The Persecution of a Former Soldier

I was an ordinary child who grew up in the countryside. Along with the general decline in the social environment, my mindset gradually deviated from thoughts of kindness and justice. I was weak and sickly, and I had a hot temper. In the winter of 1996, I was fortunate to find Dafa and worked hard to cultivate every word of my speech and every aspect of my behaviour according to Truthfulness, Compassion and Tolerance. After practising Falun Gong, I became healthy physically and my heart was full of serenity and wisdom. My younger brother said, "Falun Dafa is really great and has made my brother a better person." In December 1997, I took a physical check-up, and was accepted into the Army. I was recognised with high achievements during basic training. I was strict with myself in conforming to Truthfulness, Compassion and Tolerance in my work, life and training. I continuously tempered myself in the military camp. With the power of Dafa, I was kept from any harm or injury while carrying out every arduous task set before me.

Since the start of the persecution on July 20, 1999, the cadres in the Army who practised Falun Gong were transferred to civilian work, and soldiers who practised Falun Gong were forced to leave the Army. Communist Party members who practised Falun Dafa were forced to leave the Party. Companies or units within the Army were forbidden from accepting Falun Gong practitioners.

At the end of 1999, I too was forced to leave the Army and was sent back home despite my good record. After I got home, I continued to study the Fa [the teachings of Falun Dafa] and practise Falun Gong. In the summer of 2000, the cadre in the village deceived Falun Gong practitioners into going to the production unit to register. As a result, my mother, also a Falun Gong practitioner, was illegally arrested and sent to a detention centre. Thus, I went to Beijing to appeal for the first time. Consequently, I was taken back by our local police. They used this chance to travel and amuse themselves. They also said that they would release me with a fine of 6,500 Yuan (about half a year's salary). On the way home, as soon as they finished eating, they began beating me up. Even the Party Secretary of the production unit beat me as soon as he finished eating. Coming back to the police station, they confined me in a room and locked me to a metal chair to torture me. The next day, they confined me in another room and shocked me with electric batons, and did not allow me to eat or go to the toilet. A policeman kicked my nose, causing it to bleed profusely. Another policeman shocked me on my chest and arms with an electric baton. Another policeman who appeared to be about 40 years old kept threatening me. My entire family was persecuted and broken up by Jiang's regime. My grandma became ill and cried every day for my mother and I. The persecution extended to nearly everyone in my family.
Later I was kidnapped and taken to the local detention centre. There, cursing, beating and physical punishments were commonplace. The head criminal in the cell where I stayed was very vicious. Every Falun Gong practitioner who was illegally detained there was beaten by him. My chest was badly bruised after being beaten, and it hurt whenever I coughed. That day, while he was beating me, he tried to force me to curse Teacher. He also stabbed my finger with a needle. All of these deeds were instigated by the prison police. I was illegally held in the detention centre for one month, and I was only released after they extorted 6,500 Yuan from my family. I was often harassed even after I was released.

The above is part of my suffering in the persecution. So many Falun Gong practitioners are still suffering torture, imprisonment, forced labour, and many have been persecuted to death.

Chinese version available at http://www.minghui.org/mh/articles/2003/3/30/47397.html