China eviction protester 'jailed'

Entire blocks in Beijing are being demolished

A Chinese activist who sought to organise a demonstration against evictions in Beijing has been sentenced to four years in jail, his son says.

Ye Guozhu, 49, was found guilty of "picking quarrels and stirring up trouble", Ye Mingjun says.

Ye was arrested in Beijing in August after he applied to stage a 10,000-strong rally in the capital.

He had been protesting since his family's home was knocked down in 2003 to make way for new construction.

The demolition was part of a wave of planned redevelopments for Beijing ahead of the 2008 Olympics.

Previous protests

"My father is innocent. This makes me feel very sad. We'll definitely appeal," his son told the AFP news agency.

A source close to the family told the Reuters news agency that Ye, dressed in a grey uniform for detainees, shouted "Your Honour, you still have not allowed me to speak" after the sentence had been handed down.

He had appeared upset throughout the 20 minute hearing, the source added.

Ye's brother was previously sentenced to two years in jail after he tried to commit suicide by jumping into a river near Tiananmen Square in Beijing, also to protest the forced evictions.

Protests by Beijing residents forced from their homes have multiplied in recent years, as old buildings get torn down at an unprecedented rate to make room for new developments.

The Chinese authorities have previously allowed angry home-owners to stage low-profile protests.