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学者联名促中国停止骚扰维权人士

Wed, 04 Oct 2006 14:17:25 GMT

学者联名促中国停止骚扰维权人士

记者：天虹
华盛顿
2006年10月3日

总部设在纽约的人权观察星期一向中国国家主席胡锦涛发出公开信，敦促中国政府停止骚扰维权人士。有50多名来自美国、欧洲和澳大利亚的著名学者、法律专家、互联网专家以及人权活动人士在公开信上联署签名。

*公开信列举多起案例*

这封刊登在人权观察网站上的公开信表示，非常关注中国官方加剧对维权人士及其家属的报复行动，包括持续骚扰、驱逐、拘押、逮捕和监禁，认为中国针对人权活动人士的做法让人们质疑中国经常提及的司法方面的承诺。

公开信列举了高智晟、陈光诚、赵岩以及胡佳的案例，表示高智晟为网络作家以及维权人士提供法律辩护是合法行为，但是却在8月15号受到拘押；盲人维权律师陈光诚8月24号被判四年零3个月徒刑，但是陈光诚的最后庭审是由两名官方指定律师辩护；纽约时报研究员赵岩被控泄漏国家机密，虽然在8月撤销了这项指控，但是却因为其它不相关的罪名被判3年徒刑；环境及艾滋病活动人士胡佳从7月中以来一直因为所谓"犯罪活动"而受到软禁监视，公开信说，胡佳受迫害的真实原因是他一直支持和帮助其他维权人士。

*多位著名学者签名*

位于纽约的人权观察亚洲部副主任米奇.斯贝格是这封联署公开信的第一撰稿人，她表示，中国国家主席胡锦涛可能对这些典型案例有所了解，但是仍然有必要向他亲自提出，引起重视。

斯贝格说，她所在的人权观察撰写了这封公开信，之后花了大约一个月的时间把信投递给美国、欧洲和澳大利亚等地的海外人士，结果征集到50多名著名专家学者的签名，其中包括：

美国著名的中国法专家孔杰融、哈佛大学政府系主任罗德里克.麦克法夸尔、英国伦敦经济学院经济政治学退休教授雅胡达、哥伦比亚大学政治学教授黎安友、伯克莱大学互联网研究专家萧强，以及曾经担任联合国在卢旺达和前南斯拉夫国际法庭首席检察官的南非大法官理查德.戈德斯通。

*斯贝格：征集签名为增加说服力*

人权观察组织的斯贝格说，广泛征集专家学者以及法律界人士在这封公开信上签名，是为了增加说服力。

斯贝格说："这是为了让人们看到，除了我们这样的人权团体以外，其它领域的人也赞同我们的说法，因为毕竟中国政府容易认为我们这些海外人权团体对中国的人权状况持有偏见，喜欢指摘他们。现在他们可以看到，这是普遍的呼声和诉求。"

*林培瑞：早已没有顾虑*

美国《华盛顿邮报》的报导说，外国的中国问题专家通常很少对中国侵犯人权情况公开发表看法，主要是担心他们之后前往中国可能会遇到麻烦。

美国的著名汉学家、普林斯顿大学的林培瑞教授也在这封致胡锦涛的公开信上签字，他表示自己没有这方面的顾虑。

林培瑞说："我早就遇到了麻烦，我现在十年都是在黑名单上，我反正是拿不到签证。中文有一句话说，死猪不怕开水烫，我就是不怕那个开水(笑)。"

*林培瑞：当然要签名*

《华盛顿邮报》说，林培瑞教授和哥伦比亚大学的黎安友教授因为编辑披露中国领导层镇压89六四民主运动内幕的《天安门报告》而冒犯了中国当局。

林培瑞说，这封致胡锦涛的公开信，是替弱者说真话，讲法律和公正的原则性，所以他当然要在上面签名。

林培瑞说："信里提到的那些维权活动家，当然特别指出了四个人，高智晟、赵岩、陈光诚和胡佳，可是它的意思比这个广得多，它的意义比这个广得多，那就是法律能不能实行，能不能说了算。这四个信上提出来的例子，清清楚楚不按法律执行，而这四个人的问题也是全国的问题，是一个原则性的问题，你法律是说着玩的还是真正要按法律办事，这是最大的原则问题。"

这封由海外专家学者联署的公开信9月29号寄往胡锦涛位于北京中南海的地址，同时用传真和邮递方式向中国驻美大使周文重寄出了复印件。

《华盛顿邮报》说，中国外交部表示正在研究这封公开信的内容。

五十多位国际人士发表致胡锦涛公开信

国际社会的53名知名的学者、律师、人权活动人士9月29号发表了一份致中国国家主席胡锦涛的公开信，呼吁中国政府停止打压寻求社会公正的活动人士。信中特别例举了四名被关押或被软禁的活动人士的案例，敦促中国政府立即还他们以自由。下面是自由亚洲电台申铧的采访报道。

在这封公开信上签名的有来自美国、欧洲、澳大利亚、亚洲各国，关注中国事务的学者、律师和人权活动人士，由国际人权组织人权观察发起。

信中说，"我们注意到官方打压寻求社会公正的活动人士和他们家属的行为有显著的增加，对他们进行骚扰、拘押、逮捕和判刑。我们还注意到泄露国家机密的罪名被频繁使用来打击独立的社会活动。"这封信的签名者之一，审判前南斯拉夫和卢旺达国际刑事法庭联合国特别检察官、原南非宪法法庭法官理查德－葛德斯通接受自由亚洲电台专访时说，现今中国政府的行为让他联想到南非种族隔离时代政府的所作所为：

"我来自南非。在种族隔离时代，我见到过当时种族隔离政府也用这种手段来打压政治反对派和社会活动人士。因为我关注人权，中国政府的行为让我觉得应该提醒全世界的注意。"
美国波士顿大学著名的历史学教授梅尔---古德曼告诉自由亚洲电台说，胡锦涛政府远比江泽民政府在人权问题上更加强硬：

"在江泽民执政的后期，政治讨论的空间更大。但是自从胡锦涛在2002年上任以来，就在逐渐收紧这个空间并开始打压（持不同政见者），特别是新闻媒体。这封信就是针对这个打压做出的反映。"

这封信中特别提到四个案例，包括维权律师高智晟、盲人法律活动人士陈光诚、记者赵岩以及艾滋病活动人士胡佳。敢于为法轮功受害者进行辩护，并积极参与维权活动的高智晟于今年8月被警方拘押，罪名至今不祥；陈光诚因为揭露山东临沂官员使用暴力执行计划生育政策而被以故意损坏公共财物罪和扰乱交通罪判处四年多刑期；赵岩原为《纽约时报》北京分社的研究员，因为涉嫌把原中央军委主席江泽民即将辞职的消息泄露给《纽约时报》而被捕，但是后来当局取消这一指控，以欺诈罪判处赵岩三年监禁；胡佳除了关注艾滋病人的权益外，还积极参与其他维权活动。自从7月中以来，他一直被软禁。

这封公开信的另一位签名者，纽约大学法学教授、美国外交关系委员会资深成员孔杰融对本台说，这些案例给中国政府的形象带来很大损害：

"这些案例给当事人和他们的家人带来很大的伤害，也给试图做一个守法的国家和建立和谐社会的中国的声誉带来很大伤害。"

这封公开信最后敦促中国政府释放高智晟、陈光诚和赵岩，并解除对胡佳的软禁。信中还敦促对有关国家机密的法律进行修订，与国际标准接轨。公开信还呼吁利用法律来惩罚和骚扰活动人士的地方官员应该被绳之以法，信中还希望胡锦涛能够尽快在这方面进行改革。孔杰融联系到韩国和台湾走过的路来忠告中国大陆政府，压制不是取得和谐的途径：

"韩国的独裁统治者朴正熙，台湾的蒋介石和蒋经国，他们也认为可以通过压制来达到稳定。但是，最终我们看到，如果你想要得到真正的稳定和社会和谐，你必须注重建立真正意义上的司法制度，以及允许更多政治表达的空间。压制不能够做到这点。"
自由亚洲电台申铧采访报道。

