Courts in the restive western region of Xinjiang have sentenced 20 ethnic Uygurs to jail for up to 15 years for terrorism and separatist crimes, as local authorities continue stepped-up efforts to maintain stability ahead of a key party congress this autumn.
Three courts in Kashgar , Akesu and the regional capital Urumqi recently handed down the sentences after finding the 20 Uygurs guilty of various crimes.
Four of the crimes were related to 'organising terrorist attacks' and one was linked to subversion, the People's Daily reported online yesterday.
The report said there was a vast amount of evidence suggesting that the accused carried out considerable preparatory work for the attacks and had set up formal terrorist groups.
'They bought, produced and copied mobile transmitters, discs and publications that promoted separatism, religious extremism and violent terror, and proactively spread them around,' the report said.
'Some members of the terrorist organisation made explosives and carried out test explosions.'