NYT/AP: China Court Delays Blind Activist's Trial

[DeepModem Mom]

China Court Delays Blind Activist's Trial
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: July 20, 2006

BEIJING (AP) -- A court on Thursday postponed a trial in the closely watched case of a blind Chinese activist whose supporters say has been harassed since he documented forced abortions, a defense lawyer said.

The court in the eastern province of Shandong said prosecutors had asked for the postponement in the case against Chen Guangcheng, said lawyer Li Jingsong, adding that a new date had not been set....

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Chen's family says he was charged with illegal assembly and intent to damage public property after trying to file a police report in March against four men who beat his cousin.

Chen's supporters say he has been harassed since he documented complaints that officials compelled villagers to undergo abortions and sterilizations in order to meet quotas for enforcing China's official birth limits.

Lawyers who tried to go to Shandong, southeast of Beijing, to help defend Chen have said they were beaten and forced to leave the area....

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/world/AP-China-Blind-Activist.html