五十余名外国学者致信中国领导人

美联社北京报道，五十多名外国学者以及其他一些中国问题专家于9月29日向中国最高领导人胡锦涛发出了一份联合签名的公开信。

公开信上说：「我们写信给您，是希望您致力于保障为社会公正而奔走的人士的公民权，...我们注意到并且感到担忧的是，近来官方对这些维权人士及其家属的报复、迫害、刁难、拘捕与关押的现象激增」。

公开信发表在总部设在纽约的人权观察网站上，签名的学者来自美国、欧洲和澳大利亚，其中的着名学者有美国对外关系委员会的Jerome Cohen(孔杰融)，哈佛的Roderick MacFarquhar(马若德)与伦敦经济学院的Michael Yahuda(亚胡达)。

Asian Wall Street Journal：非法的审判，邪恶的判决

Wed, 20 Sep 2006 13:47:03 GMT

听到陈光诚案的判决结果我们非常难过非常震惊。陈光诚是一个护法维权的中国公民，仅仅因为坚守良知和正义，维护国家法律尊严揭露地方政府的野蛮违法计生行为，竟然在遭到长达半年多的软禁后又被判处4年零三个月监禁。这是一场非法的审判，一个邪恶的判决；这是法律的耻辱，是中国人的耻辱。事实上，违法犯罪的不是“光明之子”陈光诚，而是那些以法律的名义迫害他的贪官污吏们！

陈光诚无罪，指控他的两个罪名根本不能成立。控方指控陈光诚“指使”、“煽动”陈光东等人故意砸坏了政府车辆。但事实上，砸车是愤怒的村民自发行为，与陈光诚无关。大量村民的证言表明，2月5日所谓陈光诚故意毁坏财物的真相是：政府方面非法拘禁陈光诚的人员在春节期间殴打并拘捕了陈光诚的邻居陈华，陈华的家人以及村民向政府要人，陈华的奶奶因情绪激动而休克躺在雪地里，村民央求政府的人派车救人，他们不理，群情激愤之下有人去砸了车玻璃。这起群体性事件的背景是当地政府的非法行为，事件的起因也是因为政府见危不救，村民虽然砸车是错误的，但主要责任应该在于当地政府。

控方指控陈光诚聚众扰乱交通秩序。事实真相是，3月11日晚，村民陈光余遭受看守陈光诚的政府人员的殴打，陈光诚等人到村委会去找政府说理，回来路过205国道时，有人提议去县政府找领导，但就在他们准备拦车去县城的时候，看守陈光诚的人把陈光诚等人围在中间，公安局的孙学农和另一个看守拦了两个方向的车，造成交通堵塞。于是，他们给陈光诚安了一个扰乱交通秩序的罪名。

沂南县公安机关、检察机关和法院处理本案的程序多出明显违法。

2005年8月到2006年3月，地方政府非法软禁成光诚和他的妻子半年以上，一切对外联络被掐断。

2006年3月12日至6月10日，侦查机关沂南县公安局对陈光诚进行了长达三个月的非法拘禁。这期间，沂南县公安局对陈光诚的家属和律师拒绝承认陈光诚被他们关押。但陈光诚对律师讲，今年3月12日至4月2日他被非法拘禁在沂南县维多利亚度假村，4月2日至6月10日，他被非法拘禁在民警培训中心。这不仅仅是程序违法的问题，而是一个犯罪的问题，沂南县公安局有关人员已经构成非法拘禁罪！

在沂南县看守所，侦察机关办案人员对陈光诚实施了谩骂、侮辱和死亡威胁。警察曾经三天三夜不让陈光诚睡觉，陈曾经为此绝食绝水三天进行抗议！

每次陈光诚的律师赴沂南进行调查取证都遭到政府官员的骚扰、威胁、拘禁甚至野蛮殴打。去年9月6日，陈光诚在北京朋友家中被非法绑架，10月，许志永、李方平律师在村口遭到政府雇用的暴徒的野蛮殴打；今年6月22日下午，程海等三位律师在山东临沂被一辆无牌照车跟踪，并被不明身份的暴徒当街公开殴打；6月27日，在东师古村村口，李劲松、李苏滨在车里时，看守陈光诚的人把他们的车辆掀翻；律师的摄像机被公然抢走；7月22日，几十名暴徒冲进公安局内，抢劫了律师们的相机，并当着警察的面强行摔碎。

5月份，律师要求会见陈更江等人，公安机关拒绝安排，使律师无法对极为重要的证据进行质证；8月17日和18日两天，律师要求会见陈光诚，为开庭做必要的准备，但均遭到无理拒绝。

开庭前一天，辩护人许志永博士被诬为小偷而被派出所拘留至庭审结束。

开庭时，陈光诚的妻子和母亲要求旁听，被警察强力阻拦；法院的各个路口进行交通管制，防止任何人旁听；各地赶来的维权人士被拘留或被强行遣送，有的至今仍没有消息。在陈光诚明确拒绝法院为他临时指定的律师的情况下，法院未按法律规定延期审理而是强行开庭；这两个没有见过陈光诚、也没有进行阅卷的律师在法庭只会点头称是。这是一场彻头彻尾的荒唐表演。

陈光诚没有犯罪，有罪的是地方政府有关官员。他们在长达一年多的时间里犯下的罪行包括：他们非法限制陈光诚及其妻子、孩子的人身自由，构成非法拘禁罪；他们殴打村民，制造事端，构成寻衅滋事罪；他们掀翻车辆、致使律师受伤，构成故意毁坏财务罪和故意伤害罪；他们为阻止律师取证抢夺律师的摄像机，构成抢夺罪；他们诬告辩护人盗窃，构成诬告罪。

为了掩盖自己在推行计划生育过程中的违法行为，临沂地方政府相关负责人滥用司法公权竟然在长达一年多的时间里对揭露真相的勇敢的盲人陈光诚持续打击迫害，不惜制造更多的大量的违法乃至犯罪行为。这不仅伤害了陈光诚及其家人，伤害了村民和辩护律师，还严重败坏了中国的形象。

这一邪恶的判决必将定在历史的耻辱柱上，而我们寻求真相与正义的脚步不会停止，不管前边的道路有多么危险！

陈光诚案律师顾问团

（李劲松律师张立辉律师李方平律师滕彪律师许志永博士）

英文版发表于9日13日Asian Wall Street Journal

The following is the final version of a piece that ran in today's Asian Wall Street Journal, written by Beijing-based rights defense lawyers Li Jinsong, Zhang Lihui, Li Fangping, Teng Biao, and Xu Zhiyong.

Chen Guangcheng, a blind advocate for the rights of Chinese villagers, recently made headlines around the world when he was sentenced to four years and three months in prison. But, as his chosen lawyers, we were prevented from presenting a fair defense by obstacles erected by Chinese authorities. A local court imposed unacceptable terms on us defending our client at his August 18 trial. Before the trial, we had been detained by police, intimidated, and one lawyer was not freed until the trial was over. Except for Mr. Chen's three brothers, no other members of the public, not even his wife and mother, were allowed to attend the two-hour hearing.

That's why we are using these columns to outline the defense that was never presented in court, and explain how our client was convicted of crimes he did not commit.

In those closed-door proceedings, Chinese officials punished Mr. Chen for disclosing their own criminal activities--forcing villagers to undergo sterilizations and forced abortions, even though these are officially illegal under Chinese law.

Had we not been barred from the courtroom, we would have argued that the trial was unlawful. The two government-appointed lawyers, whom Mr. Chen refused to accept, had never met him before the trial nor read any of the files on his case. They did not offer any defense during the hearing, but merely repeated everything the prosecutors said.

The pre-trial process also violated Chinese law and infringed basic human-rights principles. A self-taught lawyer, Mr. Chen has long helped the disabled and peasants fight illegal taxes and environmental pollution. In June 2005, he filed a class-action lawsuit accusing local officials in Yinan County in northeastern Shandong Province, of forcing peasants to undergo abortions or sterilizations in order to meet birth-control quotas. Two months later, Yinan officials placed Mr. Chen under house arrest. Then in March this year he was taken away by police. When we were finally allowed to meet Mr. Chen in June, he told us that police had verbally abused him, threatened his life, and once deprived him of sleep for three days.

