Supporters chant “down with the communist party” outside Yang Jia’s Shanghai appeal
The appeal of Yang Jia, who’s killing of 6 Shanghai police shocked the nation opened at Court 5 at the Shanghai Higher People’s Court on Monday. The highly anticipated trial drew over a thousand supporters and media from Shanghai and around the country, with hundreds chanting outside the court building “Down with the communist party!” “Down with fascism”.
Crowds became angry when Yang’s supporters were beaten by plain clothed police who tried to stop them from speaking to Chinese and foreign media about their thoughts on the case, according to witnesses. The physical assault by police on residents and petitioners angered the crowd, and ignited a wave of slogans including “down with China’s fascist government” and “long live Yang Jia”.
Shanghai petitioner Mr Zhang told SOH that a group of people who came from Beijing to support Yang Jia took out banners and chanted “down with the communist party”, and that netizens are all expressing their support for Yang Jia and criticising the judiciary for being bias. Mr Zhang says many aspects of the court case were done behind the scenes, with Yang’s mother captured and the attorney retaining Yang’s father who was unable to speak to Yang. Mr Zhang says people are commenting that the Shanghai political and judicial system is like that of ganglands.
According to local petitioners, police began arresting petitioners after 7am on Monday. It is estimated that between 9am and noon, around 100 petitioners were taken away in vans. A female Shanghai petitioner says police have arrested people with no basis, and the government is acting outside the law.
Shanghai resident Hsu Zhenqin comments that the spiritual support given to Yang Jia by the public clearly shows that the Shanghai police and prosecution process have erred in the first place, and those charged with the administration of the law are violating the law, with the judiciary being bias. Hsu says the government has always taken a vengeful approach to wrongfully decided a case against innocent people, and this brings clashes between the public, police and officials to a climax.
The above news is brought to you by Li Sisi, Min Wei, and Chris Thomas for Inside China Today on the SOH Radio Network
October 15th, 2008
[...] The appeal of Yang Jia, who’s killing of 6 Shanghai police shocked the nation opened at Court 5 at the Shanghai Higher People’s Court on Monday. The highly anticipated trial drew over a thousand supporters and media from Shanghai and around the country, with hundreds chanting outside the court building “Down with the communist party!” “Down with fascism”. (more…) [...]
Supporters chant “down with the communist party” outside Yang Jia’s Shanghai appeal