Falungong Accused Of Sabotaging 25 Chinese TV Channels

CYBER WARS

APT Satellite Holdings said it had complained to Hong Kong's police and government after 13 China Central News TV channels and 12 provincial channels were blocked for a total of 15 minutes on Sunday.

Hong Kong (AFP) Jul 04, 2005
A Hong Kong-based satellite broadcasting company called for action against the Falungong spiritual group on Monday over the jamming of 25 television channels beamed into China.

APT Satellite Holdings said it had complained to Hong Kong's police and government after 13 China Central News TV channels and 12 provincial channels were blocked for a total of 15 minutes on Sunday.

"In response to such malicious act of Falungong, we have ... requested the authorities concerned to seriously punish the criminals," said APT executive director and president Chen Zhaobin.

"We also appeal to the international community to strongly denounce such illegal act. We reserve all our rights to take appropriate legal actions," he said in a statement on the company's website."

The TV stations, transmitted via the APSTAR VI satellite, were interrupted between 8:44 pm and 9:20 pm (1244-1320 GMT) on Sunday, APT said.

The Falungong, which enjoyed burgeoning popularity in China until it was banned as an "evil cult" in 1999, has frequently sabotaged television channels to denounce a crackdown which has seen thousands of adherents detained or jailed. Many have allegedly been tortured or killed in custody.

In the most recent incident in March, regular programming on several channels was replaced with Falungong content, according to official media reports.

The group also interrupted broadcasts during China's maiden manned space flight in 2003. Those convicted of jamming signals have been jailed for up to 13 years.

The Falungong, which China considers a threat to its rule, mixes traditional Buddhist and Taoist beliefs with mass breathing and meditation exercises.

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