On May 30th, 2006, a press conference on the global view of religious freedom in China was held at the European Parliament. The conference was presided over by Mr. Simon Coveney, the human rights spokesperson of EEP-ED Party caucus in the European Parliament and was organised by the Human Rights without Borders, the Friends of Tibet, the World Urumqi Congress, the International Society for Human Rights (Hong Kong Watch), the Belgian Falun Dafa Association, etc. The organisers called on the Chinese government to allow U.N. Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion of Belief to evaluate China’s religious freedom and investigate into the forced labour camps that imprison followers of various beliefs.

Press conference on the Global View of Religious Freedom in China

At the press conference, representatives of Falun Gong practitioners, Tibetan nuns and Uygurs who have been persecuted by the Chinese Communist regime in China were invited to testify against the Chinese regime’s atrocities of the cruel persecution against religions, beliefs and human rights.

Falun Gong practitioner Chen Ying exposes the persecution she underwent in China’s forced labour camps.
Ms. Chen Ying, a Falun Gong practitioner who currently lives in France, revealed the persecution she had undergone in China, and the journalists attending the press conference were shocked by her story. With the cruel torture testified by Chen Ying, people further realised the brutality of the Chinese Communist regime’s genocidal persecution against Falun Gong groups in China. When exposing the Chinese Communist regime’s atrocities, Chen Ying said, “I was forced to work strenuously over sixteen hours every day, making toys, gifts and disposable bamboo chopsticks for export. If I failed to reach the required targets, I would be deprived of sleep. Besides physical abuse, they tortured me spiritually by means of forcing me to view TV programmes and read books that denounce my belief. Furthermore, I was forced to write reflections on what I viewed and read, to sing the songs featuring forced labour camps and to confess that I was guilty. I was also banned from talking to others. They deprived me of my human dignity and personality, forced me to accept brainwashing. I was on the brink of a mental breakdown. The cruel spiritual torture made me feel suffocated, as if I was going to die. With the long-term suffering, I was very weak. The Chinese Communist regime’s high profile brainwashing was far beyond the limit I could endure spiritually and physically. I was forced to give up my own belief and to act against my conscience. The spiritual suffering resulting from the brainwashing and the so-called “transformation” was beyond what words can describe. I felt like I was a walking corpse."

The Vice-President of the European Parliament, Mr. Edward McMillan-Scott, attended the press conference. After listening to Falun Gong practitioner Chen Ying’s experience about the persecution she underwent in China, he stated, “Last week I went to Beijing and met with Falun Gong practitioners who had been incarcerated. I fully understood how they have been tortured. The accusations against the harvesting and selling of Falun Gong practitioners’ organs is a very serious incident. The European Parliament should initiate an investigation into this incident. Personally, I think the Olympic Games should not be held in such a brutal country."

After listening to Ms. Chen Ying's explanation of the persecution she had suffered, Mr. Simon Coveney said, "the European Union has established closer and closer ties with the Chinese Communist regime through various channels, especially on business and trading fronts, as China is the E.U.’s biggest trading partner. Concerning the story we listened to just now, we should be responsible for it. It is the European Union's responsibility and we should not forget the respect for human rights and human dignity. We will try our best to change China’s human rights situation, as it is our responsibility."

Simon Coveney, human rights spokesperson of EEP-ED Party caucus presides over the press conference

A Tibetan nun Amdol LHAMO explains the persecution she suffered

A Tibetan nun by the name of Amdol LHAMO was imprisoned for twelve years by the Chinese Communist regime for advocating Tibetan cultural and religious activities. She became a Tibetan nun when she started to follow the Dalai Lama in 1989. Since 1990 she has participated in Tibet's cultural and religious promotion activities. In 1992 she was sentenced to six years in prison. Six years after she was released, she was sentenced to another six years in jail. During her incarceration, she was tortured cruelly. Among the Tibetan monks and nuns being imprisoned, some were persecuted to death with cruel torture. But the Chinese Communist regime regarded them as suicide cases and even their family members were not allowed to claim their corpses. She added: “I am now living in a foreign country freely, but Tibetans have no freedom of religion whatsoever in China. In the past, there were many monks and nuns in Tibet's temples, but there are only twenty or so left.

Uygur representative Mr. Erkin Altpekin in his speech said, "Since the Chinese Communist regime started to rule Xinjiang Uygur in 1949, the Uygur people have been forced to live in 5,000 or so small areas separately, and they are not allowed to have their own religions. Uygur children are forced to accept transfers to a Marxist educational system. The 54,000 Uygur clergymen were illegally arrested and imprisoned in forced labour camps for re-education. 29,000 churches are closed. With the Chinese Communist regime’s autocratic policy, they are unable to practise their own religion and this policy has also extended to other countries such as Afghanistan."

At the press conference, some people asked that after surviving the incredible persecution in China, how did the Tibetan nun and the Falun Gong practitioner come overseas. Ms. Chen Ying replied that in China, the Chinese Communist regime’s purpose of incarcerating Falun Gong practitioners in forced labour camps and prisons is to force them to give up their beliefs and to act against their consciences. To achieve the evil objective, the Chinese regime has used all kinds of cruel methods to physically and spiritually torture Falun Gong practitioners who are steadfast in their beliefs in forced labour camps. When one is steadfast in his belief, normally it would be very hard to regain freedom. She said that, "I am very distressed. The torture I suffered in the forced labour camps was beyond the limit I could endure. Being deceived by the Chinese Communist regime’s lies, I acted against my consciences and wrote a repentance statement as requested by the Chinese Communist regime. While writing the statement, I think as all those who live overseas with their own beliefs would know, it is extremely painful for a Falun Gong practitioner to betray his own belief and act against his own conscience. I was in despair. With acting against my own conscience, my physical body was temporarily free, and I was released from the forced labour camp, but my soul was on the path towards death during the process of betrayal."

She continued, "In China, my ex-husband, under pressure from all sides, insisted on divorcing me. As all his colleagues also urged him to divorce me, I was under great pressure that I could no longer stay in China. Based on my experience of staying in France when my ex-husband worked at the Education Department of the Chinese Embassy in France in1998, I went to France as a visiting scholar. In France, I happened to see the photos displayed to expose the facts about Chinese Communist regime’s persecution against Falun Gong. It reminded me of all the torture I suffered in China’s forced labour camps. I would like to avail myself of this occasion to let people know that in China’s forced labour camps and secret concentration camps, without giving up one’s belief and conscience, one is faced with death threats at anytime. It is because of the Chinese regime’s genocidal policy against Falun Gong that some people are forced to give up their beliefs and act against their consciences so as to survive, but in reality their spirits are dead.”