Ever since the first of us took on Chen's case in September last year, we have been pressured by local authorities to drop it. When we refused to do so, we were beaten and intercepted by government officials as we tried to carry out investigations and collect evidence.

Both of the charges on which Mr. Chen was convicted are groundless. The first, “intentional destruction of property,” is based on a clash on Feb. 15 this year between villagers and police, who had beaten another villager protesting Mr. Chen's illegal house arrest. But it was local officials, rather than Mr. Chen, who were responsible for “inciting” this incident by carrying out that beating.

People we interviewed said the villagers did no more than push police vehicles into a roadside ditch, and that they only acted in this way because police refused to take the victim's grandmother to hospital, after she passed out on hearing of the beating.

As for the second charge of “gathering crowds to obstruct traffic,” once again it was the police rather than Mr. Chen who were responsible for this. On March 11, guards used by the local authorities to enforce the house arrest beat up another villager trying to meet Mr. Chen. Angry villagers then clashed with the guards and succeeded in getting Mr. Chen out of his house so that he could accompany them to the local government offices to protest. As they tried to get rides into town, police and guards surrounded them and temporarily stopped traffic until they could wrestle Mr. Chen and two other villagers into police cars, and take them into custody.

The prosecutors introduced testimony from other detained villagers, accusing Mr. Chen of “inciting” property destruction. But lawyers representing these villagers were never allowed to meet with them. Nor were they allowed to cross-examine these “witnesses.” Family members of these villagers, who were detained for supporting Mr. Chen, said that they were mistreated in jail and forced to testify against Mr. Chen.

The real criminal suspects in this case are the officials responsible for obstructing justice and undermining the country's legal reform.

These local officials could hardly have acted with such contempt and disregard for the law unless they had been given the green light by authorities higher up in the government. Nonetheless, in appealing Mr. Chen's case to a higher court, we will act on the assumption that the country's legal system can, without official interference, deliver a fair verdict and remedy wrongs. This may prove to be too optimistic. But we can only find out by fighting for justice, case by case, one client at a time.

Messrs. Li Jinsong, Zhang, Li Fangping, Teng and Xu are Beijing-based lawyers.

律师会见陈光诚　商讨上诉受阻

Thu, 31 Aug 2006 02:56:23 GMT

李劲松律师事务所网址：http://www.yt198.com/

自由亚洲报道：
律师近日前往山东临沂处理陈光诚上诉事宜，在沂南县官方不断阻挠下，直到星期三才得以会见陈光诚，李方平和
李劲松律师正式取得辩护人的委托。另外，国际上一百名各个领域的领袖，近日联署至胡锦涛公开信，谴责当局迫
害陈光诚。
李方平和李劲松律师星期三下午于沂南看守所会见了陈光诚，落实二人成为他二审的辩护人。李方平律师当天告诉
本台：
“我们已经见到他，他健康状况良好,但对前段时间结束的审判过程表示非常愤慨。他坚决要求上诉,而且不同意指
定律师再来会见他代理他上诉，他要自己委托的律师。今天他已经确认了委托我们,中级法院也已经接受了我们的
手续。”
然而会面并不顺利，在官方骚扰下被迫中断，没有成功与当事人交换辩护意见，李方平说：
“房间里有很多人，其中一个跑到陈光诚坐的地方去抓住陈光诚的手,在铁丝网里面跟他坐在一起，其他的人就围
着律师。跟他交流上诉的意见和看法因为后来受到一些阻挠没法进行下去。他们把李劲松律师叫出去,中间他们以
前的审判长也来到会客室跟李劲松律师争执起来. 审判长说：“你们的律师临阵脱逃,拒绝辩护。”但是李劲松对
陈光诚解释的时候,警察就把这些反馈给审判长,审判长就过来跟李劲松争执以来。”

为了处理陈光诚上诉的事宜，两位律师星期天已经前往临沂，期间不断受到当局阻挠，包括沂南县法院拒绝给家属
及律师陈光诚的一审判决书，而沂南县看守所也以要向上级申请为由两次拒绝律师会见陈光诚，这些问题在两位律
师不断的奔波下，才得以一一解决：
“我们在各个法院、派出所和看守所之间来回穿梭，包括临沂和沂南县我们就来回六趟是为联系会见的事和上述的
事，但是真正的会见只给了我们四十来分钟。判决书是今天下午收到的，中院让我们让沂南县法院去拿,后来他们
的一个庭长打电话沂南法院才同意我们取一份。”

按照程序，临沂中级法院应于二审开庭时间，律师们星期三会见陈光诚完毕以后，便赶回北京，准备辩护工作，李
劲松律师表示他的辩护意见主要部分会包括反映当地官员对陈光诚以及律师们违法乱纪的行为：
“我在辩护文件里面明确地提到了沂南那些当地的流氓恶势力包括相关部分的贪官污吏所做的违法乱纪的事情我都
一一例举出来了。”
然而，在星期三下午才拿到的陈光诚一审判决书中，官方竟然把软禁陈光诚，而且多次殴打村民及律师的人称为扶
贫工作组，以便把他们纳入证人的范围，用来为陈光诚治罪。律师对此感到气愤：

“因为它首先要解决工作组的合法性，但是这种看守应该说是非法拘禁、是犯罪行为，他们为了避开这一点,就让
这些“证人”以扶贫工作组的名义去证明陈光诚毁坏财物和聚众扰乱交通秩序，这些我们看来觉得非常荒唐。”

另外，国际上释放陈光诚的呼声不减，星期二，100多名来自30多个国家的生物伦理学、宗教、人权、生殖健康等
领域的个体工作者和领导者，就山东盲人赤脚律师陈光诚案件，签名致信中华人民共和国主席胡锦涛。信中谴责临
沂及沂南当局非法迫害陈光诚及阻挠对他的法律援助。

Chinese Activist Gets Jail Sentence

Sun, 27 Aug 2006 16:40:38 GMT

洛杉矶时报

Chen Guangcheng, who uncovered abuses of family planning policies, will be behind bars for more than four years.

By Ching-Ching Ni, Times Staff Writer

August 25, 2006

LA Times

BEIJING — A blind activist who drew international attention by exposing China's harsh family planning policies was sentenced by a court Thursday to four years and three months in prison, the official New China News Agency reported.

Chen Guangcheng was tried last week, without his own attorney present, on charges of damaging property and "organizing a mob to disturb traffic." He was represented at his two-hour trial by a pair of court-appointed lawyers he had never met.

Chen's supporters say the case has made a mockery of the Chinese judicial system and serves as a graphic reminder of the government's strenuous efforts to silence its critics.

"This verdict is highly unfair," said Xu Zhiyong, Chen's lead lawyer, who had been detained for 22 hours on theft allegations and was released without charge only after his client's trial ended Aug. 18. "They've lost all reason. They have no respect for the law. We definitely plan to appeal."

The maximum sentence Chen faced was five years in prison, and his lawyers said they had expected him to receive less than three years, if not a reprieve. The chances of reversing the verdict are seen as slim.

Chen's supporters say he has become a target of retaliation by officials in the eastern Chinese city of Linyi for publicizing information about forced late-term abortions and sterilization campaigns involving tens of thousands of people.

China's one-child policy has become less coercive in recent years, and such draconian family planning measures are no longer common practice. But that hasn't stopped some local officials from continuing with the abuse in order to meet certain quotas.

The harsh treatment of the self-taught lawyer and a recent slew of incidents involving the arrest or intimidation of attorneys fighting against official abuse suggest that the Communist Party is worried about losing control over an increasingly vocal legal community.

The charges that Chen, 35, was convicted of stem from two events this year.

Chen was placed under house arrest last August, and in February of this year, a fight broke out between a villager and one of the many guards watching him. The tiff left the villager bleeding from a head wound. The villager called the police but was arrested, Chen's eldest brother, Chen Guangfu, said.

The villager's 80-year-old grandmother went to seek his release, but to no avail, Chen's brother said. She was so upset that she passed out. Villagers begged officials to take her to the hospital, but they refused. Another scuffle broke out, and another villager was hurt. Authorities refused once again to help the grandmother, and now the other villager, get medical aid.

