Scuffles in China as Trial of Peasants’ Rights Advocate Is Postponed

By Joseph Kahn | The New York Times
21 July 2006

BEIJING, July 20 — Chinese officials postponed the criminal trial of a peasants’ rights advocate on Thursday as his supporters gathered in large numbers to protest what they say is a politically motivated prosecution.

Some 200 people gathered outside a courthouse in Yinan County, Shandong Province, where Chen Guangcheng , who is blind and taught himself law, had been scheduled to go on trial on charges of destroying property and blocking traffic.

Some supporters scuffled with the police, and participants in the gathering said 11 people had been detained briefly before the crowd dispersed.

Court officials, who had issued a written notice of the July 20 trial date, decided at the last minute to postpone the trial. But they issued no written notice of their decision and did not set a new date, Mr. Chen’s lead lawyer, Li Jinsong, said by telephone.

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