HUMAN RIGHTS: WIFE SAYS NO PUBLIC HEARING FOR CHEN

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 020973 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/29/2031 TAGS: PHUM PGOV CH SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS: WIFE SAYS NO PUBLIC HEARING FOR CHEN GUANGCHENG'S APPEAL REF: BEIJING 18365 AND PREVIOUS Classified By: Political Section Internal Unit Chief Susan A. Thornton. Reasons 1.4 (b/d). ¶1. (C) Yuan Weiqing, the wife of jailed blind legal activist Chen Guangcheng, telephoned POLOFF September 29 to advise that the Shandong court would not hold a public hearing in the appeal of her husband's conviction for obstructing traffic and destroying public property. Chen's lawyers were told September 28 that the appeal would be conducted based on a review of the papers in the file and that no public hearing would be held, she said. Note: Chen's initial public trial was delayed once as a result of the large number of his supporters who surrounded the Yinan County Courthouse. Supporters and even attorneys attempting to represent Chen during his initial trial were beaten and jailed (reftels). End Note. ¶2. (C) Public security officials visited Dongshigu village, where Yuan lives, in order to speak with former supporters of Chen's who were released after the activist was jailed, Yuan said. The police asked the supporters why they spoke out regarding Chen's case when they were released only after promising not to make any public statements about Chen. Yuan said police threatened retaliation against any who made public remarks on Chen's case or caused a disturbance. SEDNEY