Brother of missing China lawyer says he´s ´fine´

Gao has been an outspoken rights defender in cases against the government involving alleged police corruption.

BEIJING, March 18, 2010 (AFP) - The brother of missing Chinese human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng said the two spoke by phone recently and that the attorney was "fine", the BBC has reported.

The fate of Gao, a former Communist Party member who angered authorities by taking on rights cases targeting the government, has became a topic of international concern since police took him from his home more than a year ago.

Britain became the latest country to press China on the issue, with Foreign Secretary David Miliband saying he raised Gao's case in talks earlier this week with Chinese leaders on a visit here.

Gao Zhiyi told the BBC his brother called him about three weeks ago to tell his family he was fine, but that the lawyer did not reveal where he was during the brief conversation.

"He said he's quite well, everything's fine, and told the family not to worry," Gao Zhiyi was quoted saying at the family home in northern Shaanxi province.

Gao said he was sure it was his brother's voice.

AFP calls to the Gao family home went unanswered on Thursday.

Gao has been an outspoken rights defender in cases against the government involving alleged police corruption, land seizures and religious freedom.

He was convicted of subversion in 2006, sentenced to a three-year jail term, which was suspended, and placed on five years' probation.

Gao was taken away by security personnel on February 4, 2009 according to rights groups. Prior to the BBC report, he had not been heard from since, they have said.

Western reporters in Beijing have repeatedly pressed China for information on Gao, but the government has refused the requests.

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, during a briefing Tuesday with Miliband after their talks, added to the confusion by saying Gao had been sentenced for subversion.

It was not clear whether Yang was referring to the 2006 conviction or a new punishment against Gao.

The foreign affairs, justice and public security ministries have all declined to clarify the issue when contacted by AFP.

China dismisses criticism of its rights record, saying it is a country ruled by law but reports emerge regularly about its rough treatment of government critics.