Ng Chye Huay, left, and Cheng Lujin, speak to reporters during a press conference, May 4, 2005 in Singapore. They were arrested on April 27 and released on May 3 for ‘Assembly without Permit’ and ‘Possession and Distribution of Materials’

Two members of the Falun Gong spiritual group said on Wednesday they have ended a hunger strike upon their release from a Singapore jail, after refusing food to protest their conviction for illegal assembly and distributing unauthorized materials.

The two women, Ng Chye Huay, 41, and Cheng Lu Jin, 38, refused to pay fines and were therefore jailed after their sentencing in late April.

On Wednesday, they said they held a brief hunger strike to protest their conviction before their families raised the money, before their families paid their fines. Cheng went 7 days without food while Ng did not eat for 4 days, they said.

They were released Tuesday.

Ng had been ordered to pay a fine of 20,000 Singapore dollars (US$12,228) , but chose a five-month jail term instead. Cheng refused to pay a S$24,000 (US$14,675) fine and was sentenced to jail for six months.

“What we did was for the good of everyone,” Ng said at a news conference. “That’s why I went on a hunger strike- to protest the government, and the judge. To imprison good people is an insult to the law.”

Falun Gong often accuses China of arresting and torturing its followers on the mainland, but it is legal for them to practice their faith in Singapore.

However, Singapore law requires a police permit for outdoor gatherings of more than four people, and forbids distribution of unauthorized printed material.

The pair said they will appear before the Court of Appeal in July to try overturning their convictions.

http://asia.news.yahoo.com/050504/ap/d89sbdt01.html