At that point, angry villagers started smashing the windows of three official vehicles, Chen's brother said.

"All the villagers know what happened," the elder Chen said. "It has nothing to do with my brother. But the lawyers are not allowed to go to our village to gather any evidence."

The second incident took place about a month later.

During the February clash, Chen had slipped into the home of another villager and hidden there for about 20 days. Officials allegedly beat the villager after failing to get him to turn Chen in. In reaction, Chen and about five others attempted to walk to a village official's office. They were followed by up to 60 guards who tried to stop them.

"They charged my brother with blocking traffic, but most of the people doing the blocking were their own men," said Chen's brother, who was one of three family members allowed to attend the trial last week.

The brother said that no one was allowed to speak in Chen's behalf at the trial and that the two court-appointed lawyers didn't object to anything the prosecutors said. Chen, he said, repeatedly tried to protest the validity of the trial and threw up several times in court.

"Our lawyers have received death threats, we've been arrested and accused of theft," said Teng Biao, one of Chen's lawyers. "When we tried to visit the village in July, they turned our car over with two attorneys still inside. The entire village remains sealed off. The phone lines are cut off. They don't want us to meet or speak to any of the relatives. This verdict today has no legal basis whatsoever."

Chen Guangcheng sentenced to four years

Sat, 26 Aug 2006 01:12:33 GMT

Jerry Cohen (formally Jerome A. Cohen), a New York lawyer, law
professor, and acknowledged dean of foreign experts on Chinese legal
matters who has been in China for some time and has been closely
following this and other cases, has made public his view:

The extremely harsh sentence for Chen Guangcheng confirms not only the
lawlessness and vindictiveness of the authorities of Linyi City but
also the determination of the national Communist Party Political-Legal
Committee to intimidate and suppress the country's rising generation
of human rights activist-lawyers.

There was no valid basis for the charges against Chen. That is why all
legal procedures were thrown out the window in his"trial". Otherwise
his lawyers, who were never allowed in the courtroom, would have
exposed the process as the farce that it was.

Moreover, even if this idealistic and peaceful blind man who has led
an exemplary life had been genuinely guilty of the charges, as his
wife pointed out, the sentence is wildly disproportionate to the
alleged offenses. It is another shameful demonstration by the highest
leaders in the country--not merely the Linyi authorities--that all
those in China who take seriously the regime's policies and
legislation trumpeting "a socialist rule of law" do so at their peril.

Chen's is not an isolated case, of course, but is related to the
current campaign against lawyers, journalists and others who stoke the
fires of the nation's increasing rights consciousness. But Chen is a
justifiably famous person whose case will become a worldwide symbol of
injustice in China.

I will take my Chen Guangcheng T-shirt to my opening class on "Law and
Society in China".

http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/china_law_prof_blog/2006/08/chen_guangcheng.html

August 24, 2006

Chen Guangcheng sentenced to four years

I recently posted on the proceedings of the Chen Guangcheng (陈光诚) trial； this farce has now reached its denouement with the sentencing of Chen to four years in prison for crimes (destruction of property, organizing a mob to block traffic) allegedly committed while he was under close police guard. As his lawyers were prevented by the authorities from attending the trial, the court appointed new lawyers for Chen who neither contested the charges nor called any witnesses on his behalf. (New York Times story here | Comments from attorney Xu Zhiyong's blog here.)

This case is just what it appears to be and hardly requires further commentary by me. I will just point out that Chen received substantially less due process than is typically available for murderers and other violent criminals. Even the Gang of Four got more due process than this. Central government leaders, who allowed this to happen, probably have better information on the state of Chinese society than I do. If they believe that the failure to crush a single individual who was, after all, exposing violations of state law will lead to a collapse of their authority, one can only conclude that the current state of social peace (such as it is) is fragile indeed.

I will conclude with a comment from Prof. Jerome Cohen of NYU Law School, who is closely acquainted with the details of the case:

The extremely harsh sentence for Chen Guangcheng confirms not only the lawlessness and vindictiveness of the authorities of Linyi City but also the determination of the national Communist Party Political-Legal Committee to intimidate and suppress the country's rising generation of human rights activist-lawyers. There was no valid basis for the charges against Chen. That is why all legal procedures were thrown out the window in his "trial". Otherwise his lawyers, who were never allowed in the courtroom, would have exposed the process as the farce that it was. Moreover, even if this idealistic and peaceful blind man who has led an exemplary life had been genuinely guilty of the charges, as his wife pointed out, the sentence is wildly disproportionate to the alleged offenses. It is another shameful demonstration by the highest leaders in the country - not merely the Linyi authorities - that all those in China who take seriously the regime's policies and legislation trumpeting "a socialist rule of law" do so at their peril. Chen's is not an isolated case, of course, but is related to the current campaign against lawyers, journalists and others who stoke the fires of the nation's increasing rights consciousness. But Chen is a justifiably famous person whose case will become a worldwide symbol of injustice in China. I will take my Chen Guangcheng T-shirt to my opening class on "Law and Society in China".

昝爱宗：温家宝亲眼目睹山东政府强奸陈光诚

Thu, 24 Aug 2006 23:44:57 GMT

请看博讯热点：临沂计生维权
(博讯2006年8月25日)    昝爱宗更多文章请看昝爱宗专栏
    陈光诚的出现，是用来见证温家宝满脸笑容背后的真面目。
     陈光诚有幸和温家宝共同列入影响世界100人，但并非让温家宝也觉得"有幸"。可在此之外，温家宝与陈光诚再无任何关系，尤其明显的是，陈光诚今天成为"罪犯"，而温家宝照样是"人民的总理"。在这个世上，总理能够保护一个罪犯吗？我们何时才能不再亲眼目睹赵高指鹿为马的游戏重演？ (博讯 boxun.com)

    中国严酷的法律，是用来让陈光诚们害怕的，而不是用来保护陈光诚们的。事实证明，在今天的中国，在政府卑鄙手段控制下，帮助村民维权的陈光诚根本无法得到法律的保护，他只能得到法律的惩处。
    这样的结果，到底是法律有问题，还是整个体制都有问题？
    8月24日，山东省沂南县法院判处盲人陈光诚有期徒刑四年零三个月，罪名是"故意损坏财物、聚众扰乱交通秩序"。另三个村民陈庚江等曾被刑讯逼供17天，并在8月18日上午被秘密审判，判刑七个月，缓刑一年。
    这是本年度一个多么值得令全世界关注的最大的中国侵犯人权案件。
    我是很难张开嘴说沂南这个法院是"人民法院"，以及它有什么合法性，有什么资格被称为法院。我甚至怀疑中国所有冠名"人民"的机构的合法性，以及它的资格。合法性决定了它的权力，如果它没有合法性，它的权力就是乱来的，就是抢来的。
    陈光诚，一个盲人，被判处重刑，却是编造的理由："故意损坏财物、聚众扰乱交通秩序"。当然，今天我毫不怀疑山东政府在对待陈光诚上面的"良苦用心"，这心是"黄鼠狼给鸡拜年，没安好心"。当法律可以当成镇压陈光诚这些"罪犯们"的工具，当领导们可以安然目睹这一切的发生，中国怎么了？是不是进入了一个魔鬼控制的邪恶家园？

    贪官可以缓刑，不用坐牢；首长可以永远伟大光荣正确，不用承担责任；他们都不能例外，惟有老百姓，可以例外。所以说，中国的老百姓可以永远强权受欺压，不用抱怨，死了也不值得可怜。
    是的，我们每个人都是陈光诚，下一个被抓的就是我们。
    是的，我们每一个人都是陈光诚，温家宝们从来就不能保护我们，反而是伤害我们。

    8月11日至18日，我说真话呼吁真相而被公安部门行政拘留7天，违法的名头就是"散布谣言，故意扰乱公共秩序"。
    在中国，什么不是故意？什么不是谣言？不管有没有发生，也不管发生了有没有造成后果，什么都不用管，政府指责你故意散布谣言你就故意散布谣言了，因为谣言在中国没有标准，中国的百姓最容易故意散布谣言，最容易不明真相。而那些冠名"人民"的单位，从来没有散布过一句谣言，从来都明白真相。

