Chen Xiuling's Appeal Letter for Her Daughter Who Died as a Result of Persecution

To the Jiamusi City Prosecutor:

I am a resident at 9th group, 54th neighbourhood committee, Dongfeng District, Jiamusi City. I am now 55 years old and am being illegally detained in the women's team of Xigemu Forced Labour Camp.

I am writing to appeal for my daughter, Chen Ying, who died as a result of persecution.

My daughter benefited both in mind and body from practising Falun Gong. When the government-controlled media began to slander and smear Falun Gong in July 1999, she went to Beijing to appeal the illegal rulings against Falun Gong. She believed that she was being responsible to society, to her country, to others, and to herself by exercising her basic right of appeal as guaranteed by the Chinese Constitution. She hoped the government would be practical and realistic enough to resolve the issue of Falun Gong amiably.

Unfortunately, I learnt that she was arrested and illegally detained at the Jiamusi City Government's Liaison Office in Beijing and that she had been taken back handcuffed by the political commissar of the Municipal Police Department. She was mistreated on the train and was confined even in the restroom, which insulted the 17-year-old girl. I was told that she committed suicide by jumping out of the train on the way home¹. My daughter lost her life while under government supervision; yet her murderers have still evaded punishment.

My precious daughter died an inculpable death, and I was mentally and physically devastated. To add insult to injury, the truth about what happened was covered up and the government authorities lied by saying that my daughter had mental problems and that she had tried to commit suicide many times. They said she jumped out of the train when her family members were off guard. This is an outrageous lie. As matter of fact, none of her family members were there when she died. She was an outstanding student and received many awards for her excellent behaviour in school. Such an intelligent girl who just wanted to stand up for the truth and improve herself according to the standard of "Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance" was killed for no reason and then had to suffer her name being slandered after her death. This is beyond the limits of my forbearance. I believe the true cause of my daughter's abnormal death was the negligence and abusive behaviour of certain police officials.

What is even more despicable, in order to cover up the truth they have tried to silence me. I have been abducted by police officials and have been detained in a forced labour camp. I keep appealing, but have had no response. I do not know whether the enforcement department has received my appeal letters or just does not care about the death of innocent people. But I believe that the good will be rewarded and the evil will be punished. Nobody can escape divine punishment.

I believe that very soon my daughter will be exonerated, and the truth of her persecution will be revealed to the public. I would also like to put in a sincere word to the law enforcers: do not go against your conscience and against what you know is right for the sake of profit. Doing so will ruin your true life forever. I hope you will be responsible for yourselves and bring the true criminals to justice and that you take on this responsibility with dignity.

I hereby demand that an investigation be conducted to find out the truth about Chen Ying's death and that those responsible for it be brought to justice. I demand that I be unconditionally released and that I be compensated for my illegal imprisonment by the National Compensation Act.

Petitioner: Chen Xiuling

June 2005

Note:

1. In order to cover up their crimes, the Chinese authorities often cite "suicide" as the cause of death of Falun Gong practitioners. In this case, it is much more likely that the young practitioner jumped from the train in an attempt to escape the police brutality.