Beijing: A Chinese activist who called for human rights ahead of the Olympics was sentenced today to five years in prison and then shocked with electric batons as police scuffled with his family after the hearing, his lawyer said.

Yang Chunlin had gathered more than 10,000 signatures for an open letter titled "We want human rights, not the Olympics."

The former factory worker was convicted of subverting the power of the state, a charge that authorities commonly use to clamp down on dissidents.

Yang's sentencing came as China tries to stifle activists whose criticisms might tarnish the upcoming Beijing Olympics.

Chinese leaders want to use the high-profile event to showcase a modern, stable country, but the games are shaping up to be the most politicized in decades as activists decry everything from Beijing's treatment of Tibetans to its diplomatic policies in Sudan.

Last month, a Chinese court sentenced democracy activist Lu Gengsong to four years in prison for "inciting to subvert state power." Another dissident, Hu Jia, was tried on the same charge last week but has not yet been sentenced.

The Jiamusi City Intermediate People's Court in northeast China's Heilongjiang province handed down the five-year sentence against Yang today afternoon, court clerk Nie Lei said.

Family members tried to talk to Yang as he was escorted from the courtroom, but police pushed his son to the ground, lawyer Li Fangping said. Yang tried to intervene but was repeatedly shocked with electric batons, the lawyer said.

Source : PTI