Relentless Persecution Causes Countless Tragedies All Over China

The inhuman persecution against Falun Gong began on July 20th, 1999. Seven years later, the atrocities are continuing. Incidents of torture and death have occurred repeatedly this year.

Ms. Wen Yingxin

Practitioner Ms. Wen Yingxin, 34 years old, was an accountant at the Shenyang City Aerospace Xinguang Corporation. She was posting Falun Gong leaflets exposing the persecution, when officers from Xiaobei Police Station in Shenyang City arrested her. She died nine days later, on August 16th, 2006, covered in bruises. Ms. Wen left behind a seven-year-old son. Her husband had divorced her because of tremendous pressure. Her parents, both in their 60s, were devastated by her death. Her mother is now bedridden.

Mr. Wang Xiaodong

Practitioner Mr. Wang Xiaodong from Huadian City, Jilin Province, is 39 years old. Police officers headed by Yu Jinji and Jin Zhexian ransacked his home and arrested him on March 11, 2006. Wang Xiaodong's mother went frequently to the Huadian City 610 Office¹ and the local court and requested a meeting with her son. The authorities refused her request and threatened her.

She waited for six hours on July 6th, 2006, before finally seeing her son in the court. He was locked in a metal cage. She said, "What have you done for them to put handcuffs and shackles on you? Falun Gong practitioners don't hold grudges and they are simply good people according to Truth-Compassion-Tolerance. Who is afraid that there are good people in this world?" She asked Wang Xiaodong, "What's wrong with you? Why don't you speak? Are you mute? Why don't you talk about the tortures they put you through?" Mr. Wang dropped his head and did not respond to his mother. His hair was very long and dishevelled. His mother was pushed outside the court and told the crowd, "Wang Xiaodong used to vomit blood and almost died from it, but he regained his health through Falun Gong practice. Is that a crime? What's wrong with being a good person according to Truth-Compassion-Tolerance? They [Communist Party officials] always do these despicable things in the dark."

Mr. Huang Yongzhong

Mr. Huang Yongzhong lived in Xinhe Village in Jieyang City, Guangdong Province. He used to be sick and had epilepsy. Four of his fingers were crushed ten years ago during a work accident. In his mother's words, "A strong gust of wind is enough to knock him over." Fortunately, he began practising Dafa in 1997, and all of his illnesses disappeared several months later. He was able to lead a healthy and productive life. He was illegally detained in Beijiang Prison for telling people the facts about Falun Gong. The guards and inmates savagely beat him again in July 2006 until he was on the brink of death. The prison authorities told his parents to take him home. He passed away a few days later, on the afternoon of July 22nd, 2006.

There is No Place to Appeal

For more than half a century, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has misused the law to suppress dissidents, defeat political enemies, and trample on common, powerless people. By contrast, the people in power have always operated above the law and stopped at no evil. This has reached an extreme with Jiang Zemin's persecution of Falun Gong.

The CCP ringleader, Jiang Zemin, blatantly went against the constitution of China and launched the persecution of Falun Gong in July 1999. He subsequently issued orders such as "ruin their reputations, bankrupt them financially, and destroy them physically;" "beating them [Falun Gong practitioners] to death is nothing and shall be counted as suicides;" "do not identify the body and cremate it directly" and "kill without pardon." Jiang Zemin personally directed this persecution, which caused an inestimable number of Falun Gong practitioners to lose their families, jobs, their education, homes, and property.

The judicial system under the Communist Party not only failed to uphold justice, but instead participated in the persecution. The justice system, the Procuratorate, and judicial agencies throughout the country arrested, detained, tried ,and sentenced to prison many practitioners. Lawyers are forbidden from defending Falun Gong practitioners.

Some lawyers with a strong sense of justice went against the tide and defended practitioners in court. They received threats from the CCP. Well-known lawyer Gao Zhisheng wrote three public letters to appeal for Falun Gong. The CCP officials saw him as a thorn in their side. They dispatched special agents to follow and harass him around the clock, finally arresting him on August 15th, 2006. Gao Zhisheng's wife and daughter are also under close watch.

