Falun Gong protesters outside Vancouver's Chinese consulate have lost a second bid to get a full trial on issues surrounding the city's attempt to remove their protest camp.

In 2006, the city filed a petition seeking to dismantle the protest signs and a small shed outside the Granville Street consulate that have been in place since 2001.

City officials argued that the camp, which is always staffed by at least one protester, violates a city bylaw.

The protesters applied to have the matter heard as a trial rather than be limited to a hearing where lawyers argue the merits before a judge.

But a B.C. Supreme Court judge rejected their application and the B.C. Court of Appeal upheld the ruling. The protesters went back to court in another attempt to hold a full trial, but a second B.C. Supreme Court judge also rejected their application, saying there isn't much new in it.

Joseph Arvay, a lawyer for the protesters, said that the group is disappointed, but is considering a possible appeal or another move which he declined to elaborate.

(Canada.com, Friday, April 25, 2008)

Original text from: http://www.canada.com/theprovince/news/story.html?id=dfecac2b-597f-4d5c-828d-e80c6424b64c