Leading China dissident set for trial

(BEIJING) - Leading Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo was due to go on trial Wednesday on subversion charges, in a case criticised by the United States, the European Union and rights groups as politically motivated.

The 53-year-old Liu, a writer who was previously jailed in connection with the 1989 Tiananmen pro-democracy protests, has been charged with "inciting subversion of state power" after co-authoring a bold call for political reform.

US and EU diplomats have been denied access to the hearing in a Beijing court after Washington and Brussels last week called for Liu's release, and key dissidents said they were warned not to try to attend the proceedings.

If convicted, Liu -- who has already been detained for a year -- faces a maximum of 15 years in prison.

"I have no hope whatsoever, I can't even attend the trial," his wife Liu Xia told AFP earlier this week. She is viewed by the court as a witness, and thus must be summoned to enter the courtroom, but plans to wait outside.

Liu, once a university professor before his involvement in the Tiananmen demonstrations, co-authored Charter 08, which calls for human rights protection and the reform of China's one-party communist system.

The petition, which has been widely circulated online, has been signed by more than 10,000 people, including other key dissidents and intellectuals, according to China Human Rights Defenders, a network of activists.

"I insisted that I am a part of this case -- if Liu Xiaobo is to be tried, then I should be tried as well," said Bao Tong, once a top aide to ex-Chinese leader Zhao Ziyang, who was purged for sympathising with the Tiananmen protests.

"If he is found guilty, this will be a problem because it will mean that the freedom of speech and freedom of expression guaranteed by the constitution are fake," said Bao, who signed Charter 08.

Liu's trial, due to open at 9:00 am (0100 GMT), comes amid fears that officials are attempting to rush the case through the court during the Western holiday season in a bid to attract less global attention.

The subversion charge faced by Liu is routinely brought against those who voice opposition to China's ruling Communist Party.

Rights groups accuse Beijing of abusing such charges to silence critics.

"The only purpose of this trial is to dress up naked political repression in the trappings of legal proceedings," said Sophie Richardson, Asia advocacy director at Human Rights Watch.

"Liu's crimes are non-existent, yet his fate has been pre-determined. This is a travesty of justice."

The United States and the European Union appealed for Liu's unconditional release and an end to the harassment and detention of political dissidents -- calls which Beijing dismissed as "unacceptable".