After the press conference, one of the organisers, Nicolas who is the president of the Belgium Falun Dafa Association, told our reporter, "We’d like to take this opportunity to express our worry and concern about the religious freedom in China.”

He added, "It is solely a joke for the Chinese Communist regime to proclaim that it has given religions a greater degree of freedom. In fact, the persecution against Falun Gong indicates that what the Chinese Communist regime gives to those who seek spiritual beliefs is not freedom, but intimidation. What the Chinese Communist regime has relied on to subsist in the past several decades was nothing but the policy of horrible suppression. As many people keep silent about the Chinese Communist regime’s human right situation due to economic interests, a piece of horrendous news has been exposed, that is, some deadly concentration camps are set up in China. This report has been testified by some people who used to work with China’s medical and military institutions. The internal organs of some Falun Gong practitioners incarcerated in these concentration camps were harvested before they died. Organ transplant in China is a lucrative business. After the organs are harvested from living humans, their bodies are cremated to destroy the evidence. Falun Gong practitioners are regarded as class enemies in China. They don’t have legal rights and even are not treated as human beings. Their corpses are not allowed to be claimed by their family members; therefore, they are an ideal source of living organ supplies. It is indeed evil. In the meantime, the Chinese Communist regime proclaimed that it has given religions a greater degree of freedom. Isn’t it a biggest joke? I hoped that through this press conference, a platform would be established, so that the European Union and the international society are able to take some measures to put an end to the Chinese Communist regime’s evil acts."

When interviewed after the conference, the Director of Human Rights without Borders, Mr. Willy Fautre said: "I’ve engaged in promotion of freedom of religion for thirty years, and I started to be concerned about freedom of religion in communist countries in 1970. Last year, I got an opportunity to meet with people from house churches and dissidents during my visit to China. In the past years, I have kept in touch with Falun Gong practitioners in west European countries. As to Dalai Lama’s visit to Belgium tomorrow, in particular his visit to the European Parliament, and the Olympic Games to be held in China two years later, I think they will be good opportunities for European political policy-makers and the international society to understand the Chinese Communist regime’s persecution against religious groups including Christianity, Falun Gong, Tibet, etc.” He added: “In terms of harvesting organs from living humans, I think we should expose the Chinese regime’s despicable human rights record to the people around the world. If the Chinese Communist regime doesn’t allow the U.N. to deploy journalists to China, it indicates that they have something shameful hidden away."

Andre Buyse, Vice President of the French Journalist Association’s Belgium Branch Office is interviewed by reporters

After the press conference, we interviewed Mr. Andre Buyse, Vice President of the French Journalist Association’s Belgian Branch Office, who has been to China sixteen times. As to China’ human rights situation, he expressed regret over the matter. After listening to the testimonies given by the witness who were persecuted in China, he said, “In China, we found that people do not have true freedom. It is lamentable that recently the Chinese Communist regime ordained two Catholic bishops without Vatican approval and suppressed Falun Gong practitioners and other religions’ followers. I hoped that the mass media are able to expose the facts about these incidents."

From the 20th to the 25th of May, 2006, Falun Gong practitioners from the Czech Republic staged a tour of north Moravia and Silesia to inform the Czech people about the continuous persecution of their fellow practitioners in China and about the atrocities of organ harvesting from living people. According to the latest information, the Chinese government founded thirty-six concentration camps where Falun Gong practitioners and other prisoners of conscience are having their organs harvested while they are still alive and their organs are then sold for transplants to rich foreigners.

Practitioners visited six cities, Opava, Ostrava, Karvina, Sumperk, Cesky Tesin and Koprivnice. Although it’s not hard to meet people who answer, “I know about it already", there are still many people who learned the truth for the first time and wonder with awe, “Is it possible, that such things are done by people?” asked a young man in Sumperk after reading information about organ harvesting atrocities. It remains to be asked, whether the degenerated beings who are personally involved in these things and do them consciously and voluntarily, are still humans.

Voices of support could be heard from all the visited cities. Practitioners prepared a petition calling on the President and Premier of the Czech Republic to appeal to the Chinese officials and ask for an investigation of these crimes. “This must be signed by every good person", said a woman in Karvina and called upon the passers-by to sign the petition. The total number of people signing during these tours reached one thousand.

Practitioners also met with the Czech Deputy in the European Parliament, Mr. Vladimir Zelezny, after his public speech in Sumperk. He said he knew about the situation very well through the information which was sent to him to the European Parliament. Without hesitation he signed the petition for rescuing Falun Gong practitioners in China.

There are still many people who do not know about the cruelty of communism which wants to “fight with Heaven and Earth” and “order wind and rain.” However, when a human being accepts the traditional values of truthfulness, compassion and forbearance into his life, he can live a life full of joy and goodness. We would like to thank all the compassionate people for their support of basic human values.

Opava City: practitioners demonstrating the exercises	Opava City: signing the petition
Ostrava City: signing the petition	Ostrava City: Queueing to sign the petition
Karvina City: people reading the banners about the persecution	Sumperk City: signing the petition to free practitioners from the concentration camps

Originally published in Czech at: http://www.cz.clearharmony.net/articles/200605/550.html

On May 27th, 2006, Falun Gong practitioners in Pyaqigorsk exposed the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)'s monstrous crime of harvesting organs from living Falun Gong practitioners. They displayed information boards and performed a re-enactment of organ-harvesting.

Three banners state: “Urgent Call to Stop Anti-Human Crimes” “Huge Number of Falun Gong Practitioners Murdered!”	Re-enactment of organ harvesting from living Falun Gong practitioners
People are shocked upon finding out more about the persecution	People sign to call for an international investigation

The display boards gave details about the CCP harvesting of organs from living Falun Gong practitioners, including witnesses' testimonies about the Sujiatun Concentration Camp and a veteran doctors' verification that there are thirty-six such concentration camps in China. On the display boards were also pictures of the persecution victims in Chinese forced labour camps.

Re-enactment of the CCP brutal murder of Falun Gong practitioners unveiled a bloody scene of organ-harvesting. People were shocked by the scene. It was too cruel! Kind-hearted people signed to call for the international community to investigate such brutality.

