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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Trial for Chinese dissident Liu | Trial for Chinese dissident Liu |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo has gone on trial in Beijing on charges of "inciting subversion of state power". | Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo has gone on trial in Beijing on charges of "inciting subversion of state power". |
| Mr Liu, a prominent government critic and veteran of the 1989 Tiananmen Square democracy protests, could be jailed for 15 years if convicted. | Mr Liu, a prominent government critic and veteran of the 1989 Tiananmen Square democracy protests, could be jailed for 15 years if convicted. |
| He has been in jail since 2008, after being arrested for writing a document calling for political reform in China. | He has been in jail since 2008, after being arrested for writing a document calling for political reform in China. |
| The EU, US and rights groups say the trial is politically-motivated and have called on Beijing to release Mr Liu. | The EU, US and rights groups say the trial is politically-motivated and have called on Beijing to release Mr Liu. |
| China has dismissed criticism of the trial as an "unacceptable" attempt to interfere in its internal affairs. | China has dismissed criticism of the trial as an "unacceptable" attempt to interfere in its internal affairs. |
| The BBC's Michael Bristow in Beijing said it was at first unclear whether Mr Liu's trial had begun. | The BBC's Michael Bristow in Beijing said it was at first unclear whether Mr Liu's trial had begun. |
| Western diplomats who had gathered outside the courthouse hoping to observe the trial were told there were no seats available for them inside. Mr Liu's lawyer, however, was allowed in. | Western diplomats who had gathered outside the courthouse hoping to observe the trial were told there were no seats available for them inside. Mr Liu's lawyer, however, was allowed in. |
| Shortly after midday local time (0400 GMT), a court official in Beijing said the trial had ended for the day and that a verdict would be announced at a later date. | Shortly after midday local time (0400 GMT), a court official in Beijing said the trial had ended for the day and that a verdict would be announced at a later date. |
| If Liu Xiaobo is to be tried, then I should be tried as well Bao Tong Liu Xiaobo: 20 years of activism | |
| Mr Liu's wife, Liu Xia, had previously said she had "no hope whatsoever" for the outcome. | Mr Liu's wife, Liu Xia, had previously said she had "no hope whatsoever" for the outcome. |
| She told reporters she too was not allowed to enter the courthouse. | She told reporters she too was not allowed to enter the courthouse. |
| The trial has been heavily criticised by right groups, with Human Rights Watch (HRW) describing it as "a travesty of justice". | The trial has been heavily criticised by right groups, with Human Rights Watch (HRW) describing it as "a travesty of justice". |
| "The only purpose of this trial is to dress up naked political repression in the trappings of legal proceedings," Sophie Richardson, the group's Asia advocacy director. | "The only purpose of this trial is to dress up naked political repression in the trappings of legal proceedings," Sophie Richardson, the group's Asia advocacy director. |
| "Liu's crimes are non-existent, yet his fate has been pre-determined," she said. | "Liu's crimes are non-existent, yet his fate has been pre-determined," she said. |
| The charge of "inciting subversion of state power" is a wide-reaching accusation often levelled against political dissidents in China. | The charge of "inciting subversion of state power" is a wide-reaching accusation often levelled against political dissidents in China. |
| 'Sense of crisis' | 'Sense of crisis' |
| Mr Liu, a writer and former university professor, has already spent years in prison, under house arrest or under close monitoring since playing a leading role in the 1989 Tiananmen Square democracy protests. | Mr Liu, a writer and former university professor, has already spent years in prison, under house arrest or under close monitoring since playing a leading role in the 1989 Tiananmen Square democracy protests. |
| Timeline: The Tiananmen protests Memories of Tiananmen | |
| He was arrested again in December 2008, after he co-authored a document known as Charter 08. | He was arrested again in December 2008, after he co-authored a document known as Charter 08. |
| Released to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the charter called for greater freedoms and democratic reforms in China, including an end to Communist one-party rule. | Released to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the charter called for greater freedoms and democratic reforms in China, including an end to Communist one-party rule. |
| "We hope that our fellow citizens who feel a similar sense of crisis, responsibility, and mission, whether they are inside the government or not, and regardless of their social status, will set aside small differences to embrace the broad goals of this citizens' movement," the Charter says. | "We hope that our fellow citizens who feel a similar sense of crisis, responsibility, and mission, whether they are inside the government or not, and regardless of their social status, will set aside small differences to embrace the broad goals of this citizens' movement," the Charter says. |
| Since Mr Liu's arrest, Western governments, rights groups, scholars and a group of Nobel Prize winners have called for his release. | Since Mr Liu's arrest, Western governments, rights groups, scholars and a group of Nobel Prize winners have called for his release. |
| Bao Tong, the most senior official imprisoned following the Tiananmen massacre, also put his name to Charter 08 and said he should be included in the case. | Bao Tong, the most senior official imprisoned following the Tiananmen massacre, also put his name to Charter 08 and said he should be included in the case. |
| "If Liu Xiaobo is to be tried, then I should be tried as well," he said. | "If Liu Xiaobo is to be tried, then I should be tried as well," he said. |
| "If he is found guilty, this will be a problem because it will mean that the freedom of speech and freedom of expression guaranteed by the constitution are fake," the AFP news agency quoted him as saying. | "If he is found guilty, this will be a problem because it will mean that the freedom of speech and freedom of expression guaranteed by the constitution are fake," the AFP news agency quoted him as saying. |
| Our correspondent says that dissidents put on trial in China are almost always found guilty, and it looks likely that Mr Liu will be jailed. | Our correspondent says that dissidents put on trial in China are almost always found guilty, and it looks likely that Mr Liu will be jailed. |
| If convicted, Mr Liu's name will certainly become more widely known outside China, but few people in the country know who he is, a situation that is unlikely to change with the verdict, he adds. | If convicted, Mr Liu's name will certainly become more widely known outside China, but few people in the country know who he is, a situation that is unlikely to change with the verdict, he adds. |