(Minghui.org) Mr. Zhao Tinggao, 65, is a Falun Gong practitioner from Yingkou City, Liaoning Province. Ms. Wang Xiaoping is a practitioner from Haicheng City, Liaoning Province.
Both practitioners were tried on the morning of March 29, 2017, in the Anshan Women's Detention Center. The trial was held at the detention center because Ms Wang Xiaoping was unable to walk. Two lawyers from Beijing provided their defense.
Two family members of each practitioner were allowed to attend the hearing. Cheng Kuiguang, head of the Haicheng Domestic Security Division, and several unidentified people also attended the trial.
Mr. Zhao Tinggao was in heavy shackles when he entered the courtroom. Those who knew him saw that he had lost some weight and had some gray hair. He was calm and neat, however.
Ms. Wang Xiaoping was in a wheelchair. During the hearing, she said that she was in good health before she was arrested. Now she has to use a wheelchair, has partially lost her sight, and has high blood pressure. She asked presiding judge He Guoli to investigate her mistreatment in detention. The judge did not respond.
The hearing lasted about two hours and ended without a verdict. Every piece of evidence the persecutor presented was refuted by the defense lawyers.
Trial Proceedings
Ms. Wang Xiapong
Prosecutor Wan Mingdong read the indictment at the beginning of the trial, which contained language that slandered Falun Gong.
During the inquiry, Ms. Wang Xiaoping refused to respond to questions that required a “yes” or “no” answer.
“If you want me to answer these questions,” she said, “you first have to tell me the law that states that Falun Gong is a forbidden religion. If you cannot show me such a law, then I'm innocent. I do not need to answer your questions. Yet if you want me to say something, I would like to say 'Falun Dafa is good, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good.’ Please also add to the record that the persecution is a crime.”
Because she clarified the truth about Falun Gong, Ms. Wang Xiaoping was interrupted by the judge and taken out of the room several times.
Ms. Wang's defense lawyer pleaded innocent on her behalf. The lawyer pointed out that the Chinese Constitution guarantees freedom of belief for all citizens, as well as freedom of publication, speech, gathering, and demonstration. Ms. Wang’s attorney argued that she did not violate any existing law or the constitution.
Mr. Zhao Tinggao
Mr. Zhao Tinggao calmly defended himself and also clarified the truth about Falun Gong. He told the entire courtroom that he had recovered from many illnesses after practicing Falun Gong. He added that Falun Gong had spread worldwide and is only persecuted in China.
“I am a practitioner who follows the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance,” Mr. Zhao said. “I escaped from a brainwashing center about 17 years ago and did not return home in order to avoid being persecuted. Those who arrested me at my home didn't show any identification, nor did they provide a list of confiscated items. Yet I am charged with ‘sabotaging implementation of the law.’ I'm in my mid-60s. What ability do I have to sabotage the law? And which law has been sabotaged by me?”
Mr. Zhao denied every accusation during the persecutor's cross-examination. In the end, he emphasized that the persecution of Falun Gong would not last much longer. When Mr. Zhao spoke, everyone in the court listened intently.
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