Hu protester could be facing up to six months in US jail

A Chinese Falun Gong heckler who shouted abuse at Chinese President Hu Jintao at the White House and was arraigned on Friday faces up to six months in prison and a hefty fine for her protest.

Wearing same black suit she had on when she launched her tirade against Hu on Thursday, Wang Wenyi (王文怡), 47, said nothing during her federal court hearing.

She was charged with seeking to "intimidate, coerce, frighten or harass Chinese President Hu Jintao, a foreign official in the performance of his duty."

Wang, a member of the spiritual movement outlawed in China, interrupted an elaborate welcome ceremony at the White House staged by US President George W. Bush for the Chinese leader. Bush later apologized to Hu for the incident.

According to a statement of facts read to the court hearing, Wang shouted in Chinese "Stop oppressing the Falun Gong", "Your time is running out" and "Anything you have done will come back to you in this lifetime."

In Chinese and English, Wang shouted "President Bush stop him from killing" and "President Bush stop him from persecuting Falun Gong."

The outburst lasted about three minutes until Secret Service guards detained the woman.

Prosecutors Wang's actions forced Hu to briefly halt his speech to reporters and White House guests.

Hu first had appeared startled when the shouting started, but quickly regained his composure and finished his speech with a louder voice.

Wang's lawyer, David Bos, made a motion for the charge to be dismissed but this was rejected by Judge Deborah Robinson.

Bos the charge made the first amendment of the US Constitution, which protects freedom of speech, "just evaporate."

He said the statement of facts did not support the charge. "There is no evidence whatsoever that the defendant tried to intimidate or harass" Hu, Bos said, and there was not even evidence that Hu heard the shouts.

A preliminary hearing Wang's trial will be held on May 3. She faces up to six months in prison and/or a US$5,000 fine.

Wang released on a personal promise to attend the next hearing and was ordered to live at her New York home and not go near the White House.

About members of Falun Gong, which claims persecution by the Chinese government, attended the hearing.

As Wang left the courthouse, they chanted "peace upon you" in English and in Chinese.

"I'm proud to say I'm a Falun Gong `practitioner'," she said. Falun Gong is "a peaceful meditation practice," she added.