Three Chinese activists have been sentenced to three to five years in jail for "inciting subversion of state power." 

An intermediate people's court in Guangzhou announced the ruling on Friday to debarred lawyer Tang Jingling, and activists Wang Qingying and Yuan Xinting. Tang, being the leader, received five years in prison while the other two received three. The public has dubbed them "The Three Gentlemen of Guangzhou."

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The indictment said that the three pro-democracy activists "promoted ideas of civil disobedience with the goal of overthrowing the socialist system." 

Tang was also accused of inciting people to join a "Citizen Non-Cooperation Movement."

Accusations

The most important evidence cited by the prosecution during the trials in June and July last year was the publication of books about civic activism, peaceful democratization, and civil disobedience.

The books mentioned include 'From Dictatorship to Democracy' by Gene Sharp, 'Organizing: A Guide for Grassroots Leaders' by Si Kahn, and 'Breaking the Real Axis of Evil' by Mark Palmer. 

Prosecutors also said that the defendants were involved in different "illegal activities" from 2006 onwards such as commemorating the victims of the Tienanmen Square Protests in 1989, paying tribute to Lin Zhao, a dissident who was executed during Mao Zedong's Cultural Revolution. 

Tang also campaigned to end the country's 'hukou' policy where social welfare such as education and healthcare are only limited to a person's birthplace where he or she is registered. This means that if a person moves to another city for greener pastures, that person can no longer enjoy government benefits. 

"I think that this sentence by the [ruling] Chinese Communist Party and the Guangzhou Intermediate People's Court is an extreme error of judgment that nonetheless recognizes the contribution of Tang Jingling to the democracy movement in China," Tang's lawyer, Ge Yongxi, told RFA.

"This verdict is unacceptable. They violated no laws, and the charges are politically motivated. They were only trying to help society," said Tang's wife, Wang Yanfang. 

Tang will not appeal the ruling as he says that "the judicial system under the Chinese Communist Party has no legitimacy."

"He said he will instead appeal to the people of China and to Go," Ge said. 

His wife respects his decision. 

"The trial itself wasn't legal. Courts should be fair and reasonable places, but they aren't any more. So really, it makes no difference whether they appeal or not, it's meaningless," she said.  

TagsTang Jingling, Wang Qingying, Yuan Xinting, democracy in China, Chinese activists, Guangzhou, Human rights violation in China