Ms. Zhang Shuchun is a practitioner in Beitaishang Village of Xinzhuang Town, Zhaoyuan City of Shandong Province. While avoiding arrest in Changchun City, Jilin Province, she fell from a building, causing a splinter fracture in her wrist, broken ribs, internal organ damage and paralysis. The thugs who were pursuing her abandoned her where she fell in a rural area. Fortunately, she was helped by kind people and survived. However, because of the police, she is now forced to stay away from home. The persecution has brought Ms. Zhang's family much tremendous suffering.

Since July 20th, 1999, Ms. Zhang and her mother, brother and sister have been arrested and tortured several times for practising Falun Gong. Zhaoyuan City Police Department, Luofeng Road Police Station, Xinzhuang Police Station, as well as different brainwashing centres, are all responsible for persecuting this family. Ms. Zhang's elder sister, a Dafa practitioner, was arrested by officers from the Changchun City Police Department on February 7th, 2001. She was sentenced to 10 years, and is still detained in Changchun City's Heizuizi Prison. During these several years, she has been brutally tortured. Ms. Zhang's sister-in-law, also a practitioner, was sentenced to 5 years, and is still detained in Weifang Prison. Ms. Zhang's father, despite suffering his children's mistreatment, was also arrested, taken to a brainwashing centre and persecuted there. Finally, he could no longer withstand the inhuman torture and passed away in January 2005. When Ms. Zhang's father-in-law was severely ill in 2004, her mother-in-law and other family members all hoped he could at least see Ms. Zhang once, but he passed away in June 2004.

Below is more detailed information exposing the persecution of Ms. Zhang's family:

On July 20th, 1999, Ms. Zhang and her elder sister Zhang Shuqin went to Beijing to appeal against the persecution of Falun Dafa. Police from the Zhaoyuan Police Department illegally arrested¹ and detained them in the Luofeng Road Police Station in Zhaoyuan City. Political Security Director Cao Hongguang interrogated them for an entire day.

On August 22nd, 1999, Ms. Zhang and her elder sister were charged with so-called "disturbing social order" and detained for 15 days. Because they refused to write statements giving up the practice, they were continually detained, and later sent to the brainwashing centre, where they suffered all kinds of humiliation. The police would not allow them to go to the toilet and humiliated them. Xinzhuang Town Political Judicial Bureau Party Secretary Li Shumin, along with other police often swore at them. Ms. Zhang and her sister had to appeal by going on a hunger strike. They were not released until January 10th, 2000. At that time, Ms. Zhang and her sister were detained for more than 4 months. Meanwhile, practitioners Chen Shihuan and Liu Dianjun were tied tightly, forced to kneel down, and were treated as criminals.

Around January 20th, 2000, Ms. Zhang went to Beijing to appeal together with her brother, elder sister, younger sister, and brother-in-law. She and her brother, as well as her elder sister, were detained by the Zhaoyuan City Police Station. The detention centre guards beat practitioners brutally, often asking practitioners to extend their heads out of the cell and then kicking them. They also pulled practitioners' arms out of the cell, stretched and handcuffed them. It did not take long before the practitioners' hands were severely swollen. Sometimes, they hung up practitioners at midnight and beat them. During the interrogation of practitioners, electric batons were frequently used, and some practitioners' hands were severely burned due to the electric shocks. Several times the police guards lit firecrackers and threw them into the cell. Practitioners' lives are in constant danger while in detention. Sometimes, practitioners were handcuffed for several consecutive days. Even while sleeping at night, practitioners were still handcuffed together.

The police guard primarily responsible for persecuting practitioners is Sui Songna.

After the illegal one-month detention term finished, the three practitioners, (Ms. Zhang and her two siblings), were sent back to Xinzhuang Police Station. They were detained in small cells, and were unable to stand due to the limited space. Several days later, they were told to write statements to give up the practice. They refused, and were sent back to the detention centre. In this way, they were detained 6 times back and forth, totalling 7 months.

Later, these three practitioners were sent to the Xinzhuang Town Retirement Home Brainwashing Centre. They were separately detained in isolated cells. Ms. Zhang was detained in a room which was used for corpses. Several other practitioners were also detained with her. Practitioners had to sleep on the cement floor, which was often wet. They were not allowed to eat lunch, and breakfast and dinner consisted of only about 100 grams (about 3 oz) of food each meal. After being detained for more than one month, the police extorted 5,000 yuan² from Ms. Zhang's husband and forced him to sign a document saying that the money would be returned as long as his wife did not go to Beijing (the money has not been returned). This time, Ms. Zhang was detained for more than 8 months.

After Ms. Zhang returned home, the police sent people to stay around her house and monitor her. They also arrested Ms. Zhang and her elder sister now and then, claiming it was necessary to do on the Communist Party's so-called "sensitive days." Ms. Zhang's parents-in-law were elderly, and they were nervous every day, worrying that Ms. Zhang would be arrested. After staying at home for less than one month, Ms. Zhang and her sister were forced to leave home. Zhaoyuan City 610 Office³ officials did not give up and went to Changchun City several times to look for Ms. Zhang.

On March 11th, 2002, Ms. Zhang, her younger sister, together with another practitioner, went to visit practitioner Liu Haibo. However, there were police guards waiting there, and they arrested Ms. Zhang's sister and the other practitioner. The police ran after Ms. Zhang, who was forced to run to the edge of the building, where she fell down. At that time, Ms. Zhang was in great pain. The police went to where she had fallen and lied to the surrounding people, "The husband and wife were arguing over a divorce, and she jumped from the building." In this way, they carried Ms. Zhang to the van and went to Changchun City Police Department. Ms. Zhang lay on the floor. Her wrist was fractured, her ribs were broken, she had internal organ damage and was paralysed from the waist down. Still, they wanted to interrogate Ms. Zhang. Because of the enormous pain, whenever they moved her, Ms. Zhang could not help but cry out due to the pain. They took off her coat and covered her head. Finally, they sent her to the hospital for examination, and said, "If your pain is faked, we will hang you up and torture you tonight."

After taking x-rays and examining her in the hospital, the doctor told the police, "Her injuries are too severe to be treated in this hospital." Seeing Ms. Zhang's condition, they decided to abandon her in the countryside. A police officer told her, "You will die for sure if you don't go to the hospital for treatment." Fortunately, some kind people helped her, and Ms. Zhang survived. As recently as late 2005, the thugs still went to Changchun City to look for Ms. Zhang in her siblings' homes. As of now, Ms. Zhang Shuchun still stays away from home to avoid further persecution and cannot return.