The CCP and Jiang group's systematic, genocidal persecution of Falun Gong has resulted in numerous people experiencing nervous breakdowns, becoming disabled, disappearing and dying. Their families have no way to appeal.

A Mother's Tears

"Give me back my son!" - Ms. Zhang Huizhu asks for the unconditional release of her son in front of Shandong Province Prison

Ms. Zhang Huizhu from Longkou, Shandong Province, went to Shandong Province Prison, Shandong Province People's Congress, Shandong Province High Court, Shandong Province Judicial Bureau, and the Jinan City TV Station in the summer of 2006. Her son, Shao Qiang, is in his late 20s and was sentenced to ten years in prison for practising Falun Gong. The guards had several times beaten him to near death. He has suffered a nervous breakdown, yet he is still being held at the Shandong Province Prison. Ms. Zhang Huizhu's pleas fell on deaf ears. She was told that the Longkou City government would arrest her for appealing.

A Healthy Person is Tortured to Death in 40 Days

Mr. Wang Jianguo's 81-year-old grandmother held his picture in front of her chest as she cried in front of Jilin City Police Department, "My grandson was wrongfully killed! He and his wife owned a restaurant and they lived a happy life. He was killed at the detention center after being held there for only 40 days, only because he practised Falun Gong! I have nowhere to seek justice!"

Mr. Wang Jianguo was 32 years old and lived in Jilin Province. He and his wife, Ms. Zhao Qiumei, were arrested on March 2nd, 2006, by officers from the Nanjing Police Station in the Chuanying District, headed by Tan Xinqiang. Ms. Zhao Qiumei was sentenced to one year of forced labour. Mr. Wang Jianguo was tortured at the Nanjing Police Station before being taken to the No. 1 Detention Centre in Jilin City, where he was tortured to death on April 10th.

Mr. Wang's family was devastated. They set up a funeral shed in their backyard and wrote on a paper, "A wretched death after 40 days of savage abuse; heaven forbid that a good person is persecuted so! As the aged parents say goodbye to their beloved son, only God knows their sorrow." Families, neighbours and other villagers came to the funeral after they heard the news. Many of them burned incense to bid farewell to Wang Jianguo. Many of them cried and said, "This is so wrong!"

About 50 police officers led by the head of the Changyi Police Department in Jilin City arrived in 13 cars at Wang Jianguo's home at 5:00 a.m. on April 30th, 2006. They closed off all the roads leading to the Wang home, and they broke inside and tore down the funeral shed. They took everything inside the shed including the wood beams, leaving only Wang Jianguo's picture.

Father in His 90s Appeals for His Missing Son

Practitioner Mr. Liu Yong, 32 years old, was sentenced to six years in prison by the Chongzhou City Court in Sichuan Province the morning of December 3rd, 2004. His whereabouts have been unknown since. His family is really concerned about his safety, especially after they learned that some living Falun Gong practitioners have had their organs harvested, followed by cremation of their bodies to destroy the evidence. Liu Yong's father wrote a letter of appeal for his son. The letter is as follows:

"My name is Liu Shunping. I was born on May 11th, 1916, and I am 90 years old. I live at Group 5 in Wayao Village, Chongyang Town, Chongzhou City. I want to hereby appeal to the administrative agency, the people's court, the Procuratorate, and the police department to let you know that my son is innocent and has never violated any law of this country.

"My son, Liu Yong, was a sickly child and didn't start walking until he was five years old. He suffered from numerous illnesses such as hepatitis, tracheitis, and frequent high fevers that put him in a coma. He was tormented by these illnesses. We, his caretakers, were exhausted. He lived a miserable life and had no choice but to completely depend on us.

"Fortunately, he learned Falun Dafa in 1998, and all of his illnesses were cured soon afterward. His health completely turned around. He no longer had to worry about not being able to afford medical expenses. He became open and active after regaining his health, got a job, and supported himself. Falun Dafa had saved my son and relieved my worries for him.

