China tries veteran dissident over subversive poem

Jan 31, 2012, 8:05 GMT

Beijing - China on Tuesday tried a veteran dissident on subversion charges linked to a poem and other articles he published online, his lawyer said.

A court in the eastern city of Hangzhou heard charges of 'inciting subversion of state power' against Zhu Yufu, lawyer Li Dunyong told dpa.

Tuesday's two-hour hearing ended without a verdict. The presiding judge said more time was needed to 'verify some of the evidence,' Li said.

Prosecutors said Zhu had published his poem 'It's Time' in response to calls early last year for protests to promote democratic reform.

Other charges included Zhu's membership of the illegal China Democratic Party, interviews he gave on political subjects, and his calls for donations to support political prisoners.

Li and the second lawyer, Li Baiguang, were able to defend Zhu, while his wife also attended the trial.

But police held at least four dissidents under house arrest to prevent them from attending the trial, the Hong Kong-based China Human Rights Defenders said.

Zhu's trial follows heavy prison sentences against at least three other well-known dissidents in the past six weeks.

Zhu, 58, was arrested in March. He took part in China's 1979 Democracy Wall movement and has served a total of nine years in two previous prison sentences, US-based Christian rights group China Aid said.