Xu Kun (许坤)
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Xu Kun • 许坤
(Released)
Recent Detention
Crime: Illegal business activities
Length of Punishment: 4 years’ imprisonment (with additional fine of 200,000 RMB)
Court: Yinhai District People’s Court
Trial date: April 29, 2011
Sentencing date: April 29, 2011
Dates of Detention/Arrest: May 15, 2010 (detained), July 13, 2010 (arrested); June 2013 (released)
Place of Detention: Litang Prison (Litang Town, Guangxi Province)
Verdict: Beihai Yinhai District People’s Court Verdict (Chinese only)
Defence Statement: First-Instance Trial (Chinese)
Appeal Sentencing Date: August 2, 2011
Appeal Sentencing Court: Beihai City Intermediate People’s Court
Appeal Ruling: Upheld original ruling
Verdict: Guangxi Autonomous Region Beihai City Intermediate Court Criminal Verdict (Second-Instance: Chinese)
Background
Xu Kun, an elected director of village committee in Baihutou Village in Beihai City, led villagers in resisting forced home demolitions and requisitioning of beachfront land on which residents had operated businesses to supplement their income from fishing. Born on June 20, 1974, Xu was detained in May 2010—for “operating an illegal business”—on the grounds that he was running a parking lot. Several other villagers were also sentenced to prison for the same crime. Later that year, a local court upheld an administrative ruling authorizing the destruction of Xu’s home in Baihoutou. Xu was released early, in June 2013.
Further Information
Heavy Sentence for Elected Fujian Village Director, Leader in Fight against Illegal Land Expropriation, November 2, 2010, CHRD
Court Ruling Sets Stage for Demolition of Baihutou Village Homes of Xu Kun and Others, September 13, 2010, CHRD
