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Chinese anti-corruption activist goes on trial Chinese anti-corruption activist goes on trial
(about 2 hours later)
China will begin a long-awaited trial next week of a prominent anti-corruption activist campaigning for officials to reveal their wealth, his lawyer has said. He faces charges he broke the law by organising demonstrations. The long-awaited trial of an anti-corruption activist who campaigned for Chinese officials to reveal their wealth will begin next week in Beijing, his lawyer has said.
Xu Zhiyong, who has also pushed for greater civil rights, was formally arrested in August in a case that has exposed shortcomings in the government's drive against deep-rooted corruption. His lawyer said the trial would open on Wednesday. Xu Zhiyong, who faces charges of organising demonstrations illegally, was formally arrested in August in a case that has exposed shortcomings in Beijing's anti-corruption drive. His lawyer said the trial would open on Wednesday.
Western governments have sparred with Beijing over human rights and both the US and European Union have expressed concern about Xu's case. Both the US and European Union have expressed concern about Xu's case.
A founder of the New Citizens' Movement, Xu advocates working within the system to secure change. He had called on officials to disclose their assets and fellow activists have gone into the streets to urge citizens to fight corruption. A founder of the New Citizens' Movement, Xu advocates working within the system to secure change and has pushed for greater civil rights in China. He had called on officials to disclose their assets and fellow activists have gone into the streets to urge citizens to fight corruption.
Lawyer Zhang Qingfang, speaking after a pre-trial hearing, said the defence had asked to be allowed to present its own witnesses, but that officials at the hearing said they were unable to resolve the issue. His lawyer Zhang Qingfang, speaking after a pre-trial hearing on Friday, said the defence had asked to be allowed to present its own witnesses, but that officials at the hearing said they were unable to resolve the issue.
Xu, he said, would refuse to speak at the trial in Beijing to protest against this and other irregularities. Xu, he said, would refuse to speak at the trial to protest against this and other irregularities.
"It is to show that his rights will not be protected, that this is not a just court, and so we have no way of co-operating in their show," he said by telephone. "We will respect his wishes and also protest by maintaining silence." "It is to show that his rights will not be protected, that this is not a just court, and so we have no way of co-operating in their show," Zhang said of his client's decision. "We will respect his wishes and also protest by maintaining silence."
Xu was in good spirits, Zhang added. The lawyer added that Xu was in good spirits. "He says that whether or not the trial or verdict is just he can accept it, because this is the result of his choices. Of course I am not optimistic. There will not be a happy verdict, and he will certainly be found guilty."
"He says that whether or not the trial or verdict is just he can accept it, because this is the result of his choices," he said. "Of course I am not optimistic. There will not be a happy verdict, and he will certainly be found guilty."
Beijing police say Xu hung banners in public calling for asset disclosure and equal access to education. He also campaigned for the right of children from rural areas, who lack the required residence permit, to be educated in cities where many live with their migrant worker parents.Beijing police say Xu hung banners in public calling for asset disclosure and equal access to education. He also campaigned for the right of children from rural areas, who lack the required residence permit, to be educated in cities where many live with their migrant worker parents.
Police said Xu's activities "created serious disturbances in public order in public places" and that he interfered with the work of public security officials. Police said Xu's activities "created serious disturbances in public order in public places" and that he interfered with the work of public security officials.
China has detained at least 16 activists in the asset disclosure campaign in what rights groups say is the new leadership's first crackdown targeting corruption campaigners.China has detained at least 16 activists in the asset disclosure campaign in what rights groups say is the new leadership's first crackdown targeting corruption campaigners.
Xi Jinping's appointment as Communist party chief in 2012 had inspired many Chinese with hope for political reform, spurring citizens nationwide to push for the asset disclosures. Xi Jinping's appointment as Communist party chief in 2012 raised hopes of political reform, spurring citizens nationwide to push for the asset disclosures.
But the detentions and Xu's trial signal the party will tolerate no open challenge to its rule. But the detentions and Xu's trial signal the party will tolerate no open challenge to its rule.
Xu has long been a thorn in the government's side. In 2009, he was briefly arrested on tax evasion charges his defenders said were trumped up to stifle his work. The charges were dropped after a public furore. Xu has long been a thorn in the government's side. In 2009, he was briefly arrested on tax evasion charges his defenders said were trumped up to stifle his campaigning. The charges were dropped after a public furore.
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