Blind Chinese Lawyer Gets Retrial

CHAN: A Chinese lawyer jailed in August under suspicious circumstances is going back to court. Supporters of the jailed lawyer who is getting a retrial believe the communist authorities are trying to improve the image of the regime by giving him another trial. This follows recent beatings and crackdowns on democratic and human rights activists and their families.

STORY: The retrial of a blind Chinese "barefoot lawyer" began on Monday. Chen Guangcheng, got international attention last year for reporting forced late-term abortions and other family planning abuses in China. He was convicted for damaging property at the time. Chen and his family maintained the case was trumped up by vengeful officials.

Before the start of the retrial one Chen's Lawyers was kidnapped by Police. His other Defense lawyer was arrested before the trial on charges of stealing a bag.

[Xu Zhiyong, Chen's Defense Lawyer]: "I think the retrial has a lot to do with the higher level of the government like the central government. The higher level of the Chinese government think more about the image that China presents to the rest of the

world. So when they are making a decision, there are a lot of aspects that they take into account. But all local government cares about is how to get this thing out of the way and reduce the effect to zero. That's why they are trying so hard to lockup Chen Guangcheng for so long and now they want to imprison him so that his mouth is sealed."

Three of Chen's fellow villagers who had testified against him have since accused police of torturing and intimidating them.

[Xu Zhiyong, Chen's Defense Lawyer]: "To imprison Chen for four years and three months is such a bad representation on the Chinese government side. To imprison a blind man like Chen is completely unnecessary. He was just trying to help the local villagers

to fight for their legal rights. This does not deserve such revenge. It's too much. Besides, the process is illegal as well."

Chen was defended by three appointed stand-in attorneys who knew little about his case.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• china
• protest
• lawer
• news
• olitical