr. Gao published his open letters, I forwarded the articles about him to my friends who care about China. They were all very excited and said that they could see hope for China in Gao."

Mr. Wu Fan said the Chinese culture has deep roots in Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism. This culture is still the foundation of China despite tremendous trials and tribulations. Such ancient culture is also reinvigorating China.

Internet writer Lao Deng, who published articles on the Epoch Times forum to support Gao Zhisheng said, "Mr. Gao should be the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court." Wu Fan's vision was even grander, "Gao's talent is greater than that! If he were to run for office, I would vote for him as the president of China!"