Beijing (AsiaNews
/ Agencies) - Authorities in Hainan (South China) are trying Futang Liu, a 63
year-old environmentalist, for an alleged "illegal business
operation" for self-publishing books on environmental conflicts caused by
government-backed projects. Arrested
in July, Liu, risks from two to five years in prison. Yesterday,
the activist has rejected the accusations, pointing out that the 18 thousand
copies of the book - printed at his own expense at a cost of 464mila Yuan (57
thousand euro) - have almost all been donated to associations for the
protection of the environment. However,
the authorities have deemed 78 thousand yuan - about 9,600 euro - in donations that
Liu received from the sale of 14 copies of the book on a website, illegal.
Zhou
Ze, the activist's lawyer, says the allegations are unfounded because Liu did
not print the books with the intention of making a profit. The
court charges are "a reprisal of the local governments and
industrialists" against Liu, who in his book accuses several companies of
destroying ancient forests and endangered the lives of thousands of people.
Known
across the country for his fight against the indiscriminate pollution of
China's industries, Liu Futang has been awarded several times for his
environmental campaigns spread through the internet. On
his blog, the activist has made numerous charges against China Guodian, one of
the largest energy companies in China, ignored by state media. His
case has leapt to the eyes of the authorities, after he organized a major
protest against a coal power plant in the city of Yinggehai (Hainan).