Mourning the Death of Falun Gong Practitioner Mr. Yang Guang

I was shocked to hear that Falun Gong practitioner Yang Guang from Changchun had died in Jilin Prison. I was so sad and wanted to cry, but I have no more tears. His death is one more addition to over a dozen practitioners that I knew that died in the persecution.

Recalling Yang Guang, some images from the past came to mind. One evening at the end of 2000, I went to a local experience sharing conference. When I arrived at the building, I rang the door bell. A moment later, another man in his forties also arrived and pressed the same door bell. He was of medium stature. There was righteousness in his eyes. He was kind, but solemn. He dressed nicely. He stood straight and had an impressive appearance. My instinct told me that this was a person who was very successful in society and could achieve big things in life. I guessed that he was also going to our conference. During our experience sharing, I got to know his name, Yang Guang. He was an executive at a Chinese-foreign joint venture.

At that particular conference, many practitioners discussed how to help all the practitioners in the Changchun area handle the persecution. Practitioners also shared their experiences of going to Tiananmen Square and displaying banners.

After that conference, many practitioners worked separately to organize experience sharing meetings in different regions. These organizers include Ms. Wang Yuhuan (who has since died from persecution), Mr. Gao Weixi (currently detained), Ms. Zhao Guifeng (currently detained) and Mr. Yang Guang. The experience sharing meetings they organized were usually attended by several dozen practitioners, including many practitioners from surrounding areas.

After that night, we were all very busy and I did not see Yang Guang for a while. Later, I was told that he was arrested in Baishan City in November 2000. He was brutally tortured by the police at Section One of the Changchun Police Department.

In 2002, Changchun Falun Gong practitioners intercepted a television broadcasting signal. In the few days following, around five thousand practitioners were arrested and detained. I was arrested as well and transferred to Changchun No. 1 Detention Centre, Room 103. One day when I was semi-unconscious from a hunger strike, I heard a loud and clear voice telling several dozen detainees the truth behind the persecution of Falun Gong. I heard someone calling out his name: Yang Guang. I opened my eyes and sat up. We greeted each other and each told the other about the persecution we had gone through.

That was the second time I met Yang Guang. In only a little over a year, this man who had been healthy and good looking had become an old man who couldn't walk steadily. The only things that did not change were his loud and clear voice and his firm belief in Falun Gong. At the time, he had been sentenced to 15 years in prison. Because he was appealing, he had not been sent to prison. A few days later, I was sent to Jilin Prison Hospital for further persecution. That was the last time I saw Yang Guang. Back when we were together, there were three practitioners in that room in the detention centre. The torture we were subjected to and our rock-solid belief in Falun Gong shocked and awakened other detainees and guards.

It is hard to imagine the torture Yang Guang endured. In eight years, he was subjected to all sorts of inhuman treatment. He was in critical condition many times. He was incontinent, suffered muscular atrophy, and was only skin and bones. His legs were crippled and his toes were rotten and deformed. When he was no longer able to walk, he had oedema throughout his whole body and could not eat, yet the prison authorities still refused to release him for medical treatment.

Yang Guang's death is another crime committed by the Chinese Communist Party. To all who had participated in the persecution, in the end, you will not escape justice no matter where you go. For those who are still participating in the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners, we advise you to stop immediately and atone for your misdeeds by meritorious service.

Chinese version available at http://minghui.org/mh/articles/2008/9/4/185296.html