By Ariel Lin
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia
BEIJING, China – A former laid-off factory worker, Yang Chunlin was involved with farmers outside Jiamusi demanding redress for farmland taken from them by officials for development. He collected more than 10,000 signatures for his petition against illegal land seizures by officials and writing essays denouncing official wrongdoings. To rally support, he posted the petition on the Internet with the title: “We want human rights, not the Olympics.”
Yang was arrested in July 2007 for charges of “inciting subversion against state power.” In recent months, Human Rights Watch has documented the use of similar charges against six other dissidents and activists, indicating a trend of suppressing speech in advance of the August 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
According to Yang’s family, in eight months in detention, Yang has been given little contact with his lawyer and family. He was tortured by being shackled to an iron bed for a long period of time while in detention awaiting trial. Police were accused of intimidating his relatives and threatening his lawyers prior to the trial. However, Human Rights Watch said it was unable to verify the claim but also said the use of the so-called shackle boards or “disciplinary beds” was well documented in Chinese prisons.
The case was originally scheduled to take place behind closed doors. But the Intermediate Court decided to open the trial to the public mainly due to Chinese government’s fear of bad publicity related to the Olympics. Human Rights Watch repeatedly reported, grave and uncorrected procedural violations throughout Yang’s case that amounted to a denial of due process. Those included serious allegation of torture and the court’s refusal of investigation, denial of access to his defense lawyer, police intimidation against relatives, and threats made against the defense lawyers.
The trial of Yang on February 19 lasted less than a day. About 30 to 40 people attended the trial, including members of Yang’s family. Yang appeared at the court hearing with his hands and feet shackled. After his lawyers protested, Yang was unshackled but then made to sit with his legs tied to a metal chair. Yang and his lawyer pleaded not guilty. A verdict is expected in the coming weeks.
For more information, please see:
Human Rights Watch – China: Olympic Activist Deprived of Due Process – 19 February 2008
The International Herald Tribune – Chinese land rights activist who opposed Olympics goes on trial – 19 February 2008
AFP – Activist who spoke out against Olympics stands trial – 19 February 2008
Associated Press – China Land Rights Activist Goes on Trial – 19 February 2008
