Protesting unfair sentences leads to prison
Beijing (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Ten activists have been convicted of protesting against unfair court decisions. In Communist China, judges, who are under the thumb of the party, do not accept criticism.
The Leshan City Intermediate People’s Court in Sichuan Province yesterday sentenced Bao Junsheng and Huang Xiaomin (pictured) to three years in prison for “assembling a crowd to disrupt social order” on 23 February 2009. Xing Qingxian, Lü Dachun, Yan Wenhan, Zeng Rongkang, Liu Jiwei, Zeng Li and Yang Jiurong got two years. Xu Chongli, the only woman of the group was given one year under “surveillance”. Some sources say that Liu Jiwei was acquitted.
China Human Rights Defenders and Radio Free Asia have reported that all the ten activists did was to carry out a peaceful sit-in in front of a courthouse to protest against previous sentences.
The activists have already spent 18 months in prison waiting to be tried. They were supposed to go on trial on 7 April, but the court postponed the proceedings to allow the prosecutor to gather more evidence.
Activist Chen Yunfei, who came to the trial in a show of solidarity, said security measures were tight with 17 or 18 police officers present, probably to nip in the bud any protests. Only three family members were allowed inside; friends were barred.
Attorneys for the accused have announced that they would appeal the sentence, noting that none of their clients had engaged in action that disturbed the public peace.
This case highlights the flaws of China’s justice system, which has come under serious criticism. Many have called for its reform, blamed it for causing social tensions.
For instance in June, a man killed three judges in Hunan province, driven by his helplessness in getting justice. Many praised his action with some going so far as to organise a show of support that police had to break up. The internet also saw a surge in favourable commentaries.
Experts note that Chinese judges are under the thumb of the Communist Party and thus cannot rule in favour of those who seek justice. Tens of thousands of cases initiated by ordinary citizens seeking redress against local officials or businesses protected by the authorities are thrown out of court, even when they involve illegal land seizures, pollution and forced removal.
Increasingly, corrupt judges, even at the highest levels, are being exposed. In June, Yang Xiancai, a former chief judge at the Guangdong Provincial High Court Executive Board, was sentenced to life in prison for bribery.
.png)