Note

1. Illegally arrested: Contrary to what former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin, who initiated the persecution, and the Chinese Communist Party would like the world to believe, practising Falun Gong is NOT illegal in China. Although the Public Security Department issued an unconstitutional set of restraints on the practice at the onset of the persecution in 1999, no laws have been passed by the only legislative body in China, the People's Congress, banning Falun Gong or granting the police the authority to arrest Falun Gong practitioners for practising the exercises or distributing flyers. For a more complete discussion of the illegality of the persecution of Falun Gong, please refer to the article "The Ban on Falun Gong—A Dictator's Whim, Not the Rule of Law". (Variation: "illegally sentenced")

2. "Yuan" is the Chinese currency; 500 yuan is equal to the average monthly income of an urban worker in China.

Chinese version available at http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2006/5/13/127506.html

I recently learned that Zhou Yongkang, one of the main criminals responsible for persecuting Dafa practitioners, called a secret meeting in Tieling City, Liaoning province. This reminded me that when I was detained at the Dalian Forced Labour Camp, I heard the people guarding me say that they had given up on those steadfast practitioners who would not follow orders. They sent them to Guanshan Forced Labour Camp in Tieling.

The camp is located on a rock collecting field. The conditions are extremely severe and dangerous, and the work is very hard. Injury or fatal accidents occur frequently. As soon as someone is sent there, the guard would meet him with a shovel handle, beating him from the gate all the way to the building area. When someone dies there, they would report it as an accident and no one would investigate any further. The Dalian Forced Labour Camp delivers people to them from time to time. Each person brought there would earn the detention facility 800 yuan¹. People in the camp felt a chill whenever this place is mentioned. Because few people were ever released from this place and the news was blocked, few of their criminal acts are exposed. It was said that the place was under the authority of the Forced Labour Bureau of Liaoning Province Judicial Division. Ahead of May 1st, a sensitive political date, Zhou Yongkang, the head of the Ministry of Public Security went to Tieling City. The place is a mining area with many abandoned mines. It is a small city close to Shenyang, and Sujiatun (the location where live organ harvesting has been reported). I hope that people with access to this area will monitor it closely and send reports if any new activities related to the persecution are initiated.

Note

1. "Yuan" is the Chinese currency; 500 yuan is equal to the average monthly income of an urban worker in China.

Chinese version available at http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2006/5/16/127928.html

Mr. Liu Hongyi, 55 years old, was a peasant from Wanlong Village, Qitaihe City, Heilongjiang Province. He began to practise Falun Dafa at the end of 1998. He was sentenced to forced labour by officials from the Qiezihe Police Station in 2000. He was brainwashed in Suihua Forced Labour Camp. For a long time, he lived in fear and guilt, and his spirit was greatly weakened. In 2002, he was again sentenced to one year of forced labour. He was released unconditionally after he went without food and water for 17 days to resist the persecution. However, whenever a politically "sensitive day" arrived, the local police and 610 Office¹ personnel often went to his house to harass him, and he was made to suffer physically and mentally. He was diagnosed with rectal cancer at the end of 2004. In March 2005, he was again arrested by the Taoshan police. He was detained for seven days and released because he was so frail. After going through severe tribulations for three months, he was still often threatened by the local police and the street committee personnel. He passed away on April 7th, 2006.

Mr. Luo Xuemin, 53 years old, was a peasant from Huangdi Village, Xinlitun Town, Heishan County, Liaoning Province. Before he started practising Falun Gong, he had severe pain in his back. After he started practising Falun Dafa in 1997, his back pain disappeared very quickly. In 2002, Mr. Luo was taken away by the policemen from Heshan. He was detained at the Heshan Detention Centre for nearly a month. His firm belief in Dafa did not waver, even while the policemen beat and cursed him. He was released after being fined over 20, 000 yuan² by the Heishan County Police Department. After he was released, his family members monitored him, and Chinese Communist Party (CCP) representatives threatened and interfered with him so much that he did not have time to do the exercises. His back pain recurred in June 2005. He became disabled and could not get up. He died on December 7th, 2005, after he had been tortured for half a year.

Practitioner Mr. Yu Zhenyong, 57 years old, worked at the Shuangyang Oil Refinery Factory of the Jilin Oil Management Bureau. He started to practise Falun Dafa in 1996. Ever since the persecution began in 1999, he and his wife have experienced interference and persecution at the hands of personnel from his company and the police. They often searched his house, arrested his wife and detained her, and stopped paying their salaries. This persecution put enormous pressure on Mr. Yu. In 2000, he had a stroke and consequently suffered from hemiplegia. Even with Mr. Yu in this condition, the authorities did not let up on him. They detained him for 15 days in March 2002. After continuous interference and persecution throughout the years, he suddenly suffered a heart attack and died on February 24th, 2006.

Ms. Li Xiuqin, 63 years old, was a practitioner from Heilinzi Town, Yushu City, Jilin Province. After July 20th, 1999, she went to Changchun and Beijing to appeal. At the beginning of March 2003, while on her way to another practitioner's home, she was "illegally arrested³" and sent to Yushu City Police Station. She did not cooperate with and was released on the same day. After that, on any of the politically "sensitive days," policemen from Heilinzi police station would go to her house to threaten and interfere with her. On April 6th, 2006, three police officers from Heilinzi Police Station raided her house once more and threatened her. They could not find any Dafa material. When the police tried to force her to curse Teacher Li Hongzhi, the founder of Falun Dafa, she refused. Ms. Li was placed under great duress and could not study the Falun Dafa teachings or do the exercises. She suddenly acquired an illness and died on May 10th.

Under orders of the National security group, headed by Zhang Deqing, Heilinzi Police Station agents searched the homes of 14 to 15 practitioners and arrested three people. One child was released and the other two practitioners, Cong Yuhua and Xiao Shuyan, were "illegally sentenced" to forced labour. This represents yet another illegal act on the part of the Yuchu City police, following the deaths of practitioners Li Shuhua and Li Fengqin, who died as a result of their persecution.

Police officers from Heilinzi police station: Xu Dawei, Yan Guowei, Li Wei, and Meng Fandong

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. "Yuan" is the Chinese currency; 500 yuan is equal to the average monthly income of an urban worker in China.

