(Minghui.org) A 60-year-old woman in Panzhihua City appeared in court to face charges of “using a cult to undermine law enforcement,” a standard pretext used by the Chinese communist regime in its attempt to frame and imprison Falun Gong practitioners.
Ms. Chen Heqiong credits Falun Gong, a mind-body practice based on the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, for giving her strength to raise her son alone after her husband died decades ago. She became a target after the persecution of Falun Gong began in July 1999. She was sentenced to 7.5 years in prison following her first arrest on April 9, 2004.
Ms. Chen’s latest arrest took place on July 2, 2017, and she appeared in court on December 21.
Prosecutor Guo Xiaohong alleged that Ms. Chen violated Article 300 of the Criminal Law, which stipulates that those using a cult organization to undermine enforcement of the law should be prosecuted to the fullest extent possible. He cited as legal basis a statutory interpretation of Article 300 that the Supreme People’s Court and the Supreme People’s Procuratorate issued in November 1999, which required that anyone practicing or promoting Falun Gong be prosecuted to the fullest extent possible.
Ms. Chen’s two lawyers countered that a new statutory interpretation that replaced the 1999 version took effect on February 1, 2017. The new interpretation made no mention of Falun Gong and emphasized that any indictment against anyone engaging in a cult must be based on solid legal grounds. Since no law in China criminalizes Falun Gong or labels it a cult, the indictment against Ms. Chen lacked legal basis.
Judge Zhang Yulin approved Prosecutor Guo’s request to play a video clip showing Ms. Chen distributing Falun Gong informational materials at a local farmers’ market. A man was shown to take out a flyer from Ms. Chen’s handbag and flash it in front of the camera before putting it back into her bag. Another man came to join the first man, and they each grabbed a hand of Ms. Chen’s and paraded her through the street for several minutes.
Ms. Chen acknowledged that she did give two middle-aged men Falun Gong materials, and they returned the flyers to her soon afterward. She added that those two men were the only ones that she tried to give Falun Gong materials.
Her lawyers followed up, saying that her distribution of Falun Gong materials caused no harm to anyone, much less did they undermine law enforcement.
Prosecutor Guo then alleged that the Falun Gong books confiscated from Ms. Chen’s home were enough evidence that she broke the law. He cited as legal basis two notices issued by China's Administration of Press and Publications in July 1999 to ban the publication of Falun Gong books.
The lawyers argued that the Administration issued a repeal of the ban in 2011 and that it was fully legal for their clients to own Falun Gong books. Moreover, Ms. Chen’s possession of Falun Gong books did no damage to society.
One of the lawyers asked Ms. Chen how she started practicing Falun Gong, and judge Zhang scolded him for asking questions unrelated to the trial. The lawyer countered that his client was being tried for her faith and it was only natural to talk about Falun Gong in her defense.
Ms. Chen tried to read out aloud her pre-prepared defense statement but was frequently interrupted by judge Zhang.
Zhang abruptly yelled that the hearing was adjourned when he heard Ms. Chen say, “Falun Gong teaches us to follow the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, to be a good person.”
Ms. Chen remains at Wanyaoshu Detention Center.
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