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Chinese anti-corruption activist Xu Zhiyong goes on trial Chinese anti-corruption activist Xu Zhiyong goes on trial
(35 minutes later)
The leading activist Xu Zhiyong was tried at a Beijing court on Wednesday morning in China's most high-profile dissident trial in years. Leading activist Xu Zhiyong has gone on trial at a Beijing court, China's most high-profile dissident trial in years.
Inside the closed hearing, the legal scholar reportedly refused to speak as a last-ditch protest against perceived judicial unfairness; outside, police harassed foreign journalists and broke up a small gathering of Xu's supporters, bundling at least three of them into vans. Inside the closed hearing on Wednesday, the legal scholar reportedly refused to speak as a last-ditch protest against perceived judicial unfairness; outside, police harassed foreign journalists and broke up a small gathering of Xu's supporters, bundling at least three of them into vans.
Xu was the leader of the New Citizens Movement, a loose-knit grassroots organisation that aimed to promote government transparency and rule of law. He was arrested in July 2013 after organising small demonstrations urging government officials to disclose their assets. Although China's top leader, Xi Jinping, has promised transparency as a hallmark of his early tenure, authorities retaliated by arresting 17 group members, betraying a zero-tolerance line on dissent. Xu was the leader of the New Citizens' Movement, a loose-knit grassroots organisation that aimed to promote government transparency and rule of law. He was arrested in July 2013 after organising small demonstrations urging government officials to disclose their assets. Although China's top leader, Xi Jinping, has promised transparency as a hallmark of his early tenure, authorities retaliated by arresting 17 group members, betraying a zero-tolerance line on dissent.
Xu stands accused of "assembling a crowd to disrupt order in a public place", which could carry a maximum five-year prison sentence.Xu stands accused of "assembling a crowd to disrupt order in a public place", which could carry a maximum five-year prison sentence.
Xu's lawyer Zhang Qingfan said Xu refused to speak in court, a protest against judicial authorities' refusal to allow the majority of his hand-picked witnesses to testify. "This court is not just so I will maintain my silence," Xu said to the judge, Zhang told Reuters. Xu's lawyer Zhang Qingfan said Xu refused to speak in court, a protest against judicial authorities' refusal to allow the majority of his hand-picked witnesses to testify. "This court is not just, so I will maintain my silence," Xu said to the judge, Zhang told Reuters.
Chinese courts will try seven more New Citizens Movement activists over the next two days. Three stood trial in China's south-east in December, but have not yet been sentenced. Chinese courts will try seven more New Citizens' Movement activists over the next two days. Three stood trial in China's south-east in December, but have not yet been sentenced.
On Wednesday evening, the court announced that it would grant bail to Wang Gongquan, a prominent venture capitalist who has publicly supported the group, for repenting of his crimes. Wang has been in detention since September.
"Wang Gongquan admits that together with Xu Zhiyong, he planned and incited the illegal, criminal activity of gathering a crowd to disturb public order," the court posted to its official microblog. "He has profoundly questioned his behaviour."
On Wednesday morning, scattered crowds of plainclothes and uniformed police blocked the roads surrounding the Beijing No 1 intermediate people's court in the city's far west, where Xu was being tried.On Wednesday morning, scattered crowds of plainclothes and uniformed police blocked the roads surrounding the Beijing No 1 intermediate people's court in the city's far west, where Xu was being tried.
Two blocks away, about two dozen supporters gathered near an outdoor shopping plaza and held banners demanding Xu's release. "Xu Zhiyong is innocent!" shouted Tian Lan, a 61-year-old demonstrator from Hebei province. "Right now, government officials are taking all of their wealth and transferring it abroad. All Xu Zhiyong did was demand that they declare their assets. He did nothing wrong."Two blocks away, about two dozen supporters gathered near an outdoor shopping plaza and held banners demanding Xu's release. "Xu Zhiyong is innocent!" shouted Tian Lan, a 61-year-old demonstrator from Hebei province. "Right now, government officials are taking all of their wealth and transferring it abroad. All Xu Zhiyong did was demand that they declare their assets. He did nothing wrong."
