Activist Hu Shigen pleads guilty to subversion

An activist accused of subversion, damaging national security and harming social stability pleaded guilty at Tianjin No 2 Intermediate People's Court on Wednesday. Prosecutors said that Hu Shigen led an "underground organization", which claimed to be a religious body, but in fact taught its members how to take advantage of hot topics and sensitive issues to protest the government. The organization, which was unregistered, is alleged to have "built a systematic ideology, method and steps" to achieve its goals, the municipal No 2 People's Procuratorate said in a statement. Hu had allegedly, since 2009, instructed a member of the organization named Gou Hongguo to attend forums overseas that were against the country and the government, while also working with lawyer Zhou Shifeng and activists Li Heping and Zhai Yanmin to organize activities that manipulated public opinion and disturbed public order, the prosecutors said. Hu, a native of Jiangxi province, was previously sentenced to 20 years in prison for counter-revolution in 1994. After a sentence reduction, he was freed in 2008. "Hu's ideology and his behaviors have seriously harmed the country and social stability," the prosecutors said during the trial. Zhai was sentenced to three years in prison with a four-year reprieve for subverting State power on Tuesday. Zhou, Gou and Li are being prosecuted in separated cases. Hu's case is still being heard in court.