From AP, via Mainichi Daily News (link):
A Chinese man who tried to register an independent environmental group is to go on trial next week on charges of stealing state secrets, an overseas human rights group said Saturday.
Tan Kai, a computer repairman, has been in custody since Oct. 19 when he and five others were summoned by police in the eastern city of Hangzhou, New York-based Human Rights in China reported.
That came after Tan opened a bank account as part of attempts to register an environmental watchdog group “Green Watch,” HRIC said. The other five individuals, also Green Watch members, were questioned and released the same day, the group said.
Green Watch was banned by the local government, HRIC said, an apparent reflection of authorities’ deep suspicion of any civic group dealing with sensitive issues outside direct government control.
