China yesterday defended its 18-month clampdown on the Falun Gong spiritual organisation, describing the movement as a "social cancer".
In a statement, the Chinese authorities confirmed that 242 organisers of the sect had been jailed and that some "stubborn elements" who had broken laws against illegal demonstrations had been sent to labour re-education camps.
The arrests and detentions "were not because these people were practising Falun Gong, but because they had engaged in illegal activities and violated China's laws", the statement, carried by the official Xinhua news agency, said.
The statement said the clampdown, which started in July 1999, had followed complaints by local authorities and ordinary citizens.
"People from all segments of society and the masses had voiced strong complaints that Falun Gong was destroying families, endangering the physical and spiritual health of followers, threatening social order and illegally raising funds," it said.
The statement was released a day after 1,000 supporters of the Falun Gong organisation from all over the world had gathered in Hong Kong to protest at suppression of the movement by China.
Falun Gong preaches a mixture of Taoism, Buddhism and traditional Chinese breathing exercises. It was banned in July 1999 when the authorities claimed it was an "evil cult" which brainwashed and cheated its followers. It is claimed the movement has caused as many as 1,600 deaths among practitioners.
However, Falun Gong claims that up to 50,000 members have been detained and many sent to labour camps without trial since its banning.
The cabinet statement stressed that only those followers who had broken Chinese laws were given re-education through labour sentences. Many were given reduced sentences or home detention as part of a policy to "educate and rescue as many as possible".
The Hong Kong-based Information Centre for Human Rights and Democracy claims that at least 98 supporters have died in detention in mainland China, many of them beaten to death by police in their home provinces after being caught at Tiananmen and sent home.
Beijing has acknowledged several deaths in custody but says most resulted from suicides or illness.
Meanwhile, the information Centre for Human Rights and Democracy has also accused Chinese police of detaining four dissidents on Monday for urging the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to use Beijing's bid for the 2008 Games to press China to free jailed democracy activists.
The centre said the four were among 28 dissidents who signed a letter on December 31st urging the IOC to press China to release jailed activists. The dissidents argued that China's continued suppression of dissent violated the Olympic spirit.
Beijing is favourite to win the 2008 bid over the other finalists, Paris, Toronto, Osaka and Istanbul. The IOC is to make its decision in July.