Daqing Prison Sends Pursuit Team to Locate and Arrest Practitioner Mr. Zhang Zhong

Practitioner Mr. Zhang Zhong from Daqing City, Heilongjiang Province was emaciated and on the verge of death as a result of the tortures he suffered in Daqing Prison. After Mr. Zhang exposed these crimes on the Internet, Daqing Prison authorities became enraged and dispatched a pursuit team to arrest him. At present, the Daqing City Intermediate People's Procuratorate and the Intermediate People's Court say they are investigating Li Fangjie (nicknamed "Big Killer"), who is the Deputy Head of Daqing Prison's Political Section. The focus of the investigation is Mr. Zhang Zhong's case, because he was badly injured and permanently crippled as a result of being tortured. Li Fangjie, the perpetrator, claimed that he could make the issue disappear with a ten-thousand-yuan bribe.

As a result of being tortured in Daqing Prison, Mr. Zhang Zhong is emaciated and on the brink of death (photos taken in July 2004).

Mr. Zhang Zhong was arrested on April 19, 2002, and given a heavy sentence of 12 years imprisonment. He was held at Daqing Prison, where several times he was on the verge of death as a result of the inhumane torture. Around 9 o'clock on January 15, 2004, Mr. Zhang Zhong was found practising Falun Gong exercises inside his prison cell. Prison guard Li Fangjie ordered him to go to the disciplinary room where Li, with other guards verbally abused Mr. Zhang Zhong and punched his head until he lost consciousness. When the prison guards stabbed Mr. Zhang Zhong's head and hands with needles and he did not respond, they kicked him in the stomach. He was then transferred to the No. 6 Sub-prison Administrative Block, where he spat up blood and vomited up whatever he ate.

In April, when Mr. Zhang was near death, his family members went frequently to the prison requesting his release for medical treatment. During this time, Falun Dafa practitioners both in China and overseas condemned his persecution and made appeals for his release. Pressured by all the attention, the prison authorities sent Mr. Zhang Zhong to Daqing City's No. 4 Hospital to be examined. By May 9, Mr. Zhang was again teetering at death's door. On July 9, when Mr. Zhang Zhong's blood pressure was taken in the morning, at noon and in the evening, it was abnormal every time. He lost consciousness and could not eat. Mr. Zhang was then sent to the Ranghu Road People's Hospital of Daqing City for emergency treatment, where he remained for seven days.

On July 23, 2004, after Mr. Zhang Zhong had been in a coma for three consecutive days, dependant on oxygen to stay alive, Daqing Prison authorities agreed to release Mr. Zhang Zhong on bail so that they would not have to shoulder any further responsibility for him. Mr. Zhang Zhong, just skin and bones, and near death, was taken out of Daqing Prison by members of his family.

There are still more than 60 practitioners illegally held at Daqing Prison, where they are being brutally tortured. Some are in solitary confinement compartments (1). Others are dying and undergoing emergency medical treatment as a result of their inhumane tortures. The prison guards at the No. 5 Brigade did not allow practitioner Dai Zhidong or other practitioners to speak for long periods of time. The guards also threatened, "to fix those inmates who dared to speak to Falun Gong practitioners" or "those Falun Gong practitioners who spoke to other practitioners."

Some of the Daqing Prison staff:

Country code: 86, area code: 459

Tang Yongfu, Warden: 86-459-5056688 (Work), 86-459-5105087
(Home), 86-13091697779 (mobile)

Chen Yongnian, Political Commissar: 86-459-5056689 (Work),
86-459-6686099 (Home), 86-13936752188 (mobile)

Chen Qingfa, Deputy Warden: 86-459-5056759 (Work),
86-459-4686358 (Home), 86-13936955955 (mobile)

Note:

(1) The so-called "solitary confinement compartment" refers to locking a single detainee into a solitary cell, which contains a basin and a pair of handcuffs. The basin is used both for face washing and as a chamber pot. One end of the handcuffs goes around the wrist, and the other end attaches to the door railing. The handcuffs can be fastened onto the door railing at three different heights. In the highest position, the detainee has to extend his/her arm upward. The middle position is at waist level. In the lowest position, the detainee can sit on the ground.

Chinese version available at http://www.minghui.org/mh/articles/2004/12/11/91185.html