China (MNN)–The much publicized trial of a Chinese church leader ended…in silence.
Nothing has come out of the courtroom since the 4 1/2 hour trial July 7th. Pastor Cai Zhuohua (kie jo-wa) was charged with “illegal business operations.” He’s facing between five and seven years’ jail time, if convicted.
But, Voice of the Martyrs’ Todd Nettleton thinks the charges resulted from the Pastor’s evangelistic activities. “Pastor Cai leads six house churches in the Beijing area. When he was arrested, the police discovered a storage room that he manages, where they found 200-thousand pieces of Christian literature that he had printed and had for distribution among the unregistered churches.”
What makes matters more difficult is that not only was Cai on trial, but also his wife, Xiao Yunfei; her brother, Xiao Gaowen; and his wife, Hu Jinyun.
From the outset, the judge seemed to be against them. Nine lawyers had volunteered to represent the accused Christians, but the judge allowed only five of them into the courtroom.
The U.S. Embassy sent an observer to be present at the trial, which had been announced for hearing room #3 at the People’s Court of Haidian District in Beijing City.
However, when he arrived at that room, the embassy staffer was told that the hearing had been moved to hearing room #6, and then he was forced to leave the premises.
Only one witness for the defense was allowed to testify. Nettleton says she was an old Christian lady who told the court she had received Christian literature from Pastor Cai without being asked to pay anything.
This witness was key to the defense. If the literature was being given away, it was a ‘not-for-profit’ activity, therefore not an “illegal business practice.”
Nettleton urges prayer. He also urges people to put their protest on paper. The government has been sensitive to international pressures. Nettleton believes that to be true in this instance. “The verdict has not been announced yet. From what our sources in China are telling us, the verdict could be announced soon, or it could be announced a year from now. The Chinese government will probably wait until there are a lot of other things going on in the news and try to slip this in under the news cycle.”
Letters and phone calls of protest can be sent to the Chinese Embassy in Washington DC: Judge Mr. You Tao, People’s Court of Haidian District, Ja No. 8, Nan Dajie, Zhongguancun, Beiijng, PRC 10080
