Falungong leader faces trial

Hong Kong - A Chinese court will try a leader of the banned Falungong meditation movement next week in a possible prologue to…

Hong Kong - A Chinese court will try a leader of the banned Falungong meditation movement next week in a possible prologue to trials of more than 30 sect members across the country, a Hong Kong human rights group said yesterday.

China declared the Falungong a cult and warned it would show no mercy in crushing it. The declaration came as parliament's highest body met to discuss legislation toughening penalties on cult members.

A court in Shijiazhuang will try Xu Xinmu next week on the charge of leaking state secrets, the Information Centre of Human Rights and Democratic Movement in China said. More than 30 Falungong members might be tried next month, and could receive the death penalty if convicted, it said.