One of China’s most prominent human rights lawyers, Pu Zhiqiang, stood trial while police and plainclothes enforcers violently confronted his supporters, journalists and foreign diplomats assembled outside the court. The trial concluded about midday, and Pu’s lawyer Shang Baojun said a verdict and sentence would be delivered at a later date.
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Outside the court in Beijing, police blocked protesters and foreign journalists – despite the fact it was said to be an open trial.
Officers and unidentified plain-clothes policemen shouted at senior USA diplomat Dan Biers and pushed him as he tried to read a statement condemning the trial.
He posted comments on social media sites alleged to have mocked the governing Communist Party and questioning policies and treatment of the Uighur minority. In another time, in another place, Pu Zhiqiang might have chuckled at the charge.
Pu went on trial Monday on charges…
Maya Wang, a researcher at Human Rights Watch, told NBC News that while Pu has been outspoken over the years, he has always prided himself in his ability to balance his advocacy with the shifting political environment in China.
He faces eight years in prison if convicted.
Mr Pu is accused of “inciting ethnic hatred” and “picking quarrels and provoking trouble” by the Chinese authorities.
Pu’s associates say the party-controlled judiciary will likely find him guilty to make an example of Pu as a way to warn other rights advocates. Diplomats from the United States, the EU, Germany, New Zealand, Australia and Britain were among those who tried to attend the trial. Beijing prosecutors indicted Pu this May on the two current charges, but dropped charges of “inciting separatism” and “illegally obtaining personal information”.
Despite being pushed back by the police, about 40 supporters gathered outside the courthouse and chanted slogans to show their solidarity with Pu.
“Citizens have a right to air their views on public events, including those that doubt or are critical of government policy”, he said, adding that those “harmed” by Pu’s tweets could have handled the issue more appropriately by bringing a civil lawsuit. They threw one of the protesters the ground and took away others.
“Pu speaks for grassroots people in China”.
“Lawyers and civil society leaders such as Mr Pu should not be subject to continuing repression but should be allowed to contribute to the building of a prosperous and stable China”, Biers said. Pu – a participant within the 1989 Tiananmen Sq. demonstrations during which the Chinese language army shot lifeless a whole lot civilians – has since earned a reputation as a dogged defense lawyer known for taking on troublesome & politically sensitive cases. A year after his detention, Chinese authorities began a major crackdown that led to the arrest of at least 230 lawyers across the country, some of whom are still missing.
The charges against Pu, are based upon seven messages he posted to micoblogging platform Weibo between 2012 and 2014.
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Reached by phone on Monday, Meng said she finally had the chance to see her husband.
