511 lawyers in Shenzhen signed a petition challenging the sentencing of a fellow lawyer and calling for a fair trial. On December 17, 2008, Lawyer Liu Yao in Shenzhen was sentenced to 2 years of imprisonment for providing legal services to farmers who lost their land to a power company. He was charged with “intentional destruction of property.” Liu has filed appeal. The petition is the largest campaign to date by China’s legal community on rights issues.
Source:
Epoch Times, February 1, 2009
http://epochtimes.com/gb/9/2/1/n2414246.htm
Xinhua, September 27, 2008
http://big5.xinhuanet.com/gate/big5/news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2008-09/23/content_10095057.htm