ChinaAid
May 21, 2010
GUANGDONG — When the Chinese Government takes note of those they consider dangerous, they are not likely to forget.
A leading figure in the ongoing case of religious persecution against Liangren Church, Pastor Wang Dao has experienced this too closely. Arrested on May 8, 2010 on suspicion of posting sensative information online and currently criminally detained, Wang Dao has been chased by government authorities for nearly 20 years. He was previously accused of being a revolutionary and was criminally detained in 1991. Following is the text of the criminal verdict of that case:
(Original Chinese document translated in May, 2010)
Criminal Verdict of Wuhan Municipal Intermediate People’s Court of Hubei Province
Wu Fa Xing Yi Chu Zi (91) No. 67
Public prosecutor: Wuhan Municipal People’s Procuratorate of Hubei Province.
Defendant: Wang Tongjiang. He is a male of 21 years old. (He was born on September 29, 1969) and is a native of Gongcheng County, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. He is an ethnic Yao and was originally a student of Class of 1987 in History Department of South-Central Institute for Nationalities (previously known as South-Central University For Nationalities) and resided in the university’s student dorm. Currently, he is under detention.
In the case of the above defendant Wang Tongjiang charged with counter-revolutionary propaganda and incitement, he was prosecuted by Wuhan Municipal People’s Procuratorate of Hubei Province. The court formed a collegial panel in accordance with law and the public prosecuting organ assigned the acting prosecutor Bi Wei to appear in court in support of the public prosecution. The defendant Wang Tongjiang defended himself. The case was tried in public on May 24, 1991 in accordance with law. It is found out:
At about 5 o’clock on the early morning of April 5, 1990, the defendant Wang Tongjiang posted two of his big-character posters on the billboard of a student cafeteria in South-Central Institute for Nationalities. He wrote these big-character posters titled “Call to Battle” and “Mourning over Martyrs of Democracy” and signed as “Armed Wing of Federation of China Democracy Union.” In the articles, he maliciously attacked the crackdown on the counter-revolutionary riot in Beijing as “a day of orgy of blood and is the national memorial day when a great democratic and patriotic movement was slaughtered by the dictatorial tyrants headed by Deng XX..” He called for redress for the counter-revolutionary rioters and clamored that they “will eventually defeat the autocratic dictatorship and the butchers will eventually be punished.” He tried to stir up the feelings by saying “unite all the forces to overthrow the dictatorship and the autocratic tyranny.” Swollen with reactionary arrogance, he attacked the “Four Cardinal Principles.” The defendant Wang Tongjiang was later tracked down and arrested by the police.
The above facts in the crime are proved by material evidence, scientific and technological evaluation and conclusion and other evidence. They were also verified right in the court and were found to be true. The facts are clear and evidence is accurate and sufficient, which is sufficient for the court to determine his crime.
The court holds the view that the defendant Wang Tongjiang defies the law of the state in blatantly posting reactionary big-character posters in public places after the counter-revolutionary riot was cracked down in Beijing. He openly incited the people and called for the overthrow of the people’s democratic dictatorship and the socialist system. His conduct has constituted the crime of counter-revolutionary propaganda and incitement. Given that the big-character posters were on display for only a short time and the time the public was exposed to it was limited, the severity of the crime is light. After the discussions by the trial committee of this court, the verdict is hereby rendered as follows pursuant to Article 102 and Article 32 of the Criminal Law of the People’s Republic of China:
The defendant Wang Tongjiang is exempted from criminal punishment.
In case of an objection to this judgment, one can submit to this court their petition of appeal and two photocopies of it within 10 days from the second day of receiving this judgment. Or they can orally submit the petition of appeal at this court and Hubei Provincial Higher People’s Court.
(This page does not contain the original text)
First Court for Criminal Trial of Wuhan Municipal Intermediate People’s Court of Hubei Province
Chief judge: Li Xining
Judge: Wang Changming
Acting judge: Gao Yong
This copy is found to be the same as the original copy.
May 29, 1991.
Clerk: Du Hao
Article from AsiaNews giving more background on Wang Dao.
Read previous press release on Wang Dao’s arrest and criminal detention HERE.
ChinaAid continues to urge Christians internationally to pray for safety and encouragement for Wang Dao, his wife, and his children. We urge the Chinese authorities to cease prosecuting citizens without sufficient evidence
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Rachel Ritchie, English Media Director
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