China put on trial two leading dissidents for subversion December 17, 1998 over their efforts to form an opposition party; loudly signaling the Communist Party will not tolerate any challenge to its rule.
Wang Youcai, 32 and Qin Yongmin, 45, key organizers of the Chinese Democratic Party, both pleaded not guilty to the charges of subversion of state power, family members said.
Court officials in the eastern city of Hangzhou, where Wang is on trial, and the central industrial city of Wuhan, where Qin is standing trial, declined to comment.
According to a Hong Kong based human rights group, 300 protesters gathered at the Hangzhou court. Two protesters were dragged away from the Wuhuan court, according to the Information Center for Human Rights and Democratic Movement in China.
There was no immediate independent confirmation of the Hong Kong report.
Neither man was represented by lawyers. Amnesty International said it was "extremely concerned" that they would not get a free and fair trial, and it appealed for their immediate release.
If convicted, they face up to life in prison.
"The prosecutor read the charges, declared the evidence against him and then began debating (the charges) with him," said Wang's wife, Hu Jiangxia, one of three relatives permitted in the courtroom.
Qin and Wang were arrested separately last month in a nationwide round-up of activists attempting to register their party.
Beijing has said all opposition parties are illegal and has taken a hard line, despite hopes of a political thaw early this year that led to talk of a "Beijing Spring."
The two men were defending themselves after police detained Wan's attorney and warned Qin's lawyer against representing his client. No foreign reporters or observers have been allowed to watch the court proceedings.
"Wang Youcai was very well prepared for the debate, he had 20 pages in front of him. He talked for half an hour before the judge cut him off," Hu said, adding that the judge accepted Wang's written notes.
Two of Wang's siblings were permitted in the courtroom, while an older brother and sister were detained by security officials and blocked from attending, she said.
Only one relative, a brother, was allowed to attend Qin's trial, his father Qin Qwinguo said.
"I went to the court to demand he be given a just and fair trial and to delay proceedings since we haven't found a lawyer," said the father, who was not allowed inside.
