First New Citizen Movement activists to stand trial in China

At least three members of the New Citizen Movement, a group of activists calling for the respect of human rights and government transparency in China, are expected to stand trial the southeastern province of Jiangxi province within two weeks.

Liu Ping, Wei Zhongping and Li Sihua are the first members of the grassroots movement to stand trial this year. Chinese authorities seem to have targeted the movement in particular in this year's harsh crackdown on Internet speech and political activism. So far, at least 16 people have been detained throughout the country on charges related to participating in the movement.

In July, one of the founders of the movement, Xu Zhiyong, was taken into police custody after spending months under house arrest. He has since been charged with “gathering a crowd to disrupt order in a public place” and is expected to face trial soon. Last year, he had called on activists to join monthly dinner meetings and discuss the constitution and government transparency.

Two other leading members of the movement, Guangzhou-based activist Guo Feixiong, also known as Yang Maodong, and Wang Gongquan, a venture capitalist, were detained on the same charges in August and September respectively. 

The Jiangxi trio are expected to appear at the Yushu District People’s Court for a pre-trial hearing on Monday, said Liu’s lawyer Zhang Xuezhong, a Shanghai-based attorney and law lecturer.