Elderly Crop Production Scientist in Heilongjiang Province Bedridden as a Result of Persecution, His Salary Suspended

Mr. Yu Liangbin was an agronomist (agronomy is the science of soil management and crop production) and researcher in the Suihua Agriculture Institute of the Academy of Agricultural Sciences in Heilongjiang Province. His research has resulted in tremendous achievements for improved rice production worldwide. However, this outstanding scientist is being persecuted by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) due to his belief in Falun Gong. Currently bedridden as a result of this persecution, he has been denied his salary for many years, and can't even afford to buy food.

Mr. Yu, now 74, has made tremendous contributions to the study of rice nutrition and growth in Heilongjiang Province. He is the recipient of many awards. Prior to practising Falun Gong, he suffered from gastric cancer. After he started the practice, the cancer disappeared without treatment, and he became healthy.

Professional Contributions

His research achievements and awards are extensive: “New Rice Species Suigeng No. 3” and “Technical Study of High Yield Green Food Rice” received the third place prize in the Science and Technology Progress Competition in Heilongjiang Province in 2000.

“High Efficiency Agriculture Experimental Study on Flooding Black Earth Soil and Meadow Soil on Songnen Flatland” took third place in Heilongjiang Province in 2000.

Mr. Yu was hired by the Natural Science Foundation in Heilongjiang Province in 1996 as a review expert in biology and agriculture. He also received the “30 Year Agriculture Study Award” from the Personnel Office in Heilongjiang Province in 1992.

Arrested and Sentenced

After the CCP started persecuting Falun Gong, the authorities also began the relentless persecution of Mr. Yu despite his major contributions to society.

Wang Shubo, the 610 Office (an organisation of special agents just for persecuting Falun Gong) director from the Beilin Branch of Suihua Police Department in Heilongjiang Province, along with seven officers led by Li Jianfei and Xia Lijun from the 610 Office in the Beilin District in Suihua, arrested Mr. Yu at work on October 19th, 2000. Mr. Yu was 68 at the time.

Wang Shubo and the police searched Mr. Yu's office, then ransacked his home. They shoved his wife down on a couch and restrained her, then searched the home, confiscating laptop computers and other personal belongings with a value of over 10,000 yuan¹. Mr. Yu's wife was traumatised by this experience and now suffers from anxiety whenever she sees strangers.

Abused in Prison

Mr. Yu was sentenced to three years in prison and taken to Hulan Prison at the end of June 2007. While in prison, the nearly 70-year-old scientist was beaten by four convicts, who followed the guards' orders and also forced him to remain standing for over ten days and deprived him of sleep. The inmates taunted him, saying, “We'll make you wish you were dead!”

Mr. Yu was transferred to Daqing Prison in 2008, where he was beaten by captain Li Weinan from the 6th Ward, who knocked out his teeth. The conditions were so unsanitary that he developed infections. Throughout his incarceration, his family was not allowed to visit him.

Current Situation

Following his release, authorities continued to persecute him by eliminating his research position and suspending his salary.

This long-term persecution has resulted in the development of cerebral thrombosis – dangerous blood clotting in his brain. He is currently bedridden and dependent on his wife for care. His financial situation is bleak; however, the Beilin District 610 Office continues to persecute him. Police still harass him and have set up surveillance at the gate to his home to monitor his activities.

Tragedies like this are commonplace for Falun Gong practitioners in China.

Note

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