Li Huaping (李化平 )
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Li Huaping 李化平
(Released)
Crime: Gathering a crowd to disrupt order of a public place
Length of Punishment: two years
Court: Shushan District People’s Court
Trial Date: July 28, 2014
Sentencing Date: December 12, 2014
Dates of Detention/Arrest: August 10, 2013 (detained); September 22, 2013 (arrested)
Place of Incarceration: Heifi City No. 1 Detention Center (Anhui Province)
Indictment: Anhui Province Shushan District People’s Procuratorate Indictment (Chinese)
Defence Statement (Chinese)
Background
Shanghai-based Li Huaping, born in 1966, was a successful businessman before becoming a pro-democracy activist and supporting the development of an active civil society. Li was detained in a nationwide crackdown on freedom of assembly, association, and expression that began in early 2013. He supported and participated in the New Citizens’ Movement (NCM), a loose network of activists who have peacefully promoted social justice and political and legal reforms. Li Huaping was arrested several months after he joined other activists in Anhui Province to protest against local authorities barring the daughter of dissident Zhang Lin(张林) from attending elementary school. Li also had reportedly initiated a “solidarity watch” project in June 2013 to gather support and financially assist individuals swept up in the crackdown. In addition to his advocacy efforts on the ground, Li was also active on social media, and often posted articles and appeals to the public. In promoting the NCM, he wrote, “once we reach several thousand people, the authority will be at a loss; once we reach several tens of thousands, our country will change.”
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