3. Illegally arrested: Contrary to what former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin, who initiated the persecution, and the Chinese Communist Party would like the world to believe, practising Falun Gong is NOT illegal in China. Although the Public Security Department issued an unconstitutional set of restraints on the practice at the onset of the persecution in 1999, no laws have been passed by the only legislative body in China, the People's Congress, banning Falun Gong or granting the police the authority to arrest Falun Gong practitioners for practising the exercises or distributing flyers. For a more complete discussion of the illegality of the persecution of Falun Gong, please refer to the article "The Ban on Falun Gong—A Dictator's Whim, Not the Rule of Law". (Variation: "illegally sentenced")

Chinese version available at http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2006/5/17/128011.html

In order to force Falun Gong practitioners to "transform¹," the Hunan Provincial Women's Prison conducted brainwashing sessions many times inside the prison. The brainwashing sessions were designed to break down the steadfast practitioners, and thus the suffering of practitioners was intensified, both mentally and physically.

From March to July 2004, the prison conducted three brainwashing sessions, and a special group of police officers was chosen to deal with the firm practitioners. In those sessions, the police employed various forms of torture with the excuses of following prison regulations. They ordered practitioners to recite the prison regulations, and tried to brainwash practitioners with all sorts of deceit. They demanded practitioners do "course work" and various kinds of "physical training": frog jumping, single-leg jumping, running and other physically demanding exercises. Their real intention was to punish practitioners who were already very weak due to the extended imprisonment. Whoever refused to obey them, they punished at will by forcing her to stand, putting handcuffs on her, forcing her to "carry a sword in back" (a cruel form of handcuffing which causes severe bodily injury), putting her into solitary confinement and so on. At that time practitioner Shi Jiaoyu (currently released) from Chenzhou was locked in a small, narrow, and dark cell for seven days because she did not cooperate in doing drills.

Zhao Lan was in charge of these three brainwashing sessions. He was the former assistant warden of the Hunan Provincial Women's Prison. It is reported that Zhao Lan has been promoted to another position. The eight participating police officers including Luo Jian (presently transferred to the First Brigade, responsible for prison guards), Zou Xiangliu (deputy chief of Health and Hygiene Section, goes all out in persecuting Falun Dafa practitioners), Wen Xiaoli (deputy chief of Education Section), Zhuo of the prison Detective Branch, Yang of the Prison Policy Branch, Tian and Meng.

The practitioners suffered tremendously during the brainwashing sessions. They were subjected to the impenetrable dark atmosphere, twisted propaganda, and continuous emotional pressure, plus physical pain.

Note

1. "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/2006/5/18/128117.html

On April 15th, 2006, Yang Shaoliang, the head of the Security Brigade of Huili County, Sichuan Province, and other police arrested Liu Tianhou, a 73-year-old practitioner from Huili County. The police ransacked his home and also took away three other practitioners who were at the home. Mr. Liu was sentenced to six years in prison and is currently being detained in the Huili County Detention Centre, where he is suffering unspeakable persecution at the hands of the police and their agents.

The Security Brigade of Huili County carried out a series of illegal arrests and harassment throughout Huili County around that time. They ransacked nine practitioners' homes and confiscated their Falun Dafa books. The other three practitioners who were arrested at the same time with Mr. Liu were later released.

On April 20th, 2006, Ms. Cui Deli, a practitioner in her 60's and another practitioner, Ms. Ma Lingshang, were arrested. They have now been detained for 16 days in the Huili County Detention Centre. Their current condition is unknown.

At the present time, the police from the Security Brigade of Huili County are ransacking practitioners' homes in Nange Township and other towns in Huili County.

On August 1st, 2005, when Mr. Liu was explaining the true situation of Falun Dafa to people was reported to the authorities. Police from Yanbian County arrested and detained him. On August 3rd, 2005, police from the Security Brigade of Huili County took him back and detained him in the detention centre. Mr. Liu began a hunger strike in protest and on the fourth day, his life was determined to be in danger. On August 12th, 2005, he was released.

The officials who participated in the persecution include the following:

Yan Shaoliang, male, in his 40's, the head of the Security Brigade of Huili County. In Huili County, four practitioners were sentenced to prison and 15 were sentenced to forced labour, more than 70 practitioners were arrested and detained and over 40 practitioners' homes were ransacked. All these cases were led by Yang. His wife's name is Lan Qiuping, who is the Deputy Secretary of the Huili County Committee. Phone: 86-834-5623475, 86-834-5622026.

Lu Jianrong, one of the leaders of the Huili County Police Bureau. Phone: 86-834-5625084, 86-13508203535 (Mobile)

Li Qiyuan, male, in his 40's, is the director of the Huili County Police Bureau. Since he was in office beginning in 2004, more than 10 practitioners have been detained, one of them was sentenced, and three are currently detained in detention centres. He actively participated in the persecution of Falun Gong and closely followed Jiang Zemin's directives. Phone: 86-13908152053 (Mobile)

Chinese version available at http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2006/5/8/127184.html

On May 16th, 2006, Falun Dafa practitioner Ms. Zhao Tingyun's family were informed that the police in Xinxiang City were going to conduct the second autopsy on Zhao Tingyun. When Ms. Zhao's family members rushed to the funeral home, they saw more than ten police cars and many police officers. Most of police and police cars left after they saw that only Ms. Zhao's husband and her son had come, but more than ten police officers remained. They followed and monitored the family members. When the legal medical examiner removed the stitches from the previous autopsy, only three internal organs were left -- the intestines, the bladder, and the womb. All the others had disappeared. The left side of the chest cavity looked normal but the right side had congealed blood and adhesions.

The persecutors claimed they had sent the other organs to Shanghai several days ago for autopsy, and the results would be back in one month. If it were truly like they said, "sending the organs to Shanghai for autopsy," what was the purpose for the second local autopsy?

Ms. Zhao Tingyun, 54, was a Falun Gong practitioner in Xinxiang City. She was illegally arrested on January 6th, 2006. Her home was searched at that time and her husband was also arrested and detained. Around 9:00 p.m. on January 15th, 2006, at the detention center, Xu Qiang, head of the Monitoring and Supervision Branch of the Xinxiang Police Department, told Zhao Tingyun's husband that Zhao Tingyun died between 4:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. that morning. He ordered Ms. Zhao's husband to sign the autopsy authorization. Persecutor Xu Qiang refused to let the family see the body first and threatened that an inspection would not be accurate 12 hours after death anyway. After Ms. Zhao's husband signed the authorization, he was released home. The autopsy was conducted without any family members present. The autopsy report was unclear about the source of the injuries on Ms. Zhao's body.

