My Thoughts on Some Incidents That Occured in Chongqing of China

As I was born and have lived in Chongqing City, I have mixed feelings about a couple of high profile incidents that occurred in my hometown recently. I felt both proud and ashamed at the same time. What I am proud of is that the Wanzhou Incident demonstrated the sense of justice in the hearts of the people of Chongqing, which is a precious commodity in the current Chinese society that is overcome with the fear of and the need to comply with the government. One year ago, in the city of Harbin, a BMW hit an ordinary citizen, killing him. The driver is still at large. In Chongqing it is encouraging that thousands of people spoke up for a stranger and took the matter into their own hands, bringing the matter to the government.

What makes me ashamed, however, is my recent discovery that my friend He Mingli, a Falun Gong practitioner, has being given a thirteen year jail sentence by the Jiulongpo District Court in Chongqing City. Prior to this, he was detained for one year. Why? He exposed a horrendous crime: In public the police from Shapingba Bahelin Detention Centre raped Ms.Wei Xingyan, a postgraduate from Chongqing University. I have to ask, "Why was the culprit not put on trial and, instead, the person who spoke the truth sentenced to thirteen years in jail? Where is the justice? Where is the conscience of the Chongqing people?

The difference between the two incidents lies in the fact that the latter is Falun Gong-related. Mr. He Mingli is a graduate of Xiamen University with a master's degree. He worked in the research department of the Chognqing Pharmaceutical Institute. He is a very nice individual, gentle, honest and hardworking. Simply because he practises Falun Gong, The Chingqing assigned agency known as the "6-10 Office" specifically created to persecute Falun Gong, with absolute power over each level of administration in the Party and all other political and judiciary systems constantly harassed him. He was forced to leave his family and became homeless.

There is no shortage of incidents such as these in Chongqing. It is estimated that, over the past five years, the 6-10 Office has persecuted 200,000 Falun Gong practitioners: 300 of them to death; 1000 have being seriously injured and have also suffered from health problems after being sent to brainwashing classes, detention centres, and labour camps; over 1000 of them have died from illnesses that had been cured before they were forbidden to practise; 2000 forced to become homeless; and 3000 have to lead lives separate from their families.

According to the World Organisations to Investigate Crimes against Falun Gong, investigations of the Chongqing 6-10 Office are being intensified. Everything will be answered for when the day comes to redress the issue of Falun Gong in China.