Please Follow Closely Harbin University Practitioner Mr. Zhao Yan's Situation

I became very anxious when I heard the recent news that Falun Dafa practitioner Mr. Zhao Yan was arrested in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, and will have to stand trial.

In 1998, Mr. Zhao was admitted to Harbin University of Industries and was a classmate of mine. He started cultivating Falun Dafa not long before the persecution began in July of 1999. We exercised together every morning at the group practice site on campus. Some practitioners were reluctant to get up that early to practise, so he would give them a wake-up call. I was truly impressed by his diligence and enthusiasm for cultivation in Dafa.

While Falun Dafa and Teacher Li were being slandered in the media, Mr. Zhao remained firm in his beliefs. The detention centre police stationed at the university continually harassed us. They confined us on Sun Island in the Songhua River to "brainwash" all of us against Falun Gong. The police not only confiscated Mr. Zhao's Dafa books, but also persecuted him while he was imprisoned in the detention centre simply because he practised publicly with other practitioners. In 2000, Mr. Zhao travelled to Beijing to validate that "Falun Dafa is good" in Tiananmen Square. His pants were torn when he was subsequently chased and beaten by the police officers stationed in the Square. He was later transferred back to Harbin and detained in Nangang Detention Centre for one month.

I can scarcely remember how many tribulations he has had to endure, but I know he has been diligent in cultivation. His dedication and diligence increased my respect for him, while also making me feel ashamed of my own behaviour. After being released from the detention centre, many practitioners became despondent. In contrast, he readjusted very quickly to being a normal practitioner. He was kept under surveillance for several days after his release by a single plainclothes agent. To escape this constant surveillance, Mr. Zhao had no choice but to jump out of short building, not a high-rise. Fortunately, he was not injured by this feat.

His respect and firm belief in Teacher and Falun Dafa makes me ashamed of myself by comparison. In my opinion, among the many staff and students of the Harbin University of Industries who cultivated, he was the most diligent. He always behaved thoughtfully, wisely, and clearheadedly. Some practitioners, myself included, became lazy for a few days to "relax," while he never lost motivation. After graduation from the University, I lost contact with him. The only other information I have about him is that he was admitted to graduate school, and that he subsequently married and lived in Ningbo.

He was arrested in his home in Ningbo and will be sentenced.

Ningbo Detention Centre: 86-574-87119289

Chinese version available at http://minghui.org/mh/articles/2006/3/28/123822.html