Sect members set themselves on fire

BEIJING – Five Falun Gong followers set themselves on fire yesterday in China's Tiananmen Square, the most radical act yet by sect members in defiance of the communist government's 18-month ban on their movement.

One follower died in the attempted group suicide, which prompted police to tighten security and then close the square in the opening hours of China's lunar new year.

After weeks of words, both the spiritual movement and communist government have turned to brasher tactics.

Falun Gong has stepped up demonstrations in recent weeks and issued warnings by founder Li Hongzhi of more vigorous action to protest the crackdown. The government has fought back by intensifying vilification of the sect in state-controlled media and supporting a nationwide campaign to collect a million signatures.

The campaign is the government's first effort to make people publicly support the ban and is reminiscent of communist political movements – from the 1950-53 Korean War to the radical Cultural Revolution in the 1960s.

"It's a way of forcing people to be a bit up front," said Gerry Groot of Adelaide University in Australia. "This is real classic 1950s tactics. That's exactly what they did during the Korean War to try to undermine the Americans."

The government's efforts have accelerated with the approach of today's lunar new year, China's biggest holiday. Expecting the same mass protests that marred celebrations last year, police checked people entering the square, patting many down and inspecting their bags.

Still, five sect followers managed to douse themselves with gasoline in the middle of the square and set themselves on fire in two "suicidal blazes," the government's Xinhua News Agency said.