According to detainees in the detention center, two police agents carried Zhao Tingyun back to the cell on the afternoon of January 14, since she was unable to walk by herself. That night, around 1:00 a.m. or 2:00 a.m., cries were heard from the cell, "Someone died! Someone died!" The cries came from the detainees in the same cell. No action was taken in the detention center until 5:00 a.m. or 6:00 a.m. Ms. Zhao was then taken to the Center Hospital. The doctor at the hospital was very angry and said, "She has been dead for a long time. Why did you still send her to the hospital?" Then they sent her to the No. 3 Hospital affiliated with the Xinxing Medical Institution. The autopsy was conducted on January 16th.

On January 16th, after Zhao Tingyun's family made repeated requests, they were finally allowed to see her remains. Agent Xu Qiang led four or five police officers and more than ten plainclothes police to follow the family. Xu Qiang said that the remains must be cremated on January 28th and ordered the family to sign the authorization. He intimidated them saying that the cremation would be done even without their permission! Ms. Zhao's family members refused to cooperate with such an unreasonable demand and requested permission to investigate the cause of death. Xu Qiang said, "There are no other causes but her hunger strike. She died of starvation and lack of water. There are medical entry records every other day during her last several days."

The family members noticed the evidence of pain in Ms. Zhao's facial expression and that her neck was twisted, so much so that it was difficult to recognize her. When the family members tried to straighten her neck and her messy hair, they found a red mark on her neck, four or five inches long. They also discovered a five-centimeter-long wound behind her left ear, opening outward. When they questioned the authorities as to the cause of the wounds, Xu Qiang lied and then said the autopsy caused them. The family members also found an additional bloody bump on the back of Ms. Zhao's head, located at a very critical position.

The family members asked Xu Qiang to come to check it. Quickly moving backward, Xu Qiang waved his hands and said, "I don't want to look at. I don't want to look at it." All the police officers ran out of the room. Since then, they have not mentioned the cremation authorization again. Nevertheless, the room that held Ms. Zhao's remains was monitored 24 hours a day and no one was allowed to go nearby. They refused the family members' requests to see Ms. Zhao's remain again, no matter how they kept asking for it.

Zhao Tingyun's family members tried to hire a lawyer to handle the case. Several law offices refused to take the case. Finally, they hired two lawyers, but the persecutors still refused their request to see Ms. Zhao's remains and ignored their request to see the autopsy report. Finally, after the family members called Xinxiang City Mayor Wu Tianjun, the persecutors were forced to agree to show the autopsy report. On February 24, they only allowed three people from Zhao Tingyun's family and two lawyers to attend a meeting, but nine police officers were present. Xu Qiang ordered, "No written records! No videos or photos. No one will be permitted to talk about what will be discussed here." Seeing the situation, the two lawyers were intimidated and decided to drop the case. The family members tried to find any lawyers in Beijing who were willing to take the case. The response from Beijing lawyers was, "Just accept the result. This regime is so bad that you might lose your life if you continue to seek justice."

The family members were powerless and could do nothing but weep. It was said, the persecutors ordered the second autopsy to force a cremation of Ms. Zhao's remains.

The Expert Evidence Center of Technology Research conducted the second autopsy

Address: No. 1347, West Guangfu Rd, Shanghai City
Tel: 86-21-62440148
Fax: 86-21-62442691

Personnel involved in the autopsy:

Qin Zhiqiang, deputy head legal medical expert
Zhang Jianhua, legal medical expert

Personnel involved the case:

Xiao Yukui, head of Xinxiang City's 610 Office: 86-373-2026482 (Office)
Hao Jingyu, head of the "Anti evil-[slanderous term omitted]" Section: 86-373-5048599 (Office) 86-13703738887 (Cell)
Zuo Cuanbao: 86-373-5030552 (Office)
Luan Jianfeng: 86-13839062222 (Cell)
Zhang Zhang, head of the Political and Security Section, Hongqi Branch
Xu Qiang, head of the Principle Inspection Division

Due to the persecution, I have been homeless for several years and have limited sources when it comes to gettign hold of Falun Dafa materials. During these years, I have been validating Falun Dafa by clarifying the truth face-to-face with people. From what I have seen and heard and experienced, I think that the general public has changed its attitude toward Falun Dafa. I would like to share my understanding in this article.

When Falun Gong was illegally outlawed in China on July 20th, 1999, because of the overwhelming evil propaganda and fabricated news, many people were poisoned by those lies and even harbored hatred in their hearts towards Falun Dafa. The minute you mentioned "Falun Gong," people would reply with slanderous remarks from the TV or newspapers. In those circumstances, ordinary people rarely had righteous thoughts toward Dafa. Once they knew you practiced Falun Gong, friends, families, colleagues at work, and neighbors would often look at you differently, keep their distance from you, or try to convert you with propaganda from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). At that time it seemed as if the sky was always dark and one could almost have suffocated from depression.

After a period of Fa study (study of the Falun Gong teachings), practitioners gradually started to understand the true nature of the persecution from the principles of the Fa, and they willingly started their own paths of validating Falun Dafa. Some clarified the truth to their friends, families, colleagues and neighbors. Some went to Beijing and appealed to different levels of the government. Some clarified the truth to reporters abroad. Some even clarified the truth to policemen, inmates, and other people when they were detained in labor camps or prisons. Some posted materials all over the streets and buses so that more people could learn the truth. After practitioners' persistent efforts, people started to obtain positive information to counter the propaganda from the CCTV. People started to understand Falun Gong positively and started to question the CCP's evil propaganda.

In the second half of 2001, because practitioners had started to follow Teacher's instruction to send forth righteous thoughts to eliminate the evil in other dimensions, there was much less interference and fewer distorted reports by the CCTV concerning practitioners. At the same time, practitioners in China were able to learn about the progress of Fa rectification in a timely manner from the Minghui/Clearwisdom website. We were very encouraged after seeing practitioners outside of China validating Dafa. We became calmer, more clear-minded, more rational, and more steadfast step by step. Practitioners inside and outside of China formed one body.

At that time, I frequently saw banners and materials posted by practitioners. Once I even saw "Falun Dafa is Good" written at the entrance of a police station. I was truly happy for practitioners and deeply moved by their courage. Meanwhile, Beijing experienced sandstorms and SARS, and Jiang Zemin stepped down. There were fewer distorted reports about Dafa on TV due to the large scale truth clarifying efforts of practitioners inside and outside China validating Dafa and exposing the evil. Many people understood the truth and willingly resisted the CCP's lies.