    陈光诚先生的罪名是"故意损坏财物、聚众扰乱交通秩序"。在中国，只有百姓才敢"故意"扰乱秩序，而政府，从来都是秩序的守护神和正义的化身，即使中国的秩序一团糟，交通那么拥挤，冤案那么普遍，贪污腐败那么层出不穷，政府也没有责任，因为政府是用来享用秩序的，不是被秩序所规范的。谁扰乱制度，政府就给谁过不去，毫不手软。陈光诚虽然与温家宝在"影响世界的程度"上"平级"，但扰乱秩序的罪名只能加在陈光诚头上，而万万不能加在温家宝头上。
    所以我说，一个有良知的陈光诚被山东政府强奸了，被法律强奸了，而这个负责任大国的总理，也得以亲眼目睹了山东政府强奸陈光诚的全过程，却没有任何公开说法。
    十七年前的"六四"，我们熟悉的一张照片就是天安门广场上，温家宝站在当时的总书记赵紫阳身旁，满脸的严肃。可今天，十七年后，温家宝成为大国总理，却是处处让新闻媒体宣传满脸温情，帮助农民工讨工资，帮助地方政府"揩屁股"，帮助农民进城卖桃少受刁难……几乎都是以人为本，领袖本色。可是他对大名鼎鼎的陈光诚做了什么？他对高智晟和喻华峰做了什么？他又对制定新闻法、废除暂住证和实现迁徙自由、废除劳教制度、司法独立、民选地方自治政府、多党制等做了什么呢？
    陈光诚被强权强奸了，那些强奸犯们得逞了，那些亲眼目睹而无动于衷的人也在参与，只是他们得逞的时间越长，参与的越深入，他们所得到的就是最坏最坏的结果。
    对强权强奸弱者而无动于衷，并不是什么沉默，也不是回避，而是助长强奸者的嚣张气焰，"上帝让谁灭亡，必先让其疯狂。"
    所以今天的陈光诚有福了，上帝不会让他灭亡，所以也不至于使他疯狂。那些疯狂的，早已是尚活着的行尸走肉了。
    非法判决，不是判决，不能生效，只能是流氓行为，是乱来，是犯罪。
    今天，让我们为陈光诚的明天而祈祷，让我们离那些臭肉远些，让我们心怀良知，满怀向善的心，分别为圣，以善胜恶。 (博讯记者：蔡楚) [博讯首发,欢迎转载，请注明出处]- 支持此文作者/记者(博讯 boxun.com)

China: Chen Guangcheng is prisoner of conscience

Thu, 24 Aug 2006 22:56:32 GMT

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
PRESS RELEASE
News Flash

AI Index: ASA 17/048/2006 (Public)
News Service No: 222
24 August 2006

China: Chen Guangcheng is prisoner of conscience

Human rights activist Chen Guangcheng was today sentenced to four
years and three months in prison. In reaction, Catherine Baber, Deputy
Asia Pacific Director at Amnesty International said:

"We condemn utterly the sentence imposed on Chen Guangcheng and
consider him a prisoner of conscience. Chen has been imprisoned solely
because of his peaceful defence of human rights and he should be
released immediately."

"The charges against Chen were politically motivated and the trial was
grossly unfair from start to finish. Chen's lawyers were obstructed at
every step of the way, from collecting evidence to representing him in
court. By some accounts the trial lasted only two hours; and the
courtroom was filled with official representatives preventing members
of the public and most of Chen's relatives attending."

Chen was charged with "damaging public property and gathering people
to block traffic" in June 2006, after he had been detained
incommunicado for three months. He had been arbitrarily confined to
his home since September 2005. Before his detention Chen had been
helping local villagers in their attempt to sue the local authorities
in Linyi City, Shandong province, for carrying out an illegal policy
of forced abortions and sterilizations which reportedly affected
thousands of local women.

陈光诚被判4年3个月

Thu, 24 Aug 2006 10:41:59 GMT

19：23更新：袁伟静见到一位同村涉案村民的家属获知：那三位同时被抓捕的村民在当地刑警大队被刑讯逼供17天，并于8月18日上午秘密开庭审判，三位村民被判刑7个月，缓刑1年。三位村民因无法忍受酷刑，认罪，并"承认是在陈光诚和袁伟静指使下砸车"（判决书上的文字）。我意识到，袁伟静处于非常大的风险中，很可能会被进一步迫害。

JINAN, Aug. 24 (Xinhua)-- The People's Court of Yinan County,

in east China's Shandong Province, Thursday sentenced Chen

Guangcheng to four years and three months in prison on charges of

willfully damaging property and organizing a mob to disturb

traffic.

The sentence was passed in a public court session. Enditem

翻译：济南，8月24日（新华）——中国东部山东省沂南县人民法院，星期四判决陈光诚坐牢4年3个月，罪名是故意破坏财产和聚众扰乱交通。

公开开庭做了此宣判。

http://zengjinyan.spaces.live.com/

这条新闻是在新华社的有偿新闻稿里发布的。和高智晟律师被抓捕的信息一样。新华社的网站上没有任何链接。光诚指定的律师（李劲松、许志永、张立辉）被绕开，对审判不知情。在光诚和其辩护律师的抗议下，法院为陈光诚指定当地司法局的律师，配合公诉人把光诚送去监狱。

另外根据陈光诚妻子袁伟静通过手机沟通的信息，当地所有和陈光诚一起所谓"涉案"的村民被无罪释放。

陈光诚的妻子袁伟静仍然处于当局的软禁中。

让法律、正义和全体中国人蒙羞的审判

Sun, 20 Aug 2006 02:07:19 GMT

"维权网 "

网站：http://crd-net.org 信箱: admin@chinese-rights-defenders.net

" 人人享有所有人权 " ( 联合国)

2006 年8 月19 日发布

http://crd-net.org/Article_Show.asp?ArticleID=1997

让法律、正义和全体中国人蒙羞的审判

- 维权网就沂南法院开庭审理陈光诚一案的的声明

8 月18日，山东临沂沂南法院在国内外舆论的强烈质疑和反对下，开庭审理著名盲人维权人士陈光诚。这是一个必将写进历史的日子，因为，这个庭审以及围绕它的官方及地方势力的所作所为使法律、正义、全中国人蒙羞。在实现法治、保障人权被写进中国宪法的今天，事实再次提醒我们：现实和法治及正义相差是多么遥远。

陈光诚一案，不仅从始至终违背基本的法律程序正义，即使是就现行的中国法律而言，也是公然违法的，不能成立。陈光诚被指控犯有故意破坏财物罪和聚众扰乱交通两项罪名，但对一个被软禁长达 189天的盲人来讲，他如何能够犯下这种正常人也要具有相当"能力"才能犯下的罪呢？事实上，法院从来就没有、也根本不想在此案上保持基本的程序正义。例如，在没有对"被煽动者"进行定罪前，怎么可以对"煽动者"先行审判？陈光诚 3月 11日被警方带走，到6 月12日其家人才收到他被刑事拘留的通知，这三个月的失踪符合哪条法律？连续三天不准睡觉的惩罚又是哪条国家法律的规定？重要的证人被拒绝出庭或被限制人身自由，而该回避的沂南公安检查等部门的人员却不回避；律师取证不断地被当地官方指派的人员、包括当地警方的威胁、骚扰甚至殴打，车辆、器材被任意毁坏，取证无法正常进行，证人受到恐吓……这又要怎样才能解释的司法公正？这一切都说明，这是一场蓄意的诬陷，是一场人为的赤裸裸的迫害。

当然，人们也都清楚陈光诚为何遭此牢狱之灾，因为从他勇敢地揭露临沂地区导致几十万人受到迫害的所谓计划生育工作那一日起，这个灾难可能就注定要降临到这位善良正直的盲人身上。但是，尽管知其不现实，许多关心此案的善良的人们仍然心存侥幸：毕竟这是二十一世纪了，毕竟中国的官方还是签署了一些有关国际人权的公约，毕竟已经宣布要依法治国了……，希望官方，特别是中央政府能够抓住这样一个机会，为中国的法治结建设立下一个良好的范例，为中国社会怎样去达成真正的和谐树立一个榜样，为中国这样一个大国确立一个文明、进步和理性的国际形象作一次努力。而几次开庭的延后，也曾给这种侥幸心理浇灌了些希望。不过， 8月 18日的开庭又一次提醒我们，这个政权依然如故，而争取自由的路必然艰难曲折。

