The Mental and Physical Torture of Falun Dafa Practitioners by Guards at Beijing's Tuanhe Forced Labour Camp

A recently released practitioner has revealed many facts about the torture of practitioners by the guards at the Tuanhe Forced Labour Camp in Beijing.

The Third Division of the Tuanhe Forced Labour Camp used a technique called "sitting facing the wall" to physically and mentally torture practitioners. "Sitting facing the wall" requires practitioners to sit absolutely straight with their faces towards the wall, their knees against the wall, and their eyes only a few inches away from the wall. They must not move or close their eyes or glance sideways. Inmates monitor the practitioners.

Just because practitioner Gao Changze shouted, "Falun Dafa is good" when out for exercise in July 2004, the authorities extended his term by three months on September 8. He is forced to sit daily with his face to the wall, monitored by two inmates.

Practitioner Jia Shouxin was punished by being made to sit with his face to the wall because he refused to give up his belief. Two inmates monitored him.

Because practitioner Zhang Lixin refused to give up his belief, the camp authorities gave him a warning on September 8, 2004, telling him he had violated the regulations. They forced him to sit with his face to the wall in the hallway and cancelled his family's visits.

"Sitting facing the wall" is a physical punishment and mental torment for practitioners. It is a particularly insidious and mentally cruel torment. Any slight deviation from any of the stipulations could invoke sarcasm or abuse from inmates or collaborators [former practitioners who have gone astray due to brainwashing and torture]. These practitioners might even get beaten up or kicked.

Information regarding the Concentrated Training Team

Before March 2, 2004, the practitioners were treated even more cruelly inside the labour camp. Each cell held only one practitioner. The doors and windows were covered with newspaper to isolate them from the outside world. Practitioners were tied onto a bed and monitored by inmates. No contact or talk was permitted between inmates in the same cell to avoid disclosure of who was held in which cell. Messages were strictly forbidden. Beatings, verbal abuse and electric shock happened every now and then. No drinking water was provided, and toilet times were limited. Only one piece of cornbread was allowed per meal. The bread was purposely put outdoors in the winter so it would freeze before being served for dinner. In other seasons, the cornbread was purposely put in the microwave until it turned hard and burned. No water was given at meals. Those practitioners on a hunger strike were force-fed through an inserted tube.

During the 2004 Spring Festival, guard Zhao Jiang and others killed practitioner Peng Guangjun. Many people in the labour camp knew about this incident. After March 2, 2004, there were many changes: the Concentrated Training Team was reorganized into an independent team. From team leader to inmates, most people were replaced; rules forbid the use of electric batons to punish the detainees; the newspaper was removed from the windows and doors; cornbread is no longer part of the meal. Everything was restored to "normal." By July 23, practitioners could even go downstairs, taking turns, to have some outdoor activities, and the director of the labour camp often led people to inspect the camp conditions.

Zhao Jiang and others guards didn't allow practitioner Li Hailing to sleep and kept him up until 2:00 a.m. for refusing to yield. When he refused to endure further persecution in the office, Zhao hit his face and knocked out two of his teeth. He was given a "warning punishment" after being brutally beaten. Later he was sent to the Concentrated Training Team for one month.

Bai Shaohua refused to yield. The guards then came up with a malicious idea: they told him to wait outside the main door. But if anyone passes through that main door, he is considered to be trying to escape. As soon as Bai Shaohua went through the door, a gang of guards jumped out, pushed him down, and beat him with their fists and kicked him. He was punished as an escapee, put into concentrated training for one month, and transferred to the Concentrated Training Team.

In the Concentrated Training Team, the guards were very cruel. They controlled the use of the toilet and amounts of drinking water for inmates and former practitioners. They weren't allowed to talk to each other and were threatened with no reduction of their terms if they didn't "reform" Falun Gong practitioners. They were encouraged to vent their anger at "Falun Gong." In the summer, no fans are allowed in the rooms. Except for going to the toilet, eating, drinking and washing all take place in the same room. The inmates were encouraged to "surround Falun Gong like a wall." The authorities hoped that, by exerting covert pressure on the practitioners, they would achieve their goal of making them renounce their belief. They often used deception to dupe and swindle.

Chinese version available at http://minghui.org/mh/articles/2004/10/9/86206.html