"My son was arrested from home on May 17th, 2004, for practising Falun Gong. He was detained and brutally persecuted and also sentenced to prison. Do you know, Sir, that you are persecuting an outstandingly good person, a good person who cultivates himself according to Truth, Compassion, Tolerance?

"My son, Liu Yong, became considerate and diligent after he practised Falun Dafa. He quit lots of bad habits. How can such person be a criminal? He was only cultivating his xinxing and being a good person and did not violate any law. The Chinese Constitution explicitly states that Chinese citizens have freedom of belief, freedom of speech and democratic rights, and inviolable personal freedom. My son is a good person. He is innocent. It's a twisting of right and wrong to sentence my son to prison.

"My son "clarified the truth" to people only to explain the beauty of Dafa, so people would not believe in Jiang group's lies. Good is rewarded and evil is punished--this has never changed since ancient times. It will be too late when retribution descends upon you. So I plead with you, Sir, to uphold justice and protect good and innocent people. Correct your mistakes and create good fortune for your descendants.

"I again appeal to all conscionable officials: My son is innocent and he must be released right away."

Appellant: Liu Shunping

86-year-old Woman's Letter of Appeal

"I am 86 years old. My daughter, Ms. Liu Shuqin, lives in the Tangu Residential Area in Shijiazhuang City. My son-in-law, Wang Xinzhong, works at the Shijiazhuang Railroad Bureau. My granddaughter, Wang Bo just graduated from college. The police recently again arrested these three family members because they practise Falun Gong. They have all been brutally beaten. Since 1999, they have not had a peaceful life. I cannot count how many times they have been arrested. By now, more than 20 days have passed, but their whereabouts are still unknown.

"Not long ago I heard that those who practised Falun Gong were sent to a secluded place after their arrest where they were given an injection that caused them to fall into a coma. Their organs were taken out and sold to hospitals to make money, their bodies were thrown into an incinerator and burned, and their families did not get any information about them. It makes me so worried. I asked other members of my family to take me out to find my daughter and her family. I want to find them, even if I have to risk my own life.

"Before my daughter's family started to practise Falun Gong, they all had poor health. My daughter and her husband often quarrelled and used the arguments as a reason for divorce. They did not listen to our mediation. After practising Falun Gong, the family lived in harmony and everyone had good health. My granddaughter was also enrolled in the Central Conservatory of Music, an elite institution in China. I felt very happy for them.

"Nevertheless, they only enjoyed such a peaceful life for a couple of years. The police started to arrest Falun Gong practitioners. My daughter told me that the requirement for practising Falun Gong is being a good person according to the principle of 'Truthfulness, Compassion and Tolerance' and that practising Falun Gong has healing effects. How can the police treat those who practise Falun Gong as bad people and arrest them? Doesn't it turn right and wrong upside down? In my daughter's family, one was arrested one day and another was arrested another day. The persecution was endless. I worry about them every day.

"Now, it is worse. All three members of my daughter's family have been arrested. The police department officials initially admitted that they handled the case and arrested my daughter's family. They said I could talk to their chief for further information. But, these last two days they have denied the things they said before and claimed that my daughter's family was never there. In my daughter's family there are three lives! Plus me, the total is four lives. Can it not be said that human life is at stake? Someone should handle this case, shouldn't they? And the police should inform the family after they arrest someone. More than 20 days have passed and they have not informed us. We went to the police department and asked for information, but they did not tell us the real situation. They kept changing their words. The police should not lie. They should be responsible when human lives are at stake. My daughter's family has disappeared, and we are very worried.

"My granddaughter, Wang Bo, was sent to various labour camps for three years just because she went to Beijing to appeal for Falun Gong. Her bright future was ruined. After my granddaughter was released she looked very different. She was depressed and unhappy. She was not willing to see people. The bubbly, vibrant, and lovely Wang Bo disappeared. At such a young age she was arrested, interrogated, tortured, and forcibly "transformed¹." She suffered a lot. She was detained in several places and terribly upset. In labour camps, her mind collapsed a couple of times.

"Everyone has parents and children. I ask the police, please do a good thing, show mercy to me, an 86-year-old woman, and release Wang Bo and her parents and allow them to come home soon."

