A Policeman from a Chinese Prison Exposes How Guards Torture Falun Gong Practitioners Behind the Scenes

A few days ago, a policeman from Chishan Prison in Hunan province wrote to the Falun Gong website, Minghui Net [Clearwisdom.net is the English version of Minghui.net] to expose how staff in the prison torture Falun Gong practitioners cruelly behind the scenes. In his letter, he said frankly, "I have been in contact with these practitioners for a few years. In the past, I also had misunderstandings about them and I even participated in the persecution. However, as time goes by, I see hope and a bright future in them. ... As a policeman serving the interest of the people, if I do not step forward to say a few words to uphold justice, I would indeed have a guilty conscience."

The following is a direct statement from this policeman about what he has witnessed in the prison:

Briefing about the torture that Falun Gong Practitioner Zeng Haiqi suffered during the three months when he was held in the "Strictly Controlled Division"

(I will reveal all the details of the persecution when the opportunity arises.)

Zeng Haiqi was sent to the "Strictly Controlled Division" on March 1, 2004. In the first several days, the jailers forced his body into the shape of a cross on several occasions. On the basis of that, the jailers forcibly pulled his legs straight out from both sides on several occasions. Zeng's legs were crippled after having such torture applied to him. He was unable to walk for more than ten days; but he was still the target of electric shocks and the jailers continued to cuff his two hands and hang him up during those days.

They cuffed Zeng Haiqi's hands and hung him up in the air, with his toes barely touching the ground. He was hung like this for 18 hours each day. His legs were already crippled, yet he was still hung like this for long periods of time. He suffered extreme pain and agony. Sometimes, the jailers would cuff his hands behind his back and hang him from his hands to the window. Then, they would lift up his legs and affix them to a high chair so that his entire body weight was pressed onto the cuffed hands. It was excruciatingly painful. The jailers tortured him day in and day out. It was way too horrible and cruel.

Zeng Haiqi didn't renounce his belief; he would not obey their orders to squat, to answer roll call, to do physical exercises or to wear a prisoner's uniform. The jailers then took a more brutal approach to persecute him. They developed a variety of new torture methods. For example, in addition to "carrying a sword on the back,"¹ the police then tied a rope to the cuffs and hung him up in the air to the metal ring on a big tree. Each time he would be hung for hours, and once he was hung like this for a whole day.

One of the guards, Deng Yingfeng, ordered prisoners (who also work for the prison) to use all kinds of cruel methods to torture Zeng. At the same time Deng ordered them "not to disable him," but to torture him slowly and to use torture instruments that would not leave much visible evidence. They were afraid that their crime would be exposed later.

In the first month of Zeng's imprisonment there, he was given half a bowl of rice for each meal. Later he was given only a thin layer of rice (about 15 grams) and a tiny amount of vegetables each time.

In the later two months, all his clothes were confiscated, and he was forced to wear the prisoners' uniform and to work or to be "cuffed and hung up" naked.

In mid-May, Zi Wei, deputy director of the prison, criticised Zeng Xianbao and Deng Yingfeng at a meeting, saying that their approaches were not effective enough to subdue Zeng Haiqi. After Deng came back from the meeting, he poured out a stream of abuse onto Zeng Haiqi.

During the last half month of Zeng Haiqi's imprisonment in the division, he was forced to wear the prisoners' uniform every day. The police or the jailers either handcuffed him and hung him up or ordered him to work.

In mid-May, Zi Wei ordered that all those detained in the "Strictly Controlled Division" be released after they had finished their three-month term except Zeng Haiqi. He then arranged to have eight prisoners take turns to completely deprive Zeng Haiqi of sleep and to torture him with torture instruments, in an attempt to force him to renounce his belief. Later, they had to stop because overseas Falun Gong practitioners went all out to expose Zeng Haiqi's situation.

In Mid-May, Zi Wei called for a special meeting of responsible persons. He issued the order to enhance the attack against Falun Gong practitioners and to strengthen labour management. In reality, he meant to ask policemen to persecute Falun Gong practitioners by forcing them to perform slave labour.

Falun Gong practitioner Meng Kai, who was originally detained in the Health Section, was sent to the 3rd Ward of the prison and was forced to do slave labour for more than 15 hours a day.

Three Falun Gong practitioners in the 6th Ward strongly resisted such extremely intensive overtime slave persecution. They were cuffed and hung up. When officials from the Provincial Bureau of "Reeducation-Through-Labour" came to inspect the prison, Falun Gong practitioners decided to appeal jointly for their legal rights of labour. The two diligent practitioners were locked up in small cells.²

The persecution by means of slave labour is still continuing. It's very difficult for many practitioners to endure. They sleep very little every day. It's indeed very tough for them in the long run, especially for those who grew up in a scholarly environment and do not have a strong build. They have already suffered cruel persecution in local jails, and it is therefore extremely hard for them to endure further slave labour.

I have been in contact with these practitioners for a few years. In the past, I also had misunderstandings about them and I even participated in the persecution. However, as time goes by, I see hope and a bright future in them. They are all noble, pure and kind. They indeed practice "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance" in the face of severe tribulation and injustice. They endure without bearing any grudges. I admire them very much. As a policeman serving the interest of the people, if I do not step forward to say a few words to uphold justice, I would indeed have a guilty conscience. At the same time, I hope my colleagues are able to see what's right and what's wrong and to treat them well.

Names of Responsible Prison personnel mentioned in the article:

Zi Wei: Deputy Director of Chishan Prison

Zeng Xianbao: Head of the "Strictly Controlled Division"

Deng Yingfeng: Political instructor of the "Strictly Controlled Division"

Address of Chishan Prison in Hunan Province:

P.O. Box 101

Yuanjiang City, Hunan Province

P.R. China 413104

Major sections that participated in the persecution:

Political Section, Education Section

Major personnel responsible in Chishan Prison

Deputy Director: Zi Wei

Head of Education Section: Xie Shoulian

Director of Chishan Prison: Liu Piliang, 731-2286136 or 731-2710460

Zi Wei (Deputy Director of Chishan Prison, in charge of the persecution)

731-2288318 (home), 731-2286481 (office), 13874324220 (cell), 13507374439(cell)

Notes:

1. "Carrying a sword on the back" - The practitioner's hands are cuffed behind his back with one hand over the shoulder and the other hand against the lower back

2. Small Cell - The detainee is locked up in a very small cell individually. The guards handcuff practitioners behind their back in a fixed position, in which the practitioners can neither move nor lie down. The small cell is very damp and no sunshine comes in. Detainees have to urinate and defecate in the cell. Only half of a regular meal is served to detainees locked up in a small cell during the daytime. During the night the rats are running around. The stench in the small cell is so bad that it is difficult to breathe.