<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN">
<html>
<head>
<meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1">
</head>
<body bgcolor="#ffffcc" text="#000000">
<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: right;"><img
src="cid:part1.00030009.03030303@lightlink.com" alt="ChinaAid"
style="border: medium none ;" height="110" width="638"></p>
<p style="border-top: 1px solid rgb(214, 213, 215);"> </p>
<p
style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 26px; color: rgb(154, 4, 4); text-align: center;">Gao
Zhisheng Confirmed 'Alive!' Thanks to International Support</p>
<p style="padding: 0pt 15px 5px;"><span
style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 12px;">ChinaAid<br>
March 29, 2010</span></p>
<p style="padding: 0pt 15px 5px;"><img
src="cid:part2.01010006.08030907@lightlink.com" alt="Gao Zhisheng"
style="border: medium none ;" height="239" width="213" align="right"><span
style="font-weight: bold;">SHANXI</span>
-- On Sunday, March 28, 2010, missing human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng
spoke to his wife and children for the first time in over a year -
confirming he is still alive! False rumors of his death, torture, and
escape from the custody of the Chinese Government have shrouded Gao's
absence with mystery for over a year. Gao's brief phone conversations
with western media mark the first official contact the public has had
with him since his abduction by police on February 4, 2009.</p>
<p style="padding: 5px 15px;">Yesterday,
Gao informed reporters that he had been released from detention six
months ago, and had taken up residence at Wutai Shan mountain, a
Buddhist landmark in northern Shanxi province. He refused to give
details on his condition or whereabouts, saying he could not legally
give interviews.</p>
<p style="padding: 5px 15px;">Close friend
and fellow human rights lawyer Li Heping confirmed he had also spoken
with Gao on Sunday. Gao told him he had "friends around him" -
indicating he was being held under close surveillance by Chinese
authorities. </p>
<p style="padding: 5px 15px;">Gao's wife Geng
He and their children were overwhelmed with emotion as they spoke with
Gao on Sunday morning. The children could not stop crying. In a
statement released on Monday morning, Geng He appealed to the Chinese
government to allow Gao Zhisheng to join the family in New York. Gao's
family has suffered greatly in his absence. Geng He's parents have been
severely harassed in recent months, for which Gao feels guilty.</p>
<p style="padding: 5px 15px;">He
told the Associated Press, "I just want to be in peace and quiet for a
while and be reunited with my family. Most people belong with family. I
have not been with mine for a long time. This is a mistake and I want
to correct this mistake."</p>
<p style="padding: 5px 15px;">While on his <a
href="http://www.chinaaid.org/qry/page.taf?id=105&_function=detail&sbtblct_uid1=1405&month=03&year=2010"
style="color: rgb(154, 4, 4);">campaign in Europe</a>
to promote awareness of Gao's cause, ChinaAid President Bob Fu
attributed the breakthrough to increased international pressure.
"Thanks to the more than 124,000 supporters in over 180 countries
around the world who have signed the petition to Free Gao, the Chinese
Government has been forced to respond and to allow Gao Zhisheng to
reconnect with his loved ones."</p>
<p style="padding: 5px 15px;">ChinaAid
thanks you for your continued support and urges you to continue to take
action. From Argentina to Zimbabwe, you, the international community
have answered the call. And this is just the beginning.</p>
<p style="padding: 5px 15px;">Gao
is not free yet. His movements are still being watched and monitored.
He is not free to speak publicly or without surveillance. We must
continue to press the Chinese government to free Gao Zhisheng, to
uncensor his movements, and to allow him to reunite with his family.</p>
<p style="padding: 5px 15px;"> <span
style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 14px;">Take Action:</span> </p>
<ol style="font-weight: bold;">
<li>Encourage more to <a
href="http://www.FreeGao.com/index.html?refnum=687522"
style="color: rgb(154, 4, 4); font-weight: bold;">Sign the Petition</a>.
Every voice counts, and every voice will be heard!</li>
<li><a
href="http://www.FreeGao.com/bg_ChinaAidPetitions_FreeGao-EmailUSReps_386.html?refnum=687522"
style="color: rgb(154, 4, 4); font-weight: bold;">Call on your local
representatives</a> to take official action on behalf of Gao Zhisheng.</li>
<li><a
href="http://www.FreeGao.com/bg_ChinaAidPetitions_FreeGao-EmailUNReps_394.html?refnum=687522"
style="color: rgb(154, 4, 4); font-weight: bold;">Urge U.N
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon</a> to hold the Chinese government to the
international covenants on human rights.</li>
</ol>
<p style="padding: 5px 15px;">Thanks
to you, the world has now regained contact with Mr. Gao Zhisheng.
Because of you, Gao was able to reconnect with his family. With your
continued support, we can make their dream of reunion a reality!</p>
<p style="padding: 5px 15px;">For more ways to get involved, visit <a
href="http://www.FreeGao.com/index.html?refnum=687522"
style="color: rgb(154, 4, 4); font-weight: bold;">www.FreeGao.com</a>.</p>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
A REVOLUTIONARY IDEA! 'Time to put Nana Pelosi in a home!'</pre>
</body>
</html>