CHAN:
A Hong Kong Falun Gong practitioner has been jailed in mainland China after a secret trial, and faces six years in prison. The victim’s family says the secret trial is a serious abuse of human rights and they will seek support for his rescue.

STORY:
Mr. Chen Jinshu is a 49 year old Falun Gong practitioner from Hong Kong who has been missing since April of last year. He was traveling to China to visit his father in Shenzhen, a province across the strait from Hong Kong.

But recently Chen’s family found out Chen has been sentenced to six years in prison after a secret inquest. Chen was charged with carrying copies of the book "Nine Commentaries on the Chinese Communist Party." The Chinese communist regime banned the publication in mainland China.

Chen’s sister, Chen Lili, tearfully proclaimed her brother's innocence.

[Chen Lili, Family Member]:
“They kidnapped him and put him into prison because he is a Falun Gong practitioner.”

She says that the Shenzhen court arrested him based solely on the peculiarity that his southern China accent that was the same as a previously arrested Falun Gong practitioner in Shenzhen. That case had been closed since 2005. She says there was no further evidence in court to prove his guilt.

The family will appeal for a second hearing to fight the charges.

[Chen Lili, Family Member]:
“First of all, my brother is a Hong Kong resident. Secondly, it is legal to practice Falun Gong in Hong Kong. So the Shenzhen court set him up using a closed file from the year 2005. We think that is nonsense.”

The Hong Kong branch of the Global Mission to Rescue Persecuted Falun Gong Practitioners (GMR) issued a statement condemning the proceedings against Chen, saying it goes to further expose the Chinese Communist Party's fear of the "Nine Commentaries.”

[Chen Ruijin, GMR Hong Kong Spokesperson]:
“The 'Nine Commentaries' is a book that talks about the true nature of the Communist Party. The Chinese regime feels its power is being threatened if people find out how they use their power to control the country.”

GMR appeals for public support to rescue Mr. Chen as well as many other Falun Gong practitioners illegally arrested in China.

NTDTV Hong Kong.