Ms. Sun Libin's Personal Account of the Persecution She Suffered for Upholding Her Belief

Background

Ms. Sun Libin, 59, an operator at the Jiamusi Petrochemical Factory, previously suffered from migraines and stomach problems. She benefited physically and mentally after she took up the cultivation practice of Falun Gong. However, she was arrested and imprisoned merely for distributing DVDs exposing the persecution of Falun Gong.

Ms. Sun was sentenced to three and a half years of prison in Harbin Women's Prison in 2011. She developed tuberculosis as a result of the torture and poor living conditions she suffered while imprisoned, and was detained in the prison hospital for more than seven months. The prison did not allow her medical parole.

Below is Ms. Sun Libin's account of her ordeal.

Arrested by the Jiadong Police

I went to the Jiadong Police Station on June 22nd, 2010 with three other Falun Gong practitioners to apply for subsistence for the child of a fellow practitioner who had been sent to the labour camp. After we left the station, police chief Feng Kaidong and officer Li Renpu dragged me back to the fourth floor and searched me. They took away my cash, e-book and a mobile phone.

They attempted to confiscate the keys to my home, and when I resisted, Li Renpu pushed me to the ground and stepped on my neck. I almost suffocated and experienced neck pain for more than a month. After they took my keys, I was handcuffed and driven to the local town office where they were able to obtain my home address. They ransacked my home and took away two computers, a Shen Yun [a world-class traditional Chinese cultural show] DVD, 600 yuan¹ in cash, Falun Gong books, and other personal items.

I was sent back to the police station and handcuffed to a single bed with another fellow practitioner. The next day, we were sent to Jiadong Hospital for a check up, and then sent to the Jiamusi Detention Centre. The detention centre refused to accept us because our blood pressures were high. Policeman Li Renpu bribed the doctor with 100 yuan so that the doctor would accept us.

Detention and Trial

I was arrested only because I practised Falun Gong. After the arrest, I was very depressed and could not eat or drink for five days. I had a fever for more than 20 days. I could not sleep and my heartbeat was very fast. I almost collapsed. My weight dropped from 65 kilos to 45 kilos in only seven months. On December 21st, 2010, Jiadong Court held a trial against me at the detention centre. Nobody else was allowed to be present except for my two sisters and my mother. They announced that I would be sentenced from three to seven years. After two weeks, I was informed that I would be sentenced to a term of three years.

Three and a Half Years in Prison

On January 26th, 2011, I was sent to Harbin Women's Prison. All of my clothing was marked with the label “Guilty” by other prisoners. I was forced to sit on a small stool for long periods and watch TV programmes slandering Falun Gong. I had to put my hands on my knees and sit straight. I could not talk to anybody. I could only leave the stool when I had to use the washroom and when it was time to go to bed. It sounds easy to sit on a small stool, but it was severe torture to sit on the stool for long periods of time without moving. Many practitioners' bottoms were blistering after this torture.

The prison officials coerced the prisoners to assist them in torturing and brainwashing Falun Gong practitioners. Those prisoners could get 6 points of credit every month by participating in the persecution. After they accumulated about 100 points, they could reduce their term by one or two years. As a result of this policy, prisoner Du Xiaoxia was willing to participate in brainwashing me for hours at a time.

On June 3rd, 2011, my sister visited me. She told me I could be released as long as I promised to give up practising Falun Gong. I wanted to go home and leave this terrible place! Every second in the prison was as long as a year to me. I was eager to leave this horrible place immediately, but I could not give up my belief because I knew that Falun Gong is good. My sister left in tears.

Contracted TB in Prison

I began to experience a cough in May 2013. The guards sent me to the prison clinic for examination. The doctor gave me injections and medicine without any diagnostic tests being performed first. After two weeks, I was placed in isolation at the prison clinic. I had fever and chills. The doctors finally told me I had tuberculosis.

My family members requested that the prison give me medical parole so that I could get proper treatment for my illness, but the prison refused. I was detained in the isolation room even after serving my sentence.

Taken Away again after Serving My Prison Term

I finished my prison term on December 21st, 2013, but the police did not let me go home. As soon as I stepped out of the prison, I was dragged into a van by six people from the local security committee. My son and sister witnessed the scene and followed behind them. When the police discovered that my sister was following they made a call to her. My sister told them, “It is illegal to detain my sister again without any reason because she already served her term. Where are you taking her now?” They hung up the phone and refused to accept any further phone calls from my sister.

My son followed the van to the petrol station and requested that the person in charge release me immediately. They told my son they would release me after I filled out a form at the local police station. My son and sister did not give up. They followed the van to the police station and urged them to release me once again. I was finally released because of my family's support and help.

I had no income for three and a half years. The police station refused to give me any statement to serve as proof of my detainment, thus, I could not receive any benefits from my company.

Note

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