A former member of Japan's Aum Shinrikyo doomsday cult has been sentenced to hang by the Tokyo District Court for murders carried out before the cult's lethal gas attack on a Tokyo subway in 1995.

Just one week ago, two other Aum members were also sentenced to death for murder and attempted murder for their roles in releasing the Nazi-invented sarin nerve gas in the subway incident that killed 12 and injured thousands.

The court's decision may serve as a warning to those who still engage in heretic activities.

Recently, many countries have taken stricter measures against cults. China has also done so with the Falun Gong cult.

However, the fight seems set to go on, because some people are still infatuated by the cult which will not voluntarily step down from the stage.

Since Falun Gong was banned in China last July, its leader Li Hongzhi and his followers have continued their activities. They even took part in anti-China activities.

"Master Li" has gone too far to repent and be saved. But for others there is still time to repent.

They should open their eyes to Li's deceptive nature.

One single fact highlights this. As a man who claims to have "supreme power," "Master Li" still has to stay in the United States to hide away from punishment in China.

Such cults should be viewed as a common enemy of mankind. It is high time the international community takes this problem seriously and makes a concerted effort to wipe them out, to build a more orderly social environment.

China Daily 2000/07/27