Breaking News – “Olympic prisoner” Yang Chunling seeks an open trial
Heilongjiang Human rights activist who first advocated for “No Olympics, We want human rights” Yang Chunlin has said to his attorney Li Fangping that he hopes for an open trial. Yang’s younger sister Yang Chunping also said that her brother has done nothing wrong and called on the international community to help secure the freedom of her brother.
Attorney Li Fangping met Yang on June 2 at Jiamusi and was asked by Yang to pass on his gratitude to all those who have helped him and his family. Attorney Li met with the chief of justice in Herbing and hopes to tender the defence’s submission to the Criminal court of Heilongjiang High People’s Court. Li estimates a judgement later on in June, however the court has not decided whether to have an open trial. Attorney Li said that Yang eagerly hopes for an open trial, and that is also our wish. Li said that according to China’s legal rules, normally there would be an open trial, especially for cases such as this where there is a great argument both for and against the committing of a criminal offence.
Yang Chunping said that the Criminal Court of Jiamusi’s Middle court had questioned her brother for over 2 hours on May 17. Yang represented himself and has always pronounced his innocence.
Yang’s family has not been allowed to see him since he was arrested and his younger sister worries for his current state. She said that her brother believes that there would soon be changes to China’s systems and hopes for more to stand up for themselves. Yang was arrested on July 6 2007 for collecting ten thousand signatures for the “No Olympics, We want human rights” movement and was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment for inciting subversion of state power.
The above news is brought to you by Wang Qiang, Ye Peiqing and Chris Thomas for Breaking News on the SOH Radio Network
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