(Broadcast on January 6, 2003)

The year 2003 brought with it new developments in the subversive charges against Liaoyang workers’ representatives Yao Fuxin and Xiao Yunliang. Yao’s lawyer, Mo Shaoping, told me that the case would be put on trial in the middle of this month, and that he would be meeting Yao Fuxin in a week’s time.

Mo Shaoping [Mo]:

For sure they [the Liaoyang Intermediate People’s Court - Ed] have already prepared the indictment. But I can’t get a copy until I get there. I am ready to go on Wednesday or Thursday. But the court has told us what the indictment is about. Well, it’s still about “suspicion of subverting the state”. The court has accepted the charges. Things are rather definite now. And it seems that the case will be put on trial soon.

Han Dongfang [Han]:

Any idea when roughly?

Mo:

Well, around mid-January, probably. Not certain yet. We can’t say for sure until we meet the judge and get the indictment and other material.

Han:

In cases like theirs, what do you think of the chance of success for a not-guilty defense?

Mo:

It’s hard to say for the time being since we haven’t met Yao Fuxin and we haven’t had the chance to read the document. We’ll be going to Liaoyang on Wednesday or Thursday [January 8 or 9].

I have been trying to call Yao’s home for all day but could not get through. According to the wife of Xiao Yunliang, another Liaoyang workers’ representative accused of subversion, Guo Xiujing told her that their phone had been tampered with.

Xiao’s wife [Wife]:

She said that the phone did not work the day before yesterday [January 4]. It worked again later but didn’t work yesterday. We can’t make any calls to them. The phone is probably cut off. They can make outgoing calls but cannot receive any calls. Ours may be cut off some day as well.

Xiao’s wife said that her family would do whatever it took to fight for the case.

Wife:

Yesterday…Last Sunday, our daughter asked about the indictment but got nothing. She also asked the court about the trial date but got nothing as well.

Han:

Is everything arranged for the trial?

Wife:

(Sigh) No… Not much to prepare anyway. We are waiting for the lawyer. I don’t know much about these things.

Han:

Will you be able to pay for the expenses…for the lawyer?

Wife:

Oh, about that…let me put it this way…we have to go ahead even if we can’t afford it. They [the authorities] have got something different, with such serious charges. I am prepared…we will do whatever it takes, even sell the house and all our possessions, to fight for this case.

Han:

Do you know when your lawyer will be coming?

Wife:

Oh, the lawyer, well, I think it won’t take too long. These two days I guess. I don’t think he can make it today. [He will be around] tomorrow or the day after tomorrow.

Xiao’s wife also said that Ferroalloy workers were highly upset with the fact that the workers’ representatives were arrested instead of bringing the corrupt officials to justice right away. They were particularly upset with the subversion charges. She was certain that many of the Ferroalloy workers would apply for admission to the court hearing.

Wife:

Most, if not all, of the workers [at Ferroalloy Factory] are upset about this case. I am a poor worker. The problem of corruption has been going on for years. I knew nothing about the whole thing [the reason for the workers’ protests - Ed]. Now I have some clues about it. They…the police officers came down yesterday. I told them [the protests] would not be started if they had done something with the corrupt officials in the first place and had took the workers’ opinions seriously. How come the demonstrations ended this way…arresting the workers first and then the corrupt officials? The corrupt officials have been dealt with, haven’t they? They have been brought to light, haven’t they? But in the end, workers like my husband are put on serious charges. (Sigh) Workers are upset!

Han:

Will the workers take the chance…when the trial starts…coming together again and approach the government?

Wife:

This…I think it is possible. It is possible, but not that sure. It should be a public trial, but who knows what they will do with the trial. If possible, I think the workers will go [to the court].

She went on saying that she had been put under police surveillance since January 4. She was warned not to join any demonstrations. She flatly ignored the police warning:

Wife:

The people’s congress and political consultative conference are having their meetings [prelude to the National People’s Congress sessions in March – Ed]. They have been around these days and watched over me. They are from the police station. Anyhow, they come down once or twice everyday. (Sigh)

Han:

When did all that start?

Wife:

A couple of days ago…January 4. They started to come around on January 4. They are saying the Ferroalloy Factory is getting attention, and that they are worried that the workers will demonstrate again. Something like this.

Han:

What time did they come down today?

Wife:

Early in the morning, at nine. Two of them. They said that they were here to take a look at the situation. They said something like “You’d better not join any demonstration”. I said to them, “If there is another demonstration, I will go. I used to stay away from it, but then you still put my husband in trouble.” Pressing such serious charges on him…We can’t swallow that. It’s another thing if we were really into it [subverting the state]. We are just poor working folks. We couldn’t have done anything like that. We have never thought about that at all. Now they are pressing [the charges] on us. This, we can’t swallow. I didn’t join any demonstrations. I took their [the police] words, but so what? I didn’t go, but see what happened? It actually…in the end…has made matters worse. If there is another demonstration, I will go, I told them. Old Xiao…if they really press through the charge on Old Xiao…if he’s really found guilty…I won’t be able to live on. I have health problems. I told them, “No matter what I do, it all ends up like this…[You] just do what you want…You aren’t going to leave me in peace, and I will do whatever it takes [to fight for Xiao’s case]”.