这是一场闹剧，流氓的行止却要打着正义的旗帜，违法的举措偏要冠以法律的名义：辩护律师许志勇未到法庭前先被诬为小偷，被当事人信任的律师朋友不能进入法庭，官方指派的律师与法官闭门上演罗织罪名的双簧，从北京到山东，重要的证人被警方强行禁闭在家中……；但，这更是一场悲剧，中华民族的悲剧，法律和正义的悲剧。当陈光诚这样一位善良、正直、无辜的盲人被带上法庭接受审判的那一刻，中国人迈向现代文明的努力又一次遭受重挫。

所幸的是，在那些恐吓和殴打面前无所畏惧、一批批奔赴山东的维权律师身上，我们看到了中国真正的希望，是他们在这个法律和正义蒙羞的时刻，拯救了真正的法律和正义精神，是他们让蒙羞的中国人能够在世人面前挽回些尊严，这里，我们向他们表示最崇高的敬意。我们不应幻想庭审能够公正，但我们我们有"权"要求庭审公正，这种要求跟那些维权律师的努力、人们的抗议一样，都是为历史留证：留证陈光诚受到的迫害和他作出的牺牲，留证中国的法治和人权事业的艰难和所需要做出的努力，留证人的良知。我们相信，这样的牺牲、努力不会全然没有结果，这样一种庭审最终是要被正义和历史审判的。

"维权网"

2006 年8月 19日

____________________________________________

" 维权网" 是维权人士和民间团体的开放联网，旨在协助民间维权、发展公民社会，通过民主手段和法制改革、本着普世人权标准和中国宪法保障的公民权利、监督政府落实其人权承偌，追究侵权责任 ,为受害者寻求司法和社会救助。"维权网"提供热线咨询、信息发布、国际交流、小型资助、研究助理等服务项目。

China: Release “Barefoot Lawyer”

Sun, 20 Aug 2006 02:05:34 GMT

Defendant’s Lawyers Barred from Mounting a Defense

(New York, July 19, 2006) – Chinese authorities should immediately release Chen Guangcheng, a blind lawyer persecuted for exposing official abuses, Human Rights Watch said today. Since his arbitrary detention in August 2005, Chen has been subject to physical abuse by police, and local officials have repeatedly interfered with attempts by Chen’s legal team to interview witnesses and gather evidence. Chen is due to be tried on July 20 for intent to damage public property and inciting others to join him to disrupt traffic.

When Chen tried to make proper use of China’s legal system, the response wasn’t due process. It was house arrest, physical abuse, and then ‘disappearance’ by local authorities. His case is a textbook example of how little the rule of law really means in China.

Sophie Richardson, deputy director of the Asia division of Human Rights Watch.

“When Chen tried to make proper use of China’s legal system, the response wasn’t due process,” said Sophie Richardson, deputy director of the Asia division of Human Rights Watch. “It was house arrest, physical abuse, and then ‘disappearance’ by local authorities. His case is a textbook example of how little the rule of law really means in China.”

In March 2005, Chen learned from villagers that officials in Linyi, a city in Shandong province, had subjected thousands of people trying to evade restrictive population control laws to late-term forced abortions, midnight raids, beatings and compulsory sterilization. Chen then began his own investigation into the allegations. In June 2005, he filed a class-action lawsuit, and then traveled to Beijing to discuss the case with legal scholars, lawyers and foreign journalists. Soon after, the lawsuit was rejected.

On August 12, 2005, local officials imprisoned Chen and his immediate family in their home and shut off all outside communication. They were detained there for seven months. Chen did manage to escape in September, but was apprehended in Beijing and returned to Linyi. When he tried again to escape in October, local authorities failed to protect him against beatings by civilians apparently working in connection with the police to help enforce his isolation. On March 11, 2006, Yinan county police officers “disappeared” Chen for three months. It was not until June 11, 2006, that officials acknowledged he had been formally detained in the Yinan County Detention Center. On June 21, the Yinan County People’s Procuratorate approved Chen’s arrest.

That same day, Chen’s lawyers, Li Jinsong and Zhang Lihui, were able to visit him, but from then on, authorities escalated the pressure to deny access to defense witnesses and materials for all the lawyers and activists involved. On June 22, police officers took lawyer Li in for questioning. Unknown assailants beat three other lawyers defending villagers jailed for supporting Chen. Police officers first looked on as the cameras of the villagers’ lawyers were smashed, then took them in for questioning. When Li Jinsong and Li Subin, another member of Chen’s legal team, tried to visit Chen’s wife on June 23, they were stopped and beaten by guards. The following day, all the lawyers involved returned to Beijing. Li Jinsong and Li Subin tried returning to Shandong on June 27, only to be harassed again while the police again stood by. Some 20 men overturned the lawyers’ car and police took Li Jinsong in for questioning once again.

“Chen’s story – his disappearance, letting unknown assailants beat him and his legal team, and holding him for months without any judicial process – spotlights the failings of the Chinese judiciary,” said Richardson. “China should free Chen and welcome his exposure of official abuses, instead of continuing to persecute him.”

Chronology of Chen Guangcheng's Case

CHRONOLOGY

March 2005:
Chen learns of family planning abuses in Linyi city, Shandong province and begins his own investigation.

June 2005:
After Chen organizes a class-action lawsuit, he travels to Beijing to consult with legal scholars and lawyers and to meet with the press. The suit was filed, only to be rejected.
Chen抯 findings are revealed on the Internet and through the foreign press.

August 12, 2005:
Chen and family are imprisoned in their own home. Twenty to 300 officials and civilians who appear to work in concert with the police maintain round the clock watch.

September 6, 2005:
Chen manages to escape to Beijing, where he is apprehended by Linyi city officials and threatened with a long prison term if he does not stop his activism. When he refuses, he is returned to effective house arrest in Dongshigu, his home village.

September 2005:
Lawyers and legal experts who had earlier posted Chen抯 findings on the Internet organize to defend him.

September 19, 2005:
The National Population and Family Planning Commission (NPFPC), responding to the concerns raised about Linyi, reports that 搃llegal family planning practices that violate people抯 legal rights and interests do exist. Those who are responsible have been dismissed from duty. Some are under investigation, some are in detention.?

October 4, 2005:
Lawyers Li Fangping and Li Subin and law lecturer Xu Zhiyong attempt to visit Chen and to negotiate with local officials for an end to the enforced isolation. After two of the three were beaten, police interrogate all three, then escort them back to Beijing the following day.

October 24, 2005:
Local officials beat Chen to prevent him from leaving his house to meet with two Beijing scholars, then refuse to permit him to seek medical assistance.

March 11, 2006:
Chen is 揹isappeared?from his home. His family is told nothing about his whereabouts for three months.

June 11, 2006:
Yinan county officials acknowledge that they have Chen in custody; his formal detention is dated June 10.

June 18, 2006:
An interrogator warns Chen that there is nothing abnormal 搃f someone dies in the detention center.?

June 19, 2006:
Family, lawyers, legal experts and activist friends cancel a press conference in Beijing after security officers prevent would-be participants from leaving their homes. On the same day, some 10 men, who did not identify themselves, use force to remove Chen抯 70-year-old mother, his 3-year old son, and his older brother from legal expert Teng Biao抯 Beijing home, and return them to their homes in Dongshigu village, Shandong. University officials tell two Beijing law professors ?Teng Biao from the Chinese University of Politics and Law and Xu Zhiyong from Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications ?to stay away from the case.

June 21, 2006:
The Yinan County People抯 Procuratorate approves Chen抯 arrest. Chen抯 lawyers, Li Jinsong and Zhang Lihui, are able to visit him, but prison officials interfere with their ability to interview Chen. For example, they refuse to allow him to respond to certain questions.

June 22, 2006:
Local police officers take lawyer Li Jinsong in for questioning. Local assailants beat three lawyers defending villagers jailed for supporting Chen. Police officers look on as the lawyers?cameras are smashed, then take the three in for questioning.

