BEIJING - A Chinese activist who circulated an open letter titled, “We want human rights, not the Olympics,” was sentenced Monday to five years in prison, a court official said.

Court security shocked Yang Chunlin repeatedly with electric batons after the 20-minute hearing when he tried to speak with family members, the China-based Civil Rights and Livelihood Watch said in a statement.

Yang had been convicted of subverting the power of the state, a charge that authorities commonly use to clamp down on opposition activists. His trial was the latest in a series of similar cases as China's leaders try to stifle dissent in the run-up to the Beijing Olympics, which start in August.

Yang had gathered more than 10,000 signatures, mostly from farmers, for the petition that pushed for greater protections for human rights ahead of the Olympics that begin Aug. 8.

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

Yang, a former factory worker, was detained in July in Heilongjiang and formally arrested a month later. His sister said in October that during his detention Yang was tortured, including having his arms and legs stretched and chained to the corners of an iron bed.

Yang's lawyer, Li Fangping, could not immediately be reached despite repeated calls on Monday afternoon.

Bovenstaand bericht las ik heden. Duidelijk geval van marteling als je je mond open doet. Enige poging tot vrijheid van meningsuiting word gestraft met 5 jaar cel. Heeft trouwens niets met Tibet vandoen.

Tony