Torture Methods Used on Falun Gong Practitioners in Sichuan

The Wumaping Prison in Sichuan Province was specifically established to persecute Falun Gong practitioners. It was moved to the suburbs in Leshan City, and continues to relentlessly persecute practitioners.

Persecution Using Violence

There were six prison sections in the Wumaping Prison where violent prisoners including murderers, drug addicts and burglars were selected as regulators, team leaders, or “sandwiched” personnel in the “strict management group.” The “sandwiched” personnel monitored practitioners around the clock. They assisted the prison guards to torture practitioners in efforts to coerce them into renouncing Falun Gong.

Torture Methods at Wumaping Prison

Torture methods included:

• Handcuffing and shackling.

• Freezing: Sitting on the ground or standing in the snow, wearing thin clothes.

• Sun exposure: Facing the scorching sun during the hot summer, resulting in severe skin burns.

• Starving: A meal consisting only of 50 grams of rice soaked in soup, called “introspection food,” to be eaten within 20 seconds, using three-inch-long chopsticks.

• Sleep deprivation: 1-2 hours of sleep per day.

• Shocking, also called “therapy:” Removing all clothes of the steadfast practitioners, and shocking their naked bodies with high-voltage electric batons. Performed by the political instructor with the surname of Wang.

Zhang Zhenglin, a prison guard, had been named the “master” with respect to torture. All inmates were afraid of him.

Torture Methods in Prison Area 7

• “Five and a half steps” or “six and a half steps.” With a step being a foot in length, practitioners were forced to stand with their feet five and a half steps apart without support.

• “Three pot pile:” The feet were positioned 60 degrees apart with the head touching the ground and the hands behind the back. A few years ago, gravel was put on the floor, which resulted in injuries to the head and scalp.

• “Gecko climbing wall:” Standing with both hands raised apart and handcuffed.

• “Viewing the naked:” Clothes were stripped off practitioners and the prison guards organized prisoners to visit them to humiliate them and damage their dignity.

• “Ground ring:” Affixing handcuffed practitioners to rows of fixed ground rings on the edge of the basketball playground in Prison Area 7.

• Mistreatment with unknown drugs: Mr. Luo Qingsheng was injected with drugs for more than ten months starting in August 2011. His body weight dropped from over 50 kilos (110 pounds) to less than 30 kilos (66 pounds).

Taking Prisoners' Food

Guards took the prisoners' food, including cooking oil, fish, chickens, and meat, from their cafeteria. They either used the food in their own meals or fed it to dogs, chickens, or ducks in an effort to starve the prisoners.

Confiscating Prisoners' Personal Belongings

The prisoners' personal belongings were frequently confiscated, destroyed, or used by the guards, especially when they were high quality items. For example, guards always took leather items such as shoes, belts, and luggage, for their personal use.

All the prisoners' personal clothing was marked “Wumaping Prison.” Many prisoners didn't even have clothing to wear when they were released. Some prisoners lost personal belongings valued at several hundred to several thousand yuan.

Encouraging Prisoners to Persecute Practitioners

Prison rules dictated that a sentence would be reduced by one month if an inmate could force a practitioner to renounce Falun Gong. The prisoner would then be recognized and regarded as a good prisoner.

The actually purpose of prison sentences is for criminals to repent and become valued members of society. Instead, prison officials taught inmates how to “transform” [forcibly renounce Falun Gong] practitioners. This caused them to turn for the worse and eventually lose their human nature.

Wumaping Prison Staff:
Zhu Wei (祝伟), warden

Yuan Dinghong (袁定洪), deputy warden

Huang (黄), secretary of the Wumaping Prison branch of the Chinese Communist Party

Luo Jiangtao (骆江涛), Education Division

Xiao (肖), director of Prison Area 4

Wang (王), political instructor of Prison Area 4

Zhang Jian (张键), director of Prison Area 4