Taiwan-based followers of the Falun Gong cult hijacked mainland satellite signals twice in the past week, the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council said in a news conference on Wednesday.

Li Weiyi, spokesman for the office said that the Sinosat satellite received "attacks from illegal signals" on October 24 and 29 and the attacks had "seriously affected normal program broadcasting."

Li also said those responsible must be punished.

"Our relevant departments made a prompt technical investigation into the direction of the interference and confirmed that it was arising from the city of Taipei in Taiwan Province," said Li.

The spokesman said: "We strongly request that Taiwan authorities immediately begin searching for those who sent the illegal signals and seriously punish them," he said.

Last month, Taiwan-based Falun Gong followers twice hijacked Sinosat satellite signals and drew strong condemnation from both the Chinese government and people.

(China Daily October 31, 2002)