In recent years, CCTV and other newspapers rarely report news about Falun Gong. One of the reasons is that practitioners have eliminated the evil factors in other dimensions via their righteous thoughts. On the other hand, practitioners inside and outside of China have been clarifying the truth and saving sentient beings. As a result, many ordinary people know the truth, and thus the CCTV dares not make distorted reports. As soon as a slanderous report comes out, people say, "The CCTV is lying again." Also, it has been very effective that practitioners abroad are validating Dafa in Hong Kong, the United States, Canada, and elsewhere. I have heard more than once from people who have been to Hong Kong, Thailand, and Canada say that they saw practitioners' banners and materials validating Dafa. After they came back, some of them regained righteous thoughts and expressed a willingness to "Quit the Party and its related organizations." Some of them even said that they hoped to learn Falun Dafa.

Thus, practitioners inside and outside of China have formed one body in validating Dafa. It is worth mentioning that, since the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party was published, practitioners everywhere have used all kinds of approaches to expose the evil, save the sentient beings, and persuade people to quit the Party and its related organizations. Nowadays, many people and members of the CCP say that the Party is afraid of nothing but Falun Gong. Many people, after reading the Nine Commentaries and getting in touch with practitioners, have said, "The CCP will definitely collapse!" The CCP is extremely shocked by the "Quitting the Party and its related organizations" movement, and the Party is desperately trying to get people to become members. Within the CCP, they started a "Stay Ahead" movement. Generally speaking, many people in China feel that the CCP will collapse in the near future, and they also hope that the CCP will collapse very soon.

Since July 20th, 1999, practitioners have walked the darkest and most vicious path to resist the persecution. Back then, the evil force was so rampant! In six short years, practitioners have become stronger and more rational. The tidal wave of the Fa rectification is gaining momentum. When everyone in the entire world gradually understands the evil nature of the CCP, the end of the Party is near. The current situation of the CCP is stated clearly in Teacher's poem, "Entering the Gate of No-Life:"

"Riding a tiger, hard to get off the tiger
Humans want to gamble with Gods
Evil ones do all kinds of things
Fully blocking their own life's path"

(Hong Yin II, provisional translation subject to further improvement)

Dark clouds can never cover the sun. In the battle between the righteous and the evil, the righteous will definitely prevail.

"The Fa-rectification will definitely succeed, and Dafa disciples will definitely succeed."("Teaching the Fa at the 2004 Western U.S. Fa Conference")

On the evening of May 27th, 2006, the Canada Young Practitioner Cultivation Experience Sharing Conference was held in Toronto. It was hosted by the Toronto Minghui School. Approximately 100 young practitioners and parents attended the conference. Twelve young practitioners shared their cultivation experience on stage.

Canada Young Practitioner Cultivation Experience Sharing Conference

Young practitioners shared their experiences over the past year on improvement through studying the Fa and practising the exercises, the importance of sending forth righteous thoughts, truth-clarification to teachers and classmates in school, and participation in the rehearsal of the Divine Land Marching Band.

Eight-year-old Mimi narrated how she cultivated along with her grandparents. When she was five months old, Master came to give a lecture in Toronto. During a break, Master said to her, "You were able to come when you are so young." Her grandfather told Master, "Throughout the conference, she did not cry." Master touched her head and said, "She won't cry. If she cries, let her look at my photo and she won't cry." Mimi lived with her grandparents, and they brought her to practise outdoors, promote Dafa and clarify the truth. She clarifies the truth to teachers and classmates in school. At home, she explained the fact to her parents and follows Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance in her daily life.

Fourteen-year-old Anne shared what she say through her celestial eye while sending forth righteous thoughts, which helped her understand the importance of studying the Fa and sending forth righteous thoughts.

Ben shared his experience in studying the Fa, practising the exercises and spreading Dafa to the Korean community. He said, "I feel peaceful and delighted when I read Zhuan Falun [The main text of Falun Gong. Download it here for free]. Along with studying the Fa, I have undergone a lot of changes in school. I have become more patient and had a significant improvement in my xinxing. My happiest moment was when I taught the exercises to people in the Korean community."

The young practitioners shared how to put Dafa first. They understood that Master would help them when they are able to do that.

After reading the experience sharing articles, the young practitioners also gave an art performance. Young practitioners of the middle class of the Toronto Minghui School and Minghui Kindergarten recited Master's poems and had a chorus called "Remembering Master's words in the heart." The practitioners in the middle class recited "On Buddha Law". Jeff from the Toronto Minghui School played "Liang Zhu," a traditional Chinese piece, on the violin,.

Young practitioners were actively involved in preparing experience-sharing articles and organisation work for this conference. Their parents were delighted to participate in this conference and agreed to meet again next year.

Falun Dafa, also called Falun Gong, was first introduced to the public in Changchun City, China, by Mr. Li Hongzhi on May 13th, 1992. Fourteen years have passed, during which time the physical, mental and spiritual health and morality of around 100 million people have been improved. However, since July 20th, 1999, Falun Dafa has been the subject of a brutal persecution by Jiang Zemin and the Chinese Communist Party. During this time, Falun Dafa has spread to nearly 80 countries worldwide. It has been embraced by many different races and cultures and has received more than 1,000 awards from various levels of government and other organisations. Around 500,000 people practise Falun Gong across the strait in Taiwan and the numbers are still climbing. The spirit of Falun Gong's "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance" has spread widely due to the efforts of Falun Gong practitioners and official support from all levels. Its positive effect on society and people's morals is exemplary.

In order to help meet the goal of ensuring "A Happy Pingtung," on March 15th, 2006, Pingtung County Head Tsau Chihung issued an official Pingtung County Government Letter (No. 095004793), asking the county's Education Bureau and related departments to promote Falun Gong at all levels of the county schools. That would include eight universities and colleges, 10 high schools, 39 junior high schools, 192 elementary schools and 60 kindergartens. In May 2006, the county provided funds and subsidies to expand the Evergreen Class (a senior citizen study class) and the Minghui Falun Gong School for children. This is evidence of recognition of Falun Gong's overall effect of purifying people's hearts and improving their physical health. It has been highly approved of and supported by the government.

Pingtung County official letter requesting the Education Bureau to promote Falun Gong to all levels of schools in the county

Pingtung County is located in the southernmost corner of Taiwan. People there are very simple and pure. Pingtung County is rich in natural resources. It one of the biggest agricultural counties in Taiwan. Pingtung's practitioners introduced the wonderfulness of Falun Gong to Pingtung residents in response to the Taiwan government's "Sports Population Doubling Plan." In 2004 and 2005, they assisted the schools and the communities to realise the proposed plan to expand the Pingtung County Education Bureau's sports and exercise classes.

