【新唐人2013年01月26日訊】身陷囹圄的著名中國維權律師高智晟，將成為美國國會湯姆•蘭託斯人權委員「捍衛自由」項目的第一位重要人選。蘭託斯人權委員會主席弗蘭克•沃爾夫議員親自致信高智晟律師。
沃爾夫在信中寫道，「在你個人安全和健康受到極大威脅的時候，你的信念和你對正義的追求都鼓舞著人們。中國共產黨和它之前的蘇聯一樣，注定要被人們扔到『歷史的垃圾堆』裡去。」
沃爾夫議員還呼籲中國新一代領導人：儘快處理上一代領導班子遺留下來的人權案件，早日釋放高智晟。
高智晟律師的太太耿和告訴《新唐人》，她是前一天早晨看到這封信的。
高智晟律師太太 耿和：「這個議員寫的非常誠懇，我看了以後，我跟我家人都感到比較欣慰，他們一直都在為中國的人權奔走，我第一時間把這封信打印下來，寄給高智晟和國內的親人，讓他們知道國外這樣兩位德高望重的主席都在關心高智晟，好讓他們心裡感到踏實點。」
高智晟律師過去多年因替弱勢群體打官司，並多次上書中共政府高層，要求改變對法輪功等群體的非法處理。因此遭到國家安全局的長期監視、毒打和失蹤，家人及孩子也遭到國安的圍攻和毒打。北京第一中級法院2007年以「煽動顛覆國家政權罪」，判處高智晟律師有期徒刑三年，緩刑五年。目前高智晟還在新疆「沙雅監獄」遭受迫害。
耿和：「我跟孩子的迫害來源於我先生，我先生從2006年8月到現在都沒有自由，沒有結束迫害，我想更需要關注的是他，他需要美國的庇護。」
中國另一位知名的維權人士胡佳認為，美國國會議員的行動，凸顯了美國的自由精神和美國憲法的價值觀，胡佳建議沃爾夫議員，將這封信的中英文版簽名後寄給新疆「沙雅監獄」，和中國駐美大使以及中共總書記習近平本人。
胡佳：「每一個專制政權都是人類的公敵，每一個受到專制政權壓制的人，他在受到權利侵害的時候，也是所有人的權益在受到侵害。你把它公開寄出了，就等於你的直拳打向了專制者的面頰，當海外的人不遺餘力的來幫助中國的人權受害者，也是啟示更多的中國公民站出來，為我們自己在這塊土地上的受難者發出呼聲。」
胡佳表示，高智晟之所以受到中國所有政治犯都沒有經歷過的摧殘，主要原因是﹕高律師在中共迫害法輪功問題上，敢仗義直言。
胡佳：「因為法輪功在中共的污名化過程中，以及全方位的壓制過程中，萬馬齊瘖，在這時，高智晟律師站出來仗義直言，這個大智大勇，說句心裡話，到現在我覺得還很難找出第二個，他做的事情超越很多勇者的勇氣，他所面臨的壓力實際上是為很多的人付出的，不僅是在為法輪功群體，也是為維權律師去承擔，也是為其他信仰自由在承擔。」
據高智晟家人透露，高智晟律師在監獄內連看書、看電視的權利都被剝奪，接見時連刑期都不能透露。
胡佳希望美國議員能和加拿大、歐盟等關注中國人權的政要，以及其他尊重人權的國家議員們也能寫信，甚至聯合起來給高律師去信。
胡佳：「國際社會和中國國內廣泛發出聲音的話，對於改善他的獄內的條件都是有幫助的，讓高智晟律師減壓，讓他儘可能平安，儘可能保持他健康的狀態，對於將來保證他再參與中國的民主法制進程的話，是莫大的幫助，他是律師，他是一個受難者，他知道法律被肆意歪曲和濫用的後果。」
胡佳認為，中共對法輪功的迫害是中國最大的人權災難，而為人權說話的律師也遭到同樣的摧殘，是對人類良知底線的挑戰，每個人都應該站出來，才能避免這種事情發生在自己頭上。
採訪編輯/劉惠 後製/孫寧
US Congressmen Speak Out Again for Gao Zhisheng
Gao Zhisheng, the prominent human rights lawyer in China,
remains imprisoned by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
Recently, Gao Zhisheng was selected as one a number
one candidate for the Defending Freedoms Project.
