Heavy sentences for Falun Gong members

Followers of Falun Gong take risky exercise

Chinese courts have imprisoned 45 people for up to 13 years for helping to organise activities of the Falun Gong spiritual movement, which the authorities want to wipe out.

The 45 were found guilty of staging protests and manufacturing banners and leaflets countering the government's official line that the movement, which teaches meditation and exercise, is an "evil heretical cult".

Heretical writings

The heaviest punishment, a 13-year prison term, was imposed on Zhang Hwangei, who was accused of arranging accommodation for Falun Gong supporters visiting Beijing from other parts of China.

Falun Gong was banned in 1999 by the ruling Communist Party, which accuses the movement of wanting to overthrow the government.

Two other defendants, Shao Qiang and Qiu Xiuxin, were jailed for 10 years for making banners and encouraging supporters to raise them in Tiananmen Square - a focus of Falun Gong protests before the sect was banned.

Hunger strike

Meanwhile, eight members of the movement launched a hunger strike outside the Chinese embassy in Washington, demanding the release of supporters held in Chinese jails.

Hefty prison terms

The strikers intend to drink nothing but water and sleep in their cars, and have pledged to keep up the protest for as long as possible.

In the past two years, Falun Gong says more than 50,000 followers have been sent to prisons, labour camps and mental hospitals.

Human rights groups say about 200 of them have died from torture during detention, and followers are often sent to camps before receiving a trial.

The government has acknowledged several deaths in custody, but has attributed these to suicide or ill-health.

Suicide sentences

On Friday, a further four alleged members were jailed for organising a mass suicide attempt in Beijing.

One man was sentenced to life imprisonment and three others to terms of between seven and 15 years for encouraging members of Falun Gong to set themselves alight in Tiananmen Square in January.

Falun Gong says none of them were members, and says its teachings do not condone suicide.