Raphael Droszewski, a first secretary of the European Union diplomatic delegation to China, said a group of 17 diplomats had attempted to gain access to the court, but were rebuffed. "They said that Xu Zhiyong is not a foreigner, so there was no reason for us to be there," he said. "The EU is deeply concerned about these cases – the Xu Zhiyong case, and the ones that will happen later this week."Raphael Droszewski, a first secretary of the European Union diplomatic delegation to China, said a group of 17 diplomats had attempted to gain access to the court, but were rebuffed. "They said that Xu Zhiyong is not a foreigner, so there was no reason for us to be there," he said. "The EU is deeply concerned about these cases – the Xu Zhiyong case, and the ones that will happen later this week."
At about 10.30am, police grabbed at least three demonstrators and forced them into vans. Plainclothes police also physically harassed a number of foreign television journalists; at least one was briefly detained.At about 10.30am, police grabbed at least three demonstrators and forced them into vans. Plainclothes police also physically harassed a number of foreign television journalists; at least one was briefly detained.
A foreign ministry spokesman, Qin Gang, defended the trial at a regular press briefing on Wednesday afternoon. "Xu Zhiyong is suspected of a crime, and the relevant departments of China are already trying him in accordance with the law. This is a reflection of China's judicial independence," he said.A foreign ministry spokesman, Qin Gang, defended the trial at a regular press briefing on Wednesday afternoon. "Xu Zhiyong is suspected of a crime, and the relevant departments of China are already trying him in accordance with the law. This is a reflection of China's judicial independence," he said.
"From what I know, these journalists were ignoring the multiple warnings of local managing personnel, and so they were taken away," Qin added. "We understand their need to have interviews, but I also hope they can respect China's laws and regulations, or else there will be disorder and chaos.""From what I know, these journalists were ignoring the multiple warnings of local managing personnel, and so they were taken away," Qin added. "We understand their need to have interviews, but I also hope they can respect China's laws and regulations, or else there will be disorder and chaos."
Xu, a legal scholar and former university professor, is well-known in China for fighting against China's gravest systemic injustices on a case-by-case basis, rather than confronting them head-on. He has campaigned for death row inmates, rural children deprived of the same educational opportunities as their urban counterparts, and families affected by a tainted milk scandal that gripped the nation in 2008. He is a former law lecturer at the Beijing University of Post and Telecommunications. Xu, a legal scholar and former university professor, is well-known in China for fighting against China's gravest systemic injustices on a case-by-case basis, rather than confronting them head-on. He has campaigned for death row inmates, rural children deprived of the same educational opportunities as their urban counterparts, and families affected by a tainted milk scandal that gripped the nation in 2008. He is a former law lecturer at the Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications.
Wednesday's hearing was China's highest-profile dissident trial since Liu Xiaobo, winner of the 2010 Nobel peace prize, was tried for subversion in 2009.Wednesday's hearing was China's highest-profile dissident trial since Liu Xiaobo, winner of the 2010 Nobel peace prize, was tried for subversion in 2009.
Hu Jia, a prominent dissident and friend of Xu, said police had warned him not to attend the hearing, though they did not explain why. He said authorities were growing increasingly savvy in playing down sensitive political cases, adding that a few years ago, Xu would have probably been tried for subversion.Hu Jia, a prominent dissident and friend of Xu, said police had warned him not to attend the hearing, though they did not explain why. He said authorities were growing increasingly savvy in playing down sensitive political cases, adding that a few years ago, Xu would have probably been tried for subversion.
"Previous subversion charges for dissidents such as Gao Zhisheng, Liu Xiaobo and me all led to us being nominated for the Nobel peace prize," he said. "A subversion charge in this case would only bring it more international attention.""Previous subversion charges for dissidents such as Gao Zhisheng, Liu Xiaobo and me all led to us being nominated for the Nobel peace prize," he said. "A subversion charge in this case would only bring it more international attention."