Daily Press Briefing
Richard Boucher, Spokesman
Washington, DC
March 14, 2003
[...]
CHINA
21-23 Arrest of Charles Lee and Update on his Trial
...
QUESTION: Yeah. The US citizen, Charles Li, Beijing has picked up a trial date
for him, which is March 21st. Since we know in China the lawyers are ordered by
the Chinese Bureau of Justice to keep in strict accordance [with] the Central
Government policy [in] any case related to Falun Gong, and that China's Central
Government is known for its brutal persecution of Falun Gong in the past over
three years, the question is, how can the US Government, how can we make sure
that our citizen will face a fair trial in this case?
MR. BOUCHER: Well, that gets to a lot of broader issues which we address on an
annual basis in our human rights report. The Chinese judicial system is not one
where we can guarantee that American citizens would get a fair trial.
On the other hand, we do try to help American citizens in these kind of
circumstances. We have been working with Mr. Li. We have been talking to him and
keeping in touch, monitoring the circumstances very closely. We do provide
regularly a list of Chinese lawyers, a list of lawyers in China that are
available to represent him if he chooses to retain one of those lawyers. And
we've also provided him with information about the Chinese legal system so he
can understand what he faces.
He is charged with damaging radio and television equipment. The Chinese
Government has authorized him to have legal representation in accordance with
Chinese law. We have had numerous contacts with the Chinese authorities
regarding his welfare and the progress of the legal proceedings, and we'll
continue to do that, as well.
QUESTION: A follow-up?
MR. BOUCHER: Yes, ma'am.
QUESTION: Yeah. Do you think he is held, as, actually as a hostage at this time
because our government is so busy with the war and the Chinese Government is
rush[ing] him through this show trial in a sense?
MR. BOUCHER: I don't want to make judgments like that. The -- an American
citizen is being held. We've made quite clear our interest in his welfare. We
have tried to do everything possible with him, expressed our concerns very
directly to the Chinese Government about him; and our interest is in his welfare
and his wellbeing.
[...]
...
QUESTION: On the Charles Li case, somewhat related. Does the US plan to submit a
China resolution this year at the Geneva talks?
MR. BOUCHER: I don't have anything at this point. I think the session opens in a
week or two.
QUESTION: Are you --
MR. BOUCHER: Tuesday, I think, but anyway --
QUESTION: Yeah, Tuesday.
MR. BOUCHER: And we'll tell you when we decide what to do.
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2003/18742.htm