June 23, 2006:
Lawyers Li Jinsong and Li Subin try to visit Chen抯 wife, but are stopped and beaten by guards.

June 24, 2006:
All lawyers return to Beijing. An unidentified caller warns lawyer Li Jinsong that he is 搒eeking death.?

June 27, 2006:
Li Jinsong and Li Subin return to Shandong on June 27, only to be harassed by assailants while the police again stand by. Some 20 men overturn the lawyers?car and smash their cameras. Police take Li Jinsong in for questioning again.

July 7, 2006:
Li Jinsong announces Chen抯 trial is scheduled for July 17, 2006. The trial is subsequently postponed until July 20.

18日开庭的媒体报道及其他

Sat, 19 Aug 2006 02:07:07 GMT

To clarify: This blog http://chenyuanweijing.spaces.live.com/ is run by Chen Guangcheng's friends. Chen's wife Yuanweijing has been under illegal house arrest for more than one year. She has no access to internet, telephone. Even the signal of her mobile phone is screened by local government so that frequently she could not receive phone calls. Her relatives, villagers, friends and supporters try many means to keep communicating. This blog is the output. For more information, please contact us at: zengjinyan@gmail.com or against.teng@gmail.com.本博客由陈光诚的朋友维护。陈光诚的妻子袁伟静被非法软禁已经超过一年。她不能够上网，没有固定电话。她的手机信号被当地政府屏蔽，因此许多时候她连电话也接不了。袁伟静的亲戚、村民、朋友和支持者想尽各种办法保持联络沟通。

更多的信息，请联系 zengjinyan@gmail.com 或 against.teng@gmail.com。

Media Reports On Chen Guangcheng (UPDATED): Thanks to http://voyage.typepad.com/china.
China abortion activist on trial - BBC News August 18, 2006
Chinese police detain lawyers of rights activist - The Guardian August 18, 2006
Crackdown on Defense Lawyers Is Intensified in China - New York Times August 18, 2006
China Detains Lawyers for Peasants' Advocate - New York Times August 18, 2006
U.S. Envoy Asks China To Release Activist - Washington Post August 10, 2006
Chinese rule-of-law activist becomes a case in point - Christian Science Monitor July 28, 2006
Scuffles in China as Trial of Peasants' Rights Advocate Is Postponed - New York Times July 21, 2006
China Postpones Trial of Family Rights Activist - Washington Post July 21, 2006
Scuffles at China activist trial - BBC News July 20,2006
Advocate for China's Weak Runs Afoul of the Powerful - New York Times July 20, 2006
Blind lawyer who reported forced abortions goes on trial in China - The Independent July 18, 2006
Chinese lawyer faces jail after birth control protests - The Times (London) July 17, 2006
Authorities use legal action to silence civil rights activist - Sydney Morning Herald July 17, 2006
Fears over trial of blind Chinese activist - The Guardian July 14, 2006
China's One-Child Problem - Los Angeles Times July 11, 2006
Chinese to Prosecute Peasant Who Resisted One-Child Policy - Washington Post July 8, 2006
China's Brutal Crackdown on Dissidents - Spiegel Magazine June 26, 2006
China's activists fight on despite threats - The Age June 24, 2006

The blog written by Chen's wife (cn)

Attorneys for blind China activist detained - lawyer

Thu, 17 Aug 2006 23:07:24 GMT

By Chris Buckley

BEIJING (Reuters) - Attorneys for a blind rights activist facing trial in eastern China appear to have been detained by police, another lawyer said on Thursday, the day before the scheduled start of the trial.

Chen Guangcheng is due to face trial in Shandong province on Friday on charges of disrupting traffic and destroying property following a protest in his home village in February.

Chen, a blind, self-taught legal activist in his 30s, drew international attention last year after accusing local officials of enforcing late-term abortions in a population control drive.

His family and supporters say the charges against him are trumped up and he is being persecuted for his activism.

His scheduled trial after almost a year in virtual house arrest and then police detention has become a lightning rod of contention between rights activists and security-wary officials.

Police in Shandong's Yinan county, where Chen lives, held three attorneys preparing to defend him, accused them of stealing a purse and took them away on Thursday, another of Chen's lawyers, Li Jinsong, told Reuters by telephone.

Li said he received a call from one of the attorneys, Zhang Lihui, telling him of the police action. "He couldn't say much before the phone call suddenly ended," Li said.

Repeated calls by Reuters to the mobile phones of two other attorneys said to be held -- Xu Zhiyong and Li Fangping -- were not answered late into Thursday night. The police station where Li Jinsong said they had been taken could not be contacted.

"We don't know what's happening, but it fits a pattern," said Hu Jia, a Beijing-based rights campaigner in contact with the defence team. "Yinan County wants to prevent any effective defence for Chen Guangcheng."

Hu said the three attorneys were seeking to prepare Chen's defence but court officials "made their work very difficult".

In June, Li Jinsong and other lawyers were roughed up when they went to visit Chen. In July, dozens of Chen's supporters scuffled with people they described as thugs and plainclothes police when they gathered at a court for a cancelled hearing.

On Thursday, police in another part of Shandong detained an outspoken human rights lawyer who was present at that clash.

Gao Zhisheng was taken away by more than 10 plainclothes police from his sister's home in Shandong's Dongying city, activist Hu Jia told Reuters, adding he received the news from the sister. It was unclear whether Gao was intending to go to Chen's trial again.

Chen's case has also drawn warnings from Washington.

Last week, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Ellen Sauerbrey said she raised it with officials while in Beijing, the Washington Post reported.

U.S. Envoy Asks China To Release Activist

Thu, 17 Aug 2006 23:05:16 GMT

By Maureen Fan

Washington Post Foreign Service
Friday, August 11, 2006; Page A09

BEIJING, Aug. 10 -- A top U.S. diplomat said Thursday that she had urged Chinese officials to release a blind rural lawyer who was detained after exposing forced abortions and sterilizations in eastern China.

Assistant Secretary of State Ellen R. Sauerbrey told reporters that she raised the case of Chen Guangcheng on the sidelines of the China-U.S. Global Issues Forum, being held in Beijing.

"We believe that there has been a certain violation of normal standards and are urging China to release him from imprisonment," said Sauerbrey, who is in charge of the State Department's Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration.

Chen is a self-taught lawyer whose work drew unwelcome attention to the government's family planning policies, embarrassing officials in eastern China. He has been charged with destroying public property and disrupting traffic in what rights activists say is a politically motivated case. He was arrested and charged in June but has been under house arrest or in detention since last September.

"For China's own reputation," Sauerbrey said, "our hope is just that if we keep a focus on the issue, that China will recognize that it is in their best interest to release this gentleman from jail."

Sauerbrey said the United States and China were both members of the U.N. Commission on Population and Development, which maintains that families have the right to make their own decisions about the number of children they will have. "We encourage China at every opportunity to live up to that commitment and to not involve itself in coercive measures, abortion, sterilization," she said.

