Four Practitioners from Liaoning, Shandong, and Sichuan Provinces Who Died as a Result of the Persecution of Falun Gong

Mr. Wang Wenge, 38, was a schoolteacher in Fushun City, Liaoning Province. He was incarcerated in Wanghua Prison, Fushun City. Because Mr. Wang refused to cooperate with the prison guards, they subjected him to various methods of torture over an extended period of time. He died in May 2005 according to reports leaked from Wanghua Prison. The details surrounding Mr. Wang's death are still unknown.

Ms. Wang Fengqin, 62, was a retired worker from Shenyang City, Liaoning Province. Ms. Wang had gone to Beijing twice to appeal on behalf of Falun Gong and to spread the truth about the persecution. She was arrested several times, sent to labour camps, and forced to attend brainwashing classes. During her final detention, Ms. Wang became extremely weak as a result of the torture, and she had to be released on parole. She died during July 2005.

Mr. Zhang Yuanhao, 59, lived in Beiguan Village, Shouguang City, Shangdong Province. Mr. Zhang started practising Falun Gong during the winter of 1998. His physical and mental health improved dramatically. Since the brutal persecution of Falun Gong started on July 20th, 1999, Mr. Zhang was forced to report to the village office every day, and he was sometimes forced to slander Falun Gong. Each time so-called "sensitive" dates approached, the authorities would detain him for several days. On one of those occasions he was detained for two months. This occurred in June 2001, when Shouguang City officials "arrested" Mr. Zhang for allegedly refusing to cooperate with the government. At the beginning of August 2005, he was arrested for posting materials about the truth of Falun Gong. He was jailed in the Chengguan Police Station in Shouguang City. The police extorted 20,000 yuan¹ from his family. Mr. Wang was later diagnosed with heart disease and released on medical parole. Nevertheless, officials from the 610 Office² of Shouguang City frequently called his home to harass him. They extorted 2000 yuan from him after threatening to send him to brainwashing classes. Under tremendous pressure, Mr. Zhang died during mid-August 2005.

Ms. Tao Shifen, 60, was a resident of Taiping Town, Wanyuan City, Sichuang Province. Ms. Tao had suffered from double pulmonary tuberculosis, but the symptoms disappeared after she started practising Falun Gong. In November 1999, Ms. Tao went to Beijing to appeal on behalf of Falun Gong and was arrested there. The local police escorted her back to Taiping and detained her for six months. During her detention, Ms. Tao's symptoms returned and she became emaciated as a result. After releasing her, the local police continually harassed and followed her. Ms. Tao died on January 30th, 2005.

Note

1. "Yuan" is the Chinese currency; 500 yuan is equal to the average monthly income of an urban worker in China.

2. "The 610 office" is an agency specifically created to persecute Falun Gong, with absolute power over each level of administration in the Party and all other political and judiciary systems.

Chinese version available at http://www.minghui.org/mh/articles/2005/9/20/110785.html