Liu Ping, Wei Zhongping and Li Sihua are members of the "New Citizens Movement", which has asked communist leaders to "tell the truth" about their assets. Lawyers denounce irregularities in the trial that could end with a sentence of five years for "unlawful assembly".

Beijing ( AsiaNews / Agencies) - The closed-door trial of three anti- corruption activists arrested last April, began this morning. The three defendants - Liu Ping, Wei Zhongping and Li Sihua - were initially charged with "inciting subversion of state power": The charges have since become one of "unlawful assembly". In reality, they are in jail for calling for political leaders to disclose their assets and business interests in the name of transparency , a theme also supported by the new President Xi Jinping .

All three defendants have pleaded not guilty. One of their lawyers, Si Weijiang explains that the prosecution can lead to a maximum of 5 years in prison : " we discussed the facts of the charge of illegal assembly, which are somewhat ridiculous -- they just took photos outside an apartment." The "evidence" against the three is a single photograph - later published on the internet - of the defendants hold up a sign bearing the words : "Please, disclose the truth about your assets".

The trial (in the eastern province of Jiangxi) is behind closed doors , "Only two family members were admitted to the first hearing . The court has violated regulations on holding open trials". The daughter of one of the defendants, Liao Minyue , adds: "If the law was really respected, this case would never have gone to trial, so I don't have any hope for a just verdict".

Liu Ping is a member (the other two are supporters) of the 'New Citizens Movement' founded by his lawyer and human rights activist Xu Zhiyong, who has also been in jail since 16 July for demanding greater transparency of politicians' assets. Liu and Wei also have to answer for the crime of "using an evil cult to undermine law enforcement" since both are members of the Falun Gong spiritual movement, which Beijing has outlawed.

With this case, the number of arrests among Xu Zhiyong's movement has risen to 18.The battle against corruption among the Communist Party officials has also been the leitmotif of China's new leader, Xi Jinping, who has repeatedly said he wanted to fight abuse and mismanagement "at every level" among those in power.As various analysts point out however, these words seem meant more to justify the power struggle within the leadership than to eradicate corruption from within its ranks.

 

 

• china
• ccp
• corruption
• trial
• activists