Despite months and months of relentless international pressure, Chinese authorities have finally set a date for the trial of one of China's most well-known dissidents and long-time democracy advocate Liu Xiaobo. According to Mr. Liu's wife, Liu Xia, and his lawyer, Shang Baojun, Mr. Liu's trial will take place this Wednesday in Beijing. He is charged with subversion, and given the high conviction rate in China's judicial system, particularly for politically sensitive cases, Mr. Liu will almost certainly be found guilty. He faces up to fifteen years in prison due to pro-Democracy articles he has written and his involvement with Charter 08, an online petition calling on the government to respect human rights and begin a peaceful transition to a democratic system.

It seems that the authorities in Beijing are hoping to avoid international criticism by holding Mr. Liu's trial on December 23rd, when most of the west will be distracted by Christmas. But Ding Zilin, of the Tiananmen Mothers (a group that organizes the family members of those killed in the Tiananmen Massacre), is urging fellow signatories of Charter 08 to show up for Mr. Liu's trial in Beijing. They will almost certainly be denied entry into the court room, but Ms. Ding is hoping to provide some moral support to Mr. Liu and his wife by this brave act of solidarity.