外界关注陈光诚案件能否公正审理

Tue, 15 Aug 2006 22:40:49 GMT

记者：许波
华盛顿
2006年8月15日

受到国内外舆论普遍关注的中国盲人维权人士陈光诚案件定于星期五开庭审理。陈光诚的辩护律师说，如果法庭能够客观公正地听取各方面证词，那么辩方就一定会胜诉。

*法庭通知新庭审时间*

中国盲人法律维权人士陈光诚

陈光诚的辩护律师星期一收到山东省临沂市沂南县法院的电话通知，陈光诚案件定于8月18号下午两点半开庭。陈光诚的辩护律师之一、北京异同律师事务所的李劲松说，受到海内外舆论广泛关注的这个案件可能会公开审理。

他说："不涉及到国家机密的案件一般都是公开审理的，就是说允许别人去旁听。"

*揭露地方计划生育中暴行成眼中钉*

陈光诚是自学成材的法律工作者，在当地有"赤脚律师"之称。他去年开始对临沂市当局非法关押怀孕妇女、强制堕胎等推行计划生育政策过程中的强制行为进行调查，控告临沂市和沂南县有关当局违反国家法律，引发他和地方当局之间的冲突。

今年3月，陈光诚在被软禁几个月之后被当地警方正式逮捕，罪名是"聚众扰乱社会秩序和故意损毁公共财物"。陈光诚案件引发了强烈的争议，国内一些知名人士和维权人士举行新闻发布会，发表公开信声援陈光诚，北京的一些法律工作者和律师自愿为陈光诚提供法律帮助，从而使这个案件也受到国外媒体的关注。

*上次开庭时间被推迟*

陈光诚案件原定7月20号在沂南县法院开庭审理，但是就在法庭宣布开庭的最后一刻，沂南县检察院要求延期开庭。李劲松律师在接受采访时谈到了法庭延期的原因。

他说："原定7月20号开庭，7月17号的时候，检察院给法院写了一个公函，认为这个案子还需要核实和补充证据，因此建议法院改日审理。"

*律师：一切取决于法院能否公正审理*

李劲松律师说，如果检察院控告陈光诚的罪名成立，他有可能被判处5年徒刑。李劲松律师认为，陈光诚案件的无罪辩护能否成功，取决于法院是否能够客观公正地确认各方面的证词。

他说："如果所有的事实真相都水落石出了，那么我相信我们的无罪辩护就一定能够得到支持。但是能不能成功还要取决于对于相关事实的认定。"

李劲松律师说，其中最重要的相关事实有两个，一是能不能取得陈光诚村子里了解事实真相的村民们的证词，二是，3名被拘押的同案犯提供的不利于陈光诚的证词是否有逼供的可能。

*律师司法调查及取证受百般刁难*

李劲松律师告诉记者，他在陈光诚案件的司法调查和取证过程中受到当地流氓恶势力的围攻骚扰和百般刁难，但是并没有外传的受到司法行政部门的压力。李劲松律师说，他在星期五开庭时不担任主要辩护律师，主要是技术方面的调整，因为中国的刑法规定，法庭上的辩护律师一般不超过两人，所以这一次陈光诚案件的法庭辩护律师由许志勇博士和张之辉律师担任。

陈光诚案８月１８日下午２点半开庭

Tue, 15 Aug 2006 22:38:07 GMT

(博讯2006年8月15日)    贺伟华更多文章请看贺伟华专栏
    作者：贺伟华
     (博讯 boxun.com)
    从刚刚得知，盲人维权勇士陈光诚兄弟于2006年8月18日将面对中共政府当局的非法审判。已经表示过不问政治的我还是忍不住呼吁大家紧急救援。以往为救陈光诚先生于危难，国际社会做出了巨大的努力，国内民主人士、正直良心律师们更是在艰苦卓绝的环境中前赴后继、奋不顾身的舍命相救。高智晟、赵昕、孙文广等等一大批正直的法学家、教授、律师、记者及民主人士在努力做出司法救济与援助的同时，却遭遇到中共当局的黑社会暴力围殴。在陈光诚即将面对审判的今天，我们要问，通过正常的司法程序与法庭律师辩护能否救陈光诚兄弟于危难？当局是否按正常的司法程序来审理此案而给予我们为之辩护的机会？以前前去山东营救陈光诚的法律界维权勇士是否还有机会成行而不受阻于当局的严密监控？这些都已经成了很大的问题！

    既然法律营救行动受阻，既然战斗在一线的维权战士遭遇监控。这时，我们需要的就是全社会的广泛联动声援；需要的是全国乃至全世界的抗议浪潮；需要维权二线成员、体制内外良心知识分子、中国泛蓝联盟、全国大专院校的广大师生、与野蛮堕胎节制生育国家政策息息相关的广大妇女及群众的积极声援与救助！

    光诚及其家人的苦难太深重；光诚可能面对的冤狱更可怕而深重；光诚为中国人民的人性化生存境遇及人权事业所做出的巨大努力太可贵。他的高尚人格与人性光辉已经光耀全球，其人道精神与情怀已经渗透到每一个国人的心田而感人至深！我们又如何忍心在未来坐享其成如今却对其苦难熟视无睹？我们又如何面对光诚历经沧桑、饱含深情的眼睛于片刻之间闪烁出哪怕是一丁点的质疑之光？我们又如何面对一个勇敢而悲壮的人权战士于法庭上那钢铁般一样刚强伟岸的身影？

    背过身躯是残酷，转过身来是热泪、是亲情、是生的希望与曙光，是对受难耶稣感恩得虔诚之心。在现代基督耶稣的苦难面前，我们无需为自身的原罪而忏悔，因为他已用自身的苦难来承付人世间的种种不堪与罪恶；因为他已用上帝的博爱情怀感召众生。我们只需回馈、报答这位负荷苦难与冤屈的再世耶稣盛情恩典，勇敢身体力行的救之于危难。

    光诚早已失明的眼睛虽然不能看透世态炎凉、人间冷暖，而他的灵魂却以超凡的感召力在人间播撒着无尽的深情厚谊、净化着我们的灵魂，我们看到的是一个盲人残疾者时刻闪烁人性光芒的赤子之心、人道之心、仁爱之情。身残志坚、愈挫愈勇，誓为被残害的黎民百姓讨回公道；誓把黑幕下的人间疾苦与灾难暴露于光天化日，我们为光诚的精神所感化，我们为光诚的苦难而愤怒、而觉醒、而抗争！我们还将为即将面对的冤狱而呐喊、呼号，而奔走相告。

    行动起来，朋友们！深感压抑而倍受痛苦的国人！陈光诚在中国人民的人权事业上已经做出了艰苦卓绝的努力与至死不渝的抗争。他的努力是卓有成效的，他的贡献是举世瞩目，他的事迹与行为是中山先生“天下为公”精神的光辉典范；他是践行三民主义的勇敢道德实践者；他是首位打破神州大陆死一般沉寂，为解脱中国人民的非人境遇；为中国人民的民生民权事业；为中国人民的人权与自由事业勇敢的呐喊、呼号乃至于身体力行的人性楷模，对之遭遇的苦难及即将面临的冤狱我们又怎能视而不见、熟视无睹？

    对他的苦难我们感同身受；对他的未来我们深表忧虑；对他的精神我们深感敬佩与叹服！对这位勇敢践行公民权利与公民义务的道德实践者；对这位抗拒国家体制性外在威权暴虐而勇敢捍卫女权、为妇女解放事业声嘶力竭奔走相告的先知先觉者；对这位勇于打破举世沉寂而质疑当局野蛮堕胎政策、揭露事实真相的孤胆战士；对这一对人民饱含深情厚谊并为之奋不顾身的伟大道德存在，我们又怎能麻木不仁、见死不救？我们又怎能高高挂起而作壁上观？

    行动吧！我们的朋友，您的勇敢声援就是给光诚以生的希望，就是救之于水火、挽之于救危难！您的救恩有如上帝的恩典，给黑夜里苦苦挣扎的生灵注入一道道希望的曙光。

    行动吧！光诚深爱的同胞，光诚的灵魂、光诚的热泪、光诚的痛苦乃至于他的片刻欢娱与幸福都饱含着对同胞的深情厚谊、赤子之心。我们又如何忍心让英雄落泪、志士寒心。

    如今许志勇等正值良心律师一马当先，已经准备奔赴临沂，为陈光诚作无罪辩护。望大家踊跃参与并声援，时不我待、只争朝夕，让我们谱写全民声援救济人权英雄、抗拒强权的新篇章；让我们国际国内、体制内外，人同此心、力挽狂澜，救光诚于水深火热之中。

    在我从赵昕处得到消息到本文成稿，已经十二个小时，来时不多，望大家只争朝夕，谱写我们全民声援救济人权英雄、抗拒强权的新篇章。营救的手段、途径、方式可以多样，我们国际国内、体制内外人同此心，就一定能够力挽狂澜，救光诚于水深火热之中。

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Chinese Activist Gets Jail Sentence

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Chen Guangcheng sentenced to four years

August 24, 2006

Chen Guangcheng sentenced to four years

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China: Chen Guangcheng is prisoner of conscience

陈光诚被判4年3个月

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China: Release “Barefoot Lawyer”

Defendant’s Lawyers Barred from Mounting a Defense

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