This distinction was given by U.S. Congressman
Tom Lantos from the Human Rights Commission.
The Commission’s co-chair Frank R. Wolf has personally
written to Gao Zhisheng, to inform him of this news.
In his letter, Representative Wolf wrote, “Your faith
is an inspiration, as is your pursuit of justice, even
at great risk to your personal safety and well-being.
The Chinese Communist Party, just as the Soviet Union
before it, is destined for the ‘ash heap of history.”
The Epoch Times reported that Rep. Wolf had
appealed to the new CCP administration,
to quickly address with the human rights cases
left unsolved from the out-going leadership.
He also called for the early release of Gao Zhisheng.
Geng He, Gao Zhisheng’s wife, told NTD that
she read this letter in morning the day before.
Geng He: “The letter is full of sincerity,
my family and I have all felt gratified at it.
They have campaigned for China’s
human rights for a long time.
I’ve printed and sent the letter to
Gao Zhisheng and his relatives in China.
I hope they will feel solid by reading this letter,
and knowing the Commission’s two chairmen
are both concerned about Gao Zhisheng.”
Gao Zhisheng has defended vulnerable
groups in China over many years.
He wrote several letters to the CCP top leadership
to stop persecution of Falun Gong, as well as dissidents.
Gao thus experienced long-term surveillance and was
beaten by security police, and was forcibly abducted.
Police also threatened and beat his wife and children.
In 2007, the CCP authorities charged Gao Zhisheng
with the crime of “inciting subversion of state power".
He was given a three-year jail term,
and suspended for five years.
Currently, Gao Zhisheng was detained
in Xinjiang’s notorious Shaya Prison.
Geng He: “The CCP’s persecution of my children and
myself was derived from that against my husband.
He has been deprived of his personal liberty
since August 2006, and it still continues.
I think that he deserves more attention
from the international community.
He needs protection from the U.S.”
Hu Jia, the renowned rights activist in China, remarks
that the US congressmen’s actions highlighted the values
of the freedom and the spirit of the US Constitution.
Hu Jia suggested that Representative Wolf
post the letter to Shaya Prison in Xinjiang.
He also suggested posting it to
Xi Jinping, the current CCP leader.
Hu Jia: “Every autocracy is the common enemy of mankind.
So each victim of oppression by authoritarian rule
is actually an infringement on all human beings.
Sending the letter openly to the CCP leader means hitting
a straight blow on the cheek of the dictatorships regime.
The international community is crying out
for China’s victims of human rights abuses.
It is inspiring more Chinese
to speak out for these victims.”
Hu Jia says that in comparison with China’s political
dissidents, Gao Zhisheng has suffered a lot more.
This is because Gao Zhisheng spoke out
against the CCP’s persecution of Falun Gong.
Hu Jia: “The whole community in China stood mute when
Falun Gong was blackened and suppressed by the CCP.
But Gao Zhisheng spoke out against the authorities.
He is braver than the average person, I think.
But the pressure he has born is actually
not just for Falun Gong practitioners.
He has also suffered for human rights lawyers, and
for other groups that are striving for freedom of belief.”
Gao Zhisheng’s family revealed that Gao is banned
from reading and watching TV while imprisoned.
The authorities even refused to
reveal the jail term given to Gao.
Hu Jia hopes that more leaders and law makers in
other countries, such as Canada and the EU, and
who are concerned about China’s human rights,
should also write letters to Gao Zhisheng in jail.
Hu Jia: “Strong voices of support from the international
community, and from within China, will give him a help.
This will help improve the situation of his
imprisonment and ease the pressure on him.
Staying healthy will greatly assist his future participation
in building China’s democracy, and a new legal system.
He is a lawyer and a victim, who knows the result
of laws being wantonly warped and abused.”
Hu Jia indicates that China’s biggest human rights
abuse is the CCP’s persecution of Falun Gong.
Lawyers in support of human rights
have also become victims.
He thinks this is a challenge by the CCP
to the bottom line of human conscience.
So everyone should stand up to speak out against it.
Hu Jia believes that this is the only effective way for every
Chinese person to avoid the same victimization against them.