Beijing Pastor forced to withdraw Further Appeals; Only One Defendant Decides to Appeal

China Aid Association
(Midland, Texas-November 16, 2005) CAA learned that under intensive pressure, jailed Church Leader Cai Zhuohua along with his wife and brother-in-law withdrew any further appeal before the court deadline. Only one defendant, Ms. Hu Jinyun, decided to further appeal to the Beijing Intermediate Court.
According to a reliable government source, after Cai’s sentence, one court clerk from Haidian District People’s Court went to “visit” Pastor Cai at Qinghe Detention Center, indicating to him that Pastor Cai’s sentence will increase if he decides to make any further appeal. He was told the reason he got a three-year sentence was because he hired lawyers who kept annoying the government. Otherwise he could have been released with a three-year suspension of his sentence. The heavy pressure made Pastor Cai decided not to make any further appeal.
Meanwhile, Ms. Hu Jinyun authorized her two attorneys, Dr. Teng Biao and Professor Wang Yi, to formally file her appeal with the Beijing Intermediate Court today.
(The full appeal text in Chinese)
“This is blackmail by the government,” said Bob Fu, “we strongly urge the Chinese higher authority to grant the due process guaranteed by China’s own laws for every citizen in China.”