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Application to Observe Trial of Li Heping by Wang Qiaoling

August 4, 2016

The honorable Tianjin No. 2 Intermediate People’s Court:

Over the past few days, I’ve seen news about the trials of the “709” cases, and was really shocked. In the verdicts released on three consecutive days, I saw a name I had not seen for a long time, that of Li Heping, my husband.

I’m filled with anxiety and cannot calm down. Ever since Li Heping was taken away from our home by Tianjin police on July 10, 2015, I have had no news of him—it has been 13 months. At first, he was “disappeared” for six months. And, later, it was with great difficulty that I found his arrest notice. Yet still, Li Heping has not been able to see any lawyers, or receive any letters. I couldn’t even find the government appointed lawyer—and the Tianjin police refused to tell me who that lawyer is. 

I luckily heard the news about the court trials [of the week beginning August 1] and immediately rushed to Tianjin. But I did not expect that the bailiffs would drag me out of the court house, that the police would drag me to the police station, or that the Domestic Security officers would drag me back to Beijing.

Between August 2 and August 5, even though my husband wasn’t on trial, I, as a family member of someone affected in the “709” crackdown, was still under strict surveillance at home and was not allowed to leave—the door was guarded by three or four people.

I thought back and forth, from the perspective of educating Li Heping and his family—not to mention from a legal perspective (is there any rule of law at all?)—please let me observe the trials!

Although I have always firmly believed that my husband is innocent and has been framed, just in case the prosecutor’s evidence is conclusive and my husband is convicted, if I as his wife, could be there with him when he accepts the trial’s outcome—wouldn’t that be the best “educative warning” for our family?       

Furthermore, is it not my basic responsibility, as his wife, to stand by him to share all burdens no matter the hardship?       

At the same time I also believe that Li Heping, being the excellent criminal lawyer that he is, wouldn’t obstruct his wife from observing the trial. If Li Heping himself strongly requests that I not observe, I kindly request that the court tell him to write a personal letter to me to explain.

Additionally, I saw that some family members of those affected in the “709” crackdown requested the confirmation of trial dates and were smeared by the Communist Youth League on weibo as carrying out espionage activities. I hereby declare that, from July 31, 2016, I have already been illegally detained in my residence by Beijing police for five days. I called the police on 110 but no police ever came. My current request to meet with Li Heping, along with being interviewed by the media, do not constitute espionage activities.  

Based on the above reasons, I kindly request the honorable court to allow me to observe Li Heping’s trial. No matter how bad the result will be, I can accept it.

Thank you very much. I will be most grateful if my request is approved.

Applicant: Wang Qiaoling

August 4, 2016