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A Chinese court has sentenced rights activist Chen Mingyu to 2 1/2 years in prison for attending a celebratory dinner last year marking the inauguration of Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te, according to the Chinese rights advocacy group Weiquanwang.
Technically, she was convicted by the court in Chongqing of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble,” a vague, catch-all charge often used by Chinese authorities to punish government critics or dissidents.
The case stems from a dinner last May attended by Chen and more than 20 other rights activists in Chongqing, said Weiquanwang, or the Rights Protection Network, a loose network of volunteers in China and abroad seeking to promote legal reforms in China.
They were later summoned by authorities, several were detained and Chen was arrested on July 4, over a month later. She was held in detention until her trial last month, was sentenced on March 26, Weiquanwang said.
After the ruling was announced, Chen expressed shock and anger, insisting on her innocence and immediately appealed, according to Weiquanwang.
She argued that her activities, including celebrating Taiwan’s election and past protests against alleged fraud by a natural gas company and hosting a reception for fellow rights activist Liu Fuxiang, were all protected by China’s Constitution.
Chen has appealed the decision, and her family and supporters hope that the international community will continue to pay attention and pressure the Chinese government to uphold the rule of law and release her and other detained rights activists.
Chen’s son, Yuan Chang, was present during the trial. Upon learning about this mother’s sentence, he became emotional, saying he had been deceived and threatened by the police, according to Weiquanwang.
A Chongqing resident who asked only to be identified as Zhou said that whether people were celebrating Lai’s election or criticizing Russian President Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, expressing such opinions was increasingly getting people in trouble.
“This shows the fragmentation and atomization of protests in China is becoming more widespread. To deal with this situation, the authorities are expanding their crackdown, arresting more people who express dissatisfaction,” he said.
History of activism
Chen’s activism stems from a personal tragedy. 25 years ago, her brother, Chen Minghua, was shot and killed by police over a land dispute, and his body was forcibly cremated. His ashes have yet to be returned.
In 2014, the local government demolished her family’s home, prompting Chen to petition extensively, which led to authorities trying to suppress her.
Anyone who speaks out against the Chinese government or engages in activities deemed critical of are typically placed on a “blacklist” by state security and punished under the charge of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble,” said Chinese dissident Guo Min, who now lives in the United States.
Human rights organizations have criticized the ruling, arguing that it highlights the absurdity of China’s repression of free expression. The severe punishment for a private gathering to celebrate Taiwan’s election is seen as a clear instance of political retaliation under the guise of legal measures.
Translated and written in English by Baili Liu. Edited by Malcolm Foster.
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