Leading Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo (劉曉波) went on trial on subversion charges yesterday in a case criticized by the US, the EU and rights groups as politically motivated.
The 53-year-old Liu, a writer who was previously jailed over the 1989 Tiananmen pro-democracy protests, has been charged with “inciting subversion of state power” after co-authoring a bold call for political reform.
Western diplomats were denied access to the half-day trial in a Beijing court after Washington and Brussels last week called for Liu’s release, and key dissidents were warned not to attend the proceedings.
The Beijing court is expected to deliver its verdict at 9am on Friday, Christmas Day, one of the dissident’s lawyers, Ding Xikui (丁錫奎), said.
If convicted, Liu — who has already been detained for a year — faces a maximum of 15 years in prison.
Dozens of police officers ringed the courthouse and sealed off the sidewalks as diplomats and Liu supporters gathered outside.
The dissident’s wife, Liu Xia (劉霞), was prevented from attending the trial by police stationed outside her home, she said by telephone.
Bursting into tears, Liu Xia quoted her brother — who was in the courtroom — as saying that Liu Xiaobo had thanked her for her support before the court.
“His health was good. Of course he was able to testify, the court has rules and he is allowed to testify. I don’t want to get into what he said. Let’s just say that he pleaded innocent,” Ding said.
A handful of people at the courthouse wore yellow ribbons as a show of support. They attached ribbons to railings, but those were soon removed by police.
“Long live democracy, long live Liu Xiaobo!” 49-year-old Beijing resident Song Zaimin shouted under the watchful eye of police outside the court.
“I don’t know him and I don’t want to know him but I just support his heroic behavior. We must stand up for our future,” Song said.
Liu, a university professor before his involvement in the Tiananmen demonstrations, co-authored Charter 08, which calls for human rights protection and the reform of China’s one-party communist system.
The petition, which has been widely circulated online, has been signed by more than 10,000 people, including other key dissidents.
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