Struggle Against the Gods

Because of my legal work on behalf of groups persecuted by the Chinese government, I have
been tortured three times since September 21, 2007. I have been subject to long periods of
secret detention or formal imprisonment. At present, I can move freely within the bounds of a
village in northern China, but Im still in prisonits just that my cell has become larger. In
negotiating with the Communist party, I have always been willing to compromise on
technicalities, but on principle I have been immovable. As long as my physical shell can
support my spirit, I will stand against the forces of evil.

The torture I suffered gave me a wonderful gift: faith in God. I was not born a believer. While
handling the legal defense of Pastor Cai Zhuohua, who was charged with illegal business
practices in 2004 for possessing Bibles, I first read Scripture. At the time, it left me cold. My
attitude changed when the Beijing authorities began to persecute me. In time, I came to know
God and join the brotherhood of Christians. Since then, God has given me great strength
through difficult times. He has also given me visions, the first coming after I was abducted in
August 2006.

All day on April 28, 2009, my right eye kept twitching. I knew another round of torture would
begin soon. I was propelled into a building and down a long staircase, then shoved onto the
ground. I heard several people approach before someone said, Pull the hood off! A hand
snatched the hood off my head, and I saw three pairs of feet in front of me. It was the same
group that had tortured me before. The leader was holding an electric cattle prod about two
feet long; his other hand lifted a cigarette to his lips. He stepped on my shoulder as his electric
cattle prod emitted a buzzing sound. He stuck the prod under my chin. I shut my eyes tight
and heard another strange sound, which undoubtedly came from me. That sound rang through
the corridor along with the buzzing, but there was no way to control it. I felt my muscles
separate from my bones.

The Communist party isnt like before, one of my captors said during one of my countless
interrogations.

Were willing to give you conditions that even those who have rendered extraordinary service
to the party wouldnt dream of. Its always a question of interests, and ultimately of money.
Even in the global sphere, the Communist party doesnt have anything it cant handle. How
about America? Havent we taken care of them, too? When Hillary came this time, what did
she want? As soon as we meet they want human rights and discuss your problem, but they
also want a billion. With a flick of the hand we give her $800 billion, and once that woman
has the money in her hand, theres no more mention of human rights or Gao Zhisheng!

At this point, my captor became so agitated that he slapped his thigh, leaped to his feet, and
began pacing. Give up, Gaowhat good is that human rights bullshit? We know what the
Americans want, and they know what we want, and you dont even enter into it. Even if
America really cared about Chinas human rights, so what? If we stomp on you, what can they
do about it?

My torture displayed definite Chinese characteristics. Consciously or not, everybody was

splashing around in a dark, bitter swamp from which no one could escape, not even the forces
of evil themselves. One day, two of them came to see me, and without even sitting down, they
began to ask me questions.

Lao Gao, how are you?

You have all the answers, I said, so theres no need to ask.

Why dont you tell us your thoughts on the government? they asked.

I dont feel there is a government, I replied. There are only the developers and managers of
hell. Acknowledging and respecting laws and regulations are the most basic features of all
governments. The law is the guarantee and foundation for a state to exercise control, and its
the law that distinguishes a government from a gang.