Chinese authorities arrests human rights lawyer

BEIJING, Oct 12: Chinese authorities have arrested outspoken human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng on charges of subversion, his lawyer said today, following two months of uncertainty over the activist's detention and fate.

Gao was arrested on September 21 ''on suspicion of inciting subversion of state power'', lawyer Mo Shaoping said, adding that he had only now learned of the decision from prosecutors.

''In fact, it should be the public security bureau that notifies us. But I asked them repeatedly and got no reply, and only then went to the prosecutors,'' Mo told Reuters.

Mo said he was not told of the specific accusations against Gao. Under Chinese law, those convicted of subversion can be jailed for up to five years -- longer in serious cases.

Gao, in his early 40s, is a famously combative rights lawyer who has taken up the causes of dispossessed oil investors, labour activists, and -- most controversially -- members of Falun Gong, an outlawed spiritual sect.

He was detained by Beijing police in August, one of several activists held or jailed in a crackdown on dissent. Lawyer Mo said that up to now police had refused to let him visit his client.

Reuters