Ms. Yang Mei Looks Completely Different after Imprisonment in Forced Labour Camps

Ms. Yang Mei is a Falun Gong practitioner from Xishui County, Hubei Province. Her family picked her up from Hubei Women's Forced Labour Camp for medical treatment on the afternoon of March 24th, 2013.

After five years in the camp, the appearance of Ms. Yang, 37, has completely changed. She looks old and thin. She has lost a few teeth and a lot of hair. Her eyes look dull. According to a former work colleague, Ms. Yang used to be very pretty with a fair complexion. She was very warm and energetic. The former colleague could hardly believe this released person was Yang Mei if she had not seen Yang in person.

The camp called Ms. Yang's family on March 23rd and told them that Ms. Yang would be on bail for medical treatment because she had been on a hunger strike for a long time. The camp and the 610 Office (an organisation of special agents just for persecuting Falun Gong) in Xishui County coerced her family to promise in writing to keep an eye on her and prevent her from appealing for Falun Gong, telling people about Falun Gong, or visiting the Minghui.org website. They threatened to fire her family from their jobs and give Ms. Yang an even heavier sentence if they cannot keep their promise.

Ms. Yang was arrested by police officers from Bailian Town Police Station in Xishui County on August 4th, 2008 as a preemptive security measure during the 2008 Olympic Games. She was sentenced to a year in a forced labour camp from August 24th, 2008 to August 24th, 2009. She escaped from the camp on April 13th, 2009 and went into hiding.

Ms. Yang escaped to Guangzhou where she found a job and changed her name to Li Jing. She was arrested by police officers from Kangle Village Police Station in Haizhu District, Guangzhou City on September 28th, 2010 while she was posting stickers on the streets containing important facts about Falun Gong.

She was sentenced to 21 months in Chatou Women's Forced Labour Camp in Guangzhou City from September 28th, 2010 to June 27th, 2012. She went on hunger strikes repeatedly during the incarceration and was sentenced to an additional 18 days in the camp.

Before she finished the term, she was transferred to Hubei Women's Forced Labour Camp on May 30th, 2012, because she had escaped from the previous camp. She was sentenced to serve time there until August 23rd, 2013. She was released in March on bail because of her failing health.

Her family had not seen her for five years, since August 2008. They had visited the local authorities and asked them to free her, but no one would respond. In fact, the local authorities had repeatedly harassed Yang's family, boss, relatives, and even her colleagues. The constant harassment had taken a toll on her family. Her father died of hypertension. Her mother was hit by a car while walking absent-mindedly on the street and injured her arm. Her mother-in-law was depressed for a long time and suffered a stroke, which left her partially disabled. Her daughter, who used to be innocent and cheerful, has become reserved and reticent. Her husband cut all communication with her. Her happy family was destroyed by China's policies against Falun Gong.