In 2005, the Pingtung County Education Bureau invited Falun Gong practitioners to give an annual "Community Falun Gong Exercise Exhibition" at the year's end. Around 400 practitioners, ranging in age from four or five to 70 or 80 years old, demonstrated the five sets of exercises. Guests included Mr. Tsau Chihung, who was later elected Pingtung County Head, as well as other representatives and government officials. They were impressed by the simple exercises, suitable for both young and old. They shouted along with the Falun Gong practitioners, "Falun Dafa is wonderful!"

Over 400 practitioners demonstrate the five sets of exercises	People at the demonstration learn the exercises

After Mr. Tsau was elected head of the county, he openly listened to suggestions from all directions in order to realise the goal of a "Happy Pingtung." Falun Gong practitioner Ms. He Shioue is a retired high school teacher. She used Falun Gong's principles to counsel those high school students feeling pressured as a result of school studies. She achieved very good results. She mentioned her counselling experiences to Mr. Tsau and used herself as an example. She shared how after practising Falun Gong, both her spirit and physical health improved. She recommended Falun Gong during her meeting with County Head Tsau and proposed an overall plan to promote Falun Gong in the schools and communities. This was approved and supported by County Head Tsau.

The Pingtung County government's planned promotion of "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance" within the education system and community will benefit the residents county-wide. We believe that County Head Tsau's pledge to "Make a happy Pingtung, let every resident smile with joy," will soon be realised.

On May 27th, 2006, in Indianapolis, the capital of Indiana, the weather was especially clear and pleasant, and a festival atmosphere permeated everywhere. The 49th "Indianapolis 500 Festival Parade" was held in downtown Indianapolis, attracting 300,000 spectators along its route. Several TV stations came to the spot for live broadcasts or rebroadcasts. The organisers especially selected 80 entries from across the US to participate in this parade.

The Mid-US Falun Dafa Association that participated in the 2005 "Indianapolis 500 Festival Parade" was once again invited to participate in the parade as a group representing the characteristics of the Orient. The colour photo of the Mid-US Falun Dafa Association's entry in 2005 was printed on the application forms for participating in the 2006 parade and on the huge parade advertisement. Several days prior to the parade, local TV station WISH TV8 interviewed Falun Gong practitioners, introduced Falun Dafa and played a video of the Mid-US Falun Dafa practitioners in the parade last year.

The Mid-US Falun Dafa Association brought to the parade this year, "Falun Gong exercise demonstration," the "Waist drum and Tang drum troupe" performance and the "Celestial maidens' lantern dance." At the front of the Falun Gong entry were two huge banners reading "Falun Dafa" and "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance" in both Chinese and English. Practitioners dressed up in bright colourful Chinese ancient costumes, shining in the sunshine. Golden yellow exercise costumes, sky-blue ancient warriors' costumes and colourful celestial maidens' costumes brought the beautiful wonder of the Orient to the audience.

Falun Gong exercises demonstration displayed to the audience the path to return to one's original true self. The song and music entitled "Falun Dafa is Good" awakened people. High vertical banners with words, "Falun Dafa" and "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance" were erected high in the "Waist drum and Tang drum troupe." Flying drumsticks struck drumbeats making people feel alive with joy. At the back of the group, twelve practitioners carrying colourful lanterns danced gracefully to the music, displaying peacefulness and joy to the audience.

About 300,000 spectators witnessed the wonderfulness of Falun Dafa. The DJ announced to the audience that "Falun Dafa brings us Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance," and "Thank you for coming to Indiana." Along the two-mile parade route, from beginning to end, wherever practitioners' entry went, there would be rounds of applauses and cheers. The audience waved to practitioners to greet them. A family of four (parents and two children) stood up together to Heshi (Press the hands together as a sign of respect) to practitioners. Many spectators imitated the Falun Gong exercises. Many people smiled while applauding and greeting practitioners.

After the parade, many spectators stopped practitioners to have their photos taken with them. They praised practitioners. Practitioners also took the opportunities to introduce Falun Dafa to people. The parade staff especially said to the practitioners, 'You are remarkable! Thank You."

Confucius once praised those learnt men of stature who knew shame in everything they did. A man with a sense of shame will not be overcome with the temptation of money and will not compromise his integrity in the face of a threat or danger. He is modest and good-natured. He yields to others and he takes only what he needs. Whether it is his personal ethics, pursuits or patriotism, a man's sense of shame is a prerequisite to his moral conscience.

Confucius said, "A person must restrain his behavior with a sense of shame." Confucius also said, "Knowing shame is akin to courage." A man must know shame before he can reflect upon his faults and aspire to improve morally. A man who knows shame will be courageous enough to face his own mistakes and conquer them. This is a courageous act.

Mencius said, "A person without any sense of shame is no longer a human being."

Mencius argued that human beings are born with an innate moral sense. He believed that human beings are born with sympathy, a sense of shame, a sense of yielding and a sense of right and wrong. These qualities are the seeds of kindness, loyalty, propriety, and wisdom. Only beasts are not born with these innate qualities of kindness. A man with a sense of shame will persevere in morality when tempted with fame or wealth.

Mencius also said, "Human beings must not live without shame. True shame is not to know shame at all."

It takes a lot of courage to admit one's own mistakes. A human being feels ashamed when he sees his inadequacies, but it is not too late if he has the courage to face and conquer them. A human being is incorrigible if he settles on feeling ashamed of his mistakes or if he does not feel ashamed and parades his mistakes as honorable.

Zhu Xi, a famous Chinese philosopher in the Song Dynasty, said, "A man with a sense of shame will not do things he should not."

A man with a sense of shame is determined to make the right decision when choosing between rich and poor, gain and loss, or loyalty and self-interest. He will not let desires run amok. A man without shame is capable of any crime.

Lu Kun, a scholar in the Ming Dynasty, said, "Even a threat of five tortures cannot measure up to a sense of shame." Even the strictest criminal laws and the cruelest punishments cannot teach a sense of shame. Lu Kun believed that teaching people to know shame is far more important than imposing severe punishments. Once people's morality level is enhanced and they have a sense of shame, they will know what they should and should not do and can tell right from wrong. It is a far more effective way to prevent crimes than punishing people after they commit crimes. This is one reason why Confucianism believes in educating people first before punishing them.