Posted on 08/18/2006 10:14:15 AM PDT by markomalley
The trial of an Chinese activist who raised concerns about forced abortion and sterilisation has taken place. Chen Guangcheng, under house arrest since September 2005, is charged with public order offences. It is not clear when a verdict will be announced.
He had accused officials in Shandong of breaking family planning laws in their enforcement of the one-child policy.
Before the trial, three lawyers connected to his case were arrested, but two have now been released.
One of them, Li Fangping, told the BBC that Mr Chen had been represented, against his will, by two state-appointed lawyers in the closed-door proceedings.
His wife told the news agency AFP she had not been allowed to attend the trial, which according to reports lasted about two hours.
Hundreds of police surrounded the courthouse and blocked Mr Chen's supporters from attending, reports said.
Illegal
Mr Chen faced charges of "wilfully harming public property" and "gathering masses to disturb traffic order", which relate to protests that took place after he was detained.
He had accused local health workers in Linyi city of forcing people to have late-term abortions or sterilisations in order to enforce the one-child policy.
His allegations were covered in the international media, including an article in Time Magazine which claimed some 7,000 people had been sterilised against their will in Shandong.
In 2006, the magazine named Mr Chen as one of the world's 100 most influential people for exposing the problem.
Several workers were later arrested or sacked over the claims, state media reported, acknowledging "successive complaints" about illegal practices in Linyi.
China brought in its one-child policy 25 years ago, in a drive to curb population growth, but forced sterilisation and abortion are illegal.
This guy needs some prayers and support for his courageous stand!
Pro-life pings?
It's pretty sick -
SOP for the PRC. I quit buying "Made in China" crap years ago.
Lord, strengthen your martyrs in the hour of their trial.
Glory be to God.
Sure you did. I doubt a person could do that if they even tried.
Sorry to dissapoint. It is possible.
Please FreepMail me if you want on or off my Pro-Life Ping List.
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