Biographies:

Gao Zhisheng, Esq. Beijing Shengzhi Law Firm

The subject of what is suspected to be an assassination attempt on Jan. 16, 2006, Mr. Gao and his family are in danger and under strict surveillance by Chinese intelligence agents for his work as an outspoken human rights defender in China. Mr. Gao’s law firm was ordered to suspend operations for one year as a result of his defense work and his license to practice law was also revoked by the Beijing Bureau of Justice in December of 2005—the same bureau that had deemed him one of the top ten attorneys of China in 2001. His recent projects include the representation of Pastor Cai Zhouhua, a Christian house church leader currently imprisoned for printing and distributing Bibles, investigations into the atrocities committed against the practitioners of Falun Gong, homeowners displaced by development projects connected to the 2008 Summer Olympics, and the defense of democracy activists and fellow attorneys. Mr. Gao continues on with his work in the face of persecution. He was named one of the “Persons of the Year in Asia” in 2005 by Asia Newsweek and is one of five members of the Association of Human Rights Attorneys for Chinese Christians, formed in January of this year.

Yu Jie (Author)

Mr. Yu is the author of several works in Chinese, including Fire and Ice, a collection of essays which first launched him into the spotlight in 1998, sold over one million copies by 2000, and garnered high acclaim from Chinese intellectuals. Since, he has earned international renown as a bold voice openly criticizing the Chinese government and fearlessly raising controversial issues. In 2002, he was awarded the Chan Foundation of Journalism and Culture Award. In 2003, he visited the U.S. at the invitation of the State Department to participate in an academic exchange program. In 2004, he visited France to attend a cultural exchange at the invitation of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Currently, Mr. Yu’s work includes international speaking engagements, activism, and his responsibilities as a founding member of the Independent Chinese PEN Center, in addition to his writing endeavors. His books have been banned from publication in China and his most recent work, A Son of Tiananmen Square, was published in Hong Kong in 2005.

Dr. Fan Yafeng, Esq. (Senior Researcher) Institute of Studies on Law
China Academy of Social Sciences

One of China’s foremost legal scholars and advocate for constitutional democracy, Mr. Fan has recently increased his participation in the activist circuit through open involvement in the defense of persecuted Christians, working closely with Gao Zhisheng, Wang Yi, Zhang Xingshui and Li Baiguang on cases such as the defense of Pastor Cai, Lian Changnian, and Tong Qimiao. He also played a large role in calling attention to the Taishi episode by his thorough analysis entitled “Taishi Village Incident Memorandum.” In addition to his legal research, Mr. Fan provides incisive legal commentary to the press, is a founding member of the Association of Human Rights Attorneys for Chinese Christians, and was selected as one of Asia Newsweek’s “Persons of the Year in Asia” of 2005. Mr. Fan is currently under great scrutiny by the Chinese government for his increasingly active role in the human rights movement.

Wang Yi, Esq. (Professor of Law)
Chengdu University

The censorship of pro-democracy writer Wang Yi by the Chinese government has been widely publicized and criticized since Mr. Yi’s web log was closed down in the Fall of 2005, just days after being nominated for two awards sponsored by the German radio station, Deutsche Welle, and Reporters Without Borders. In 2003, he was banned by the Chinese government from teaching for 18 months, and then reinstated in March of 2005 because, he posits, the Chinese government “…can control you better if you remain in the system.” Mr. Yi constantly battles the internet filters the government uses to block access to his web log on Chinese sites and struggles to find international internet spaces that will allow his log to exist. First created to display a full collection of his work, his web log gradually developed into a “microphone” in which he voices his opinions on current events through critical, eloquent essays and commentaries. Mr. Yi’s essays are banned from publication in China. He is a member of the Independent Chinese PEN Center and lends his legal expertise to the defense of Chinese Christians experiencing persecution, including the case of Pastor Cai.

Zhang Xingshui, Esq. (Executive Director)
Jing Ding Law Firm, Beijing

Referred to as the “Gandhi of the courtroom,” Mr. Zhang is one of the most active civil rights attorneys in China. After witnessing the protest in 1989 at Tiananmen Square, he decided that gradual change was preferable to revolution and became a lawyer in hopes to build a proper legal system and champion the rights of victims of injustice. On a case-by-case basis, he fights and loses, but perseveres to better China by way of its laws. Mr. Zhang’s recent projects and current caseload include the defense of Pastor Cai, the representation of Tong Qimao, the defense of dissident Li Jianping, and that of Pastor Lian Changnian. Mr. Zhang, like his colleagues, is closely monitored by the security police and continues his work despite grave risks.

Legal Advisor, Shengzhi Law Office

Mr. Yang is an independent academic, writer, and self-educated legal advisor who gained an international reputation as a persecuted rights defender when beaten, arrested, and detained for his work with Taishi villagers seeking to remove a corrupt official from power. He advised the villagers to practice passive resistance and worked on their behalf to attract the attention of the international media, posting online news and commentary. Mr. Yang was detained on September 13, 2005 until December 27, 2005, when he was released without charge. On February 4 of 2006, Mr. Yang was beaten and detained again for 12 hours, after which he entered into hiding in fear for his life. He emerged on February 8 to issue an open letter of protest to President Hu Jintao and Prime Minister Wen Jiabao regarding excessive use of force, censorship, forced evictions and government sanctioned violence against human rights attorneys. For this letter, he was arrested once more. Organizations such as Amnesty International and the China Aid Association rallied to his aid, issuing statements calling individuals and organizations to send appeals to the Chinese government demanding his immediate and unconditional release. Mr. Yang was released on February 9 and placed under residential surveillance.

Dr. Li Baiguang, Esq. (Director of Beijing Qimin Research Center)

Dr. Li represented the first farmer to bring an administrative suit against China’s State Council and has since brought legal action against the government oh behalf of over 100,000 peasants. A former university professor, freelance writer, legal professional, peasants’ right advocate and legal scholar, he has been imprisoned three times and intimidated on numerous occasions. The most recent instance of wrongful imprisonment occurred in late 2005 when Dr. Li was arrested and imprisoned for 37 days in Fu’an for providing farmers with legal advice in their battle against illicit land seizures carried out by the government. Mr. Li focuses on legal education and empowerment of the economically disadvantaged to foster reliance on the rule of law and promote democracy. He is also one of the founding members of the Association of Human Rights Attorneys for Chinese Christians and one of Asia Newsweek’s “Persons of the Year” of 2005.