China embassy claims missing rights lawyer working in Urumqi News
China embassy claims missing rights lawyer working in Urumqi

[JURIST] The Chinese Embassy [official website] in Washington DC claims that prominent Chinese human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng [advocacy website; JURIST news archive], missing for more than a year, is working in the Urumqi region [press release], according to human rights organization Dui Hua Foundation [advocacy website] on Saturday. The statement characterizes the information as "sparse," and it contradicts Gao's family by declaring that the activist has been in contact with his wife and family members. Chinese Foreign Ministry [official website, in Chinese] spokesperson Ma Zhaoxu [official profile] said [JURIST report] in late January that Gao is "where he should be." Earlier in January, Chinese lawyers and US-based rights group ChinaAid [advocacy website] called on [JURIST report] Beijing police to conduct a search for Gao.

Gao drew international attention in September 2007 when he wrote a letter [JURIST report] to the US Congress requesting assistance in improving human rights in China. Gao, who has also defended Christians and coal miners in China, claimed [AP report] that he was tortured after his arrest in 2007. He was convicted of subversion [JURIST report] and placed under house arrest in 2006. China has long received criticism [JURIST news archive] from watchdog groups for its treatment of rights activists such as Gao.

THIS DAY @ LAW

38 Santee Sioux hanged by US for rebellion

On December 26, 1862, 38 Santee Sioux men were hanged in a mass execution for their roles in a rebellion against US authorities in Minnesota which left hundreds dead and made refugees of some 40,000 white settlers. Government annuities promised under a treaty with the Sioux had failed to arrive on schedule and credit for purchases was not advanced in the meantime, threatening the tribe with starvation. The Santee Sioux Tribe's members were deported first to South Dakota and ultimately to Nebraska, where they remain today. Learn more about the 1862 Minnesota Sioux Rebellion.

Louis XVI put on trial during French Revolution

On December 26, 1792, Romain de Sèze, a defense attorney for deposed King Louis XVI, presented a defense of his client. The former King was on trial before a French Revolutionary court on thirty-three charges, including treason and other crimes against the state. He was convicted on January 15, 1793 executed by guillotine on the following January 21.