Chinese Regime Instigates Crackdown, Hunger Strike Expands

Renowned human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng reported in an interview with Sound of Hope radio on Tuesday that those involved in the relay hunger strike to protest human rights violations in China have faced persecution after the striking began. Gao played an instrumental role in bringing about the Relay Hunger Strike for Human Rights Support Group, and has been a tireless advocate for human rights in China. (The Epoch Times)

In an interview with Sound of Hope radio on the evening of February 14, China’s famous human rights attorney Gao Zhisheng said that since the start of the relay hunger strike in China on Feb. 4, the Chinese communist regime has launched a large scale crackdown on those participating. In order to resist the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) brutality, the Relay Hunger Strike for Human Rights Support Group will launch a 24-hour joint hunger strike in ten provinces and municipalities, which will begin at 6 a.m. on February 15.

Gao said, “Right now, they have started a large-scale crackdown on those who have participated in the relay hunger strike in recent days. In Beijing, three-fourths of the hunger strikers have been put under house arrest. In Shanghai, there is an open investigation to find out who has participated and who has entered their names on the hunger strike website.

“They have started arresting some individuals, such Ms. Ma Yalain and others. Mr. Chen Qingshu from Hongzhou City was summoned for interrogation by the local public security bureau. Hou Wenbao from Fuzhou, Anhui Province was taken to the local public security bureau for interrogation. Tomorrow, the local police will take him again for interrogation. It is a large-scale nationwide crackdown.”

Gao added, “Tomorrow, we are going to have a ten-province joint hunger strike. The purpose is to protest the way they are treating these peaceful appellants, using these kind of base acts to cope with those who safeguard rights at home.”

Beginning at 6 a.m., ten provinces and municipalities, including Beijing, Shandong, and Guangdong, will simultaneously begin a hunger strike, Gao said. Each place is to have two people hunger striking, except for Shanghai—where the crackdown has been the most severe—which will have 24 joining.

“If they still use pigheaded means against us, we will hold a 20-province joint hunger strike,” Gao said. “The authorities have become frenzied in their crackdown on this hunger strike and have acted in such an unrestrained manner. I hope the outside world pays close attention to this.”

The original report on Sound of Hope can be found at:
http://soundofhope.org/programs/162/32792-1.asp