Agence France-Presse
October 28, 2013 07:47
China trial of anti-corruption activists suspended
Police raise the Chinese flag outside the Intermediate People's Court in Jinan, Shandong Province on September 22, 2013 (AFP/File, Mark Ralston)
The trial of three Chinese anti-corruption activists seen as part of an official clampdown on citizens' demands for reforms was suspended Monday, a lawyer said.
Liu Ping, Wei Zhongping and Li Sihua were charged with "illegal assembly" for unfurling a banner outside a housing complex in April, calling for government officials to declare their assets, lawyers said.
Asset disclosure is seen by some as a key change that could help China prevent graft after reports of enormous wealth amassed by officials and their families.
The court in in Xinyu, in the central province of Jiangxi, was forced to suspend the hearing after the defendants withdrew permission for their lawyers to represent them in protest at what they called the court's "illegal conduct", said Zhang Xuezhong, who had been part of Liu's defence team.
"There was no way for the hearing to continue," Zhang said, adding that the activists would be given 15 days to re-appoint their previous lawyers, or hire new ones.
Zhang previously told AFP that one witness had been detained, while others were not approved to appear at the trial.
China's new leadership under President Xi Jinping has touted a campaign against corruption, with some high-ranking politicians investigated.
But no systemic changes have been implemented and the Communist Party, which maintains tight control over the political process, is highly intolerant of organised dissent.
Defence lawyer Pang Kun told AFP that he had been detained by authorities for several hours on Sunday, alongside a writer who planned to witness the trial who was still being held Monday.
There was a heavy police presence at the court, pictures posted online showed.
Court officials could not be reached for comment by AFP.
Liu, 48, an unemployed former steel worker, was associated with the "new citizens movement", a loose grouping of activists calling for reforms to China's legal system, her daughter Liao Minyue said.
At least 15 others involved in the group have also been detained in recent months, according to US-based rights group Human Rights Watch (HRW).
Activists associated with the movement who have been formally arrested include prominent lawyer Xu Zhiyong, and billionaire investor Wang Gongquan.
"Liu, Wei, and Li are canaries in the coal mine for how the government intends to treat this influential group of anti-corruption activists," Sophie Richardson, HRW's China director, said in a statement.
In addition to the illegal assembly charge, Liu Ping faces charges of "gathering a crowd to disturb order in a public place", and "using an evil cult to undermine the law", Zhang said.
All three defendants planned to plead not guilty to all charges, Zhang said. "They just took pictures outside with friends, there is no way that is an illegal activity," he said.
