BEIJING, March 5 (Reuters) - Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji vowed "severe punishment" for what he called a small number of criminals within the Falun Gong spiritual movement, but leniency for the rest.
In a speech prepared for delivery to the opening session of the National People's Congress later on Mobnday, Zhu made clear the crackdown on the Falun Gong would continue to be a top priority for the government.
The harsh crackdown has drawn international condemnation, most recently from the United Nations human rights chief Mary Robinson during a visit to Beijing last week.
"We need to mete out severe punishment to the small number of criminals while making unremitting efforts to unite, educate and rescue the vast majority of people who have been taken in," the speech said.
He lumped together the battle against Falun Gong with the fight against terrorists, ethnic separatists, and religious extremism.