Rights groups: China rights lawyer released

Gao, a bold critic of China's civil rights lapses, disappeared on Jan. 19 and was "subsequently detained by Chinese security forces," according to a joint letter issued earlier Tuesday by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and Human Rights in China that expressed fears for his safety and called for his release.
The groups were "particularly concerned" about his disappearance because it appeared arbitrary and did not follow any apparent action on Gao's part, said Nicholas Bequelin, Asia researcher for Human Rights Watch. "It seemed to be an escalation in treatment by security forces," he said.
China has long been criticized for its violations of freedom of speech and religion and brutal repression of critics, and the U.N. Human Rights Council is set to review its rights record starting next week.

I thought this was extremely interesting considering our discussions around the Chinese Government suppressing media and others who may criticize or speak out against them.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090203/ap_on_re_as/as_china_human_rights;_ylt=Akw6TcWjCt4feqHo3cOEVGgBxg8F