(Minghui.org) Eleven Falun Gong practitioners, who were arrested on July 6, 2012, were tried in the Zhongshan District Court on August 2, 2013. Mr. Cheng Hai, one of the seven lawyers representing the practitioners, was not allowed to do his job, and was beaten by a police officer at court that day. As a result, all of the lawyers at the hearing protested by withdrawing themselves from the proceedings.
Earlier this year, 13 practitioners, including Mr. Che Zhongshan, Mr. Zhu Chengqian, Mr. Wang Shouchen, Mr. Wang Tao, Mr. She Yue, Mr. Shi Zhanshun, Mr. Pei Zhenbo, Ms. Pan Xiuqing, Ms. Lin Lihong, Ms. Bai Ruyu, Ms. Li Shengjie, Mr. Guo Song, and Mr. Yu Bo, were brought to Zhongshan District Court by Chinese communist officials.
Two of the practitioners have recently been released. The practitioners were alleged to have been involved with the installation of satellite dishes that can receive uncensored Chinese news and programs from outside China. They were charged with “undermining law enforcement.”
Zhongshan District Court Unsuccessfully Attempts to Hold Several Hearings
The first attempt to try the practitioners was on April 12, 2013. However, it had to be rescheduled after the police beat one of the lawyers there, and arrested practitioners gathered outside the courthouse. As a result of police brutality and harassment, this case has drawn international attention.
The second hearing was held on the morning of June 21. The practitioners were represented by nine lawyers who argued their innocence with solid evidence. The practitioners also testified about the unlawful actions directed against them by legal agency personnel. Upon hearing the arguments and testimonials from the practitioners and their lawyers, the judge and the prosecutors were speechless and called for recess many times. The judge had to adjourn the hearing at 8:30 p.m.
Officials of the Zhongshan Court planned to resume the hearing on July 5, 2013. However, they violated the “Code of Criminal Procedure” by giving the practitioners' lawyers a very short notice of the court date. The lawyers refused to comply with the improper procedure and didn't go to court that day.
Eyewitness: Lawyers Leave Courtroom and Foreign Reporters Attempt to Enter the Courthouse
The hearing was rescheduled to 9:00 a.m. on August 2, 2013, at Dalian Xigang District Court.
According to witnesses outside the courthouse, the area was heavily guarded, and the streets were closely monitored by plainclothes police. Like previous hearings, the streets near the court were packed with vehicles with government license plates that stretched out several hundred meters long. Even the nearby residential communities were packed with government vehicles. Witnesses say two black vans were filled with special agents dressed in suits.
Early on the morning of the hearing day, several hundred civilians had gathered outside the courthouse. Some of the practitioners' families and friends were chased away by the police. The area in front of the courthouse was closed off and no one was allowed to wait on the nearby streets. People were also chased away from the hilly area behind the courthouse. Plainclothes police threatened people by telling them, “We will tie you up and put you in the cars down there if you don't move. The detention center has already been arranged.” Practitioner Mr. Qu Bin was arrested by plainclothes police that day at a nearby park. His current whereabouts are unknown.
Two foreign reporters showed up outside the courthouse at around 10:20 a.m. They were able to pass through the blocked areas but didn't make it inside.
According to inside sources, all the lawyers walked out of the courthouse at around 11:00 a.m., with the two foreign reporters following close behind. One lawyer recorded the scene with a camcorder for over ten minutes. It was later learned that while in court, the lawyers pointed out Zhongshan Court's illegal conduct, and that one of the lawyers, Mr. Zheng Hai, was beaten by security guards in the courtroom. The lawyers quit the proceedings in protest.
At about 11:40 a.m., the people remaining inside the courtroom were finally allowed to leave. After the lawyers left the courtroom, those sitting in the gallery didn't move until the judge announced, “The court is adjourned today and will continue on another day.”
Related articles: Standing Up for Justice in Dalian: Lawyers Refuse to Comply with Improper Procedure Ordered by Court
After Attorney Beaten for Defending Falun Gong Practitioners, Others Step Forward
13 Falun Gong Practitioners Face Illegal Trials, 12 Lawyers Stand Up for Justice
Dalian Court Tries to Earn a Good Reputation Even As It Ignores the Law