Appellant: Han Lingrong

Mr. Jiang Yuejun Sent to a Forced Labour Camp with Fractures After Being Beaten by Agents from the National Protection Team; His Mother Suffers from Depression

Mr. Jiang Yuejun, a teacher at the Qingfeng Township Middle School in Shulan City had a childhood filled with illnesses and diseases. His body lacked potassium. He could not perform even the simplest farming tasks, even as a young man in his 20s. Fortunately, he was able to start practising Falun Dafa in 1998. From the first time he held and read a Falun Dafa book, he never needed another pill or drug ever again. All his diseases were miraculously healed and he became very healthy. Seeing the tremendous changes in him, his wife felt the magnificence of Dafa and also began cultivation.

Both Mr. Jiang and his wife led their lives according to the principle of "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance." They worked very hard and ignored personal interests and gains. They donated generously to support poor students and used their holidays to tutor them. When the parents of these students tried to offer them gifts to express their gratitude, the couple thanked them but did not accept anything. When they were unable to refuse a gift, they bought another gift and sent it to the parents in return.

After the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) began persecuting Falun Gong, the couple was detained many times. Officers from the Shulan City Police Department National Security Division and Qingfeng Township Police Station broke into their workplaces and home, looking for Jiang Yuejun. He was brutally beaten by police that same day on the school campus. The police fractured one of his legs, and he could not walk. He was taken to the police department afterwards where he was beaten until his ribs were fractured. Recently, the National Security Team in Shulan City sentenced Mr. Jiang to eighteen months in a forced labour camp. Due to his severe injuries, however, the labour camp refused to accept him. Currently, the Shulan City National Security Division refuses to release Mr. Jiang and detains him at the Nanshan Detention Centre.

Seeing her son suffering from such tremendous persecution, Jiang's mother developed severe depression. The hospital is still demanding hundreds of yuan in medical expenses from her that she is unable to pay.

Three of Four Children Die from Persecution; Ms. Wang Lianrong Passes Away in Exile

Mr. Chen Yunchuan and his wife, Ms. Wang Lianrong, in Canfangying Village , Beixinbao Township, Huailai County, Zhangjiakou City, Hebei Province, had two sons and two daughters. The entire family practised Falun Dafa, and they lived a happy life together. Mr. Chen's chronic back and leg pains disappeared through the practice, while Ms. Wang's arthritis and asthma that had tormented her for over three decades were miraculously cured, and her temperament improved greatly.

The old couple has been through a lot in the past few years of persecution against Falun Gong. Their home was ransacked, and they were detained and tortured many times. Three of Ms. Wang Lianrong's four children died as a result of persecution by November 5th, 2004. Their only surviving daughter, Chen Shulan, is still in prison.

Ms. Wang Lianrong and her husband, Mr. Chen Yunchuan, had begun living in exile beginning in January 2005 to avoid further arrest. They lived in five different places and endured numerous tribulations over the past eighteen months. After almost seven years of evil persecution, Ms. Wang Lianrong passed away far from home at 11:00 a.m. on August 4th, 2006, at the age of 65.

Ms. Wang passed away with only her husband, Mr. Chen Yunchuan, by her side.

If we arrange the Chinese provinces according to the number of torture death cases and the provinces with the most number of retribution cases, we would discover that the order is very similar in both lists.

Number of Torture Deaths of Falun Gong Practitioners by Province:

Hebei Province: 395
Heilongjiang Province: 360
Liaoning Province: 354
Jilin Province: 350
Shandong Province: 293
Sichuan Province: 176
Hubei Province: 144
Henan Province: 106
Hunan Province: 94
Beijing: 80

Note

1. "The 610 office" is an agency specifically created to persecute Falun Gong, with absolute power over each level of administration in the Party and all other political and judiciary systems.

2. "Reform or Transform" Implementation of brainwashing and torture in order to force a practitioner to renounce Falun Gong. (Variations: "reform", "transform", "reformed", "reforming", "transformed", "transforming", and "transformation")

Chinese version available at http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2006/8/31/136779.html