Radio Free Asia Reports on Lawlessness in Chinese Labour Camps

The Masanjia forced labour camp in Liaoning Province refused to provide to Mr Zhang Zhengtong, a Chinese student studying in Germany, any information about his wife Wang Xiaoyan who has been illegally detained there. At the coming of New Year, human rights groups in Germany are concerned with the situations of Wang Xiaoyan and Jiang Renzheng and demand the Chinese Communist regime to immediately stop persecuting them. The following is the transcript of a report sent from Germany by Tian Yi, a reporter from Radio Free Asia (RFA) in Europe.

Since Jiang Renzheng was deported to China from Germany in March 2005, his entire family has been subjected to continuous persecution of various kinds. Wang Xiaoyan, the wife of Zhang Zhengtong who came to study in Germany last year, has been detained again just because she practises Falun Gong. These two cases have currently become the special example cases about the China’s human rights situations for the German human rights organisations and German government. Any latest information related to them would attract a great deal of attention in German society. During the New Year break, RFA reporter contacted Mr Zhang Zhengtong to learn his wife’s situation. Mr. Zhang called by phone Masanjia labour camp where his wife is detained.

Masanjia: “Hello.”
Zhang Zhengtong: “Hello. Is it the first major group in Masanjia?”
Masanjia: “Yes. It is.”
Zhang Zhengtong: “Wang Xiaoyan is detained at your place. Isn’t it true?”
Masanjia: “Is she a Falun Gong practitioner?”
Zhang Zhengtong: “That’s right. I am her husband. I would like to ask if she is still detained there.”
Masanjia: “Yes. She is.”
Zhang Zhengtong: “Could I talk to her because I haven’t talked to her for about half a year? I am in Germany.”
Masanjia: “She already went to work and is at the workshop. I am upstairs. Her group leader is not here. I can’t make decision.”
Zhang Zhengtong: “I would like to tell you that if I couldn’t manage to contact her, I would have to report her as a missing person.”
Masanjia: “Who is missing? Wang Xiaoyan is in our group.”
Masanjia: “I didn’t say you can’t talk to her. I can’t make decisions. You have to wait and call again after 9:00pm in the evening.”
Masanjia: “There are more than fifty detained people upstairs. Who would be responsible if something happens?”
Zhang Zhengtong: “I know. Could you call your superior to seek permission?”
Masanjia: “Do you want me to call someone? No telephone. I told you.”
(The phone was cut off)

When Zhang Zhengtong called second time, he encountered very rude response.
Masanjia:: “Hello.”
Zhang Zhengtong: “Hi. How are you? I am Wang Xiaoyan’s husband. I would like to talk to her. Could I trouble you to find your group superior?”
Masanjia: “Who are you?”
Zhang Zhengtong: “I am Wang Xiaoyan’s husband.”
Masanjia: “Wang Xiaoyan has no husband.”
Zhang Zhengtong: “I am her husband. I would like to talk to her.”
(The phone was cut off)

Two days later, Zhang Zhengtong called again with great patience.
Masanjia: “Hello.”
Zhang Zhengtong: “Hi, how are you? I want to talk you your superior. Which superior is currently available? Could you help me to have a look?”
Masanjia: “There are no superiors available. They are all taking rest.”
Zhang Zhengtong: “I called two days ago. The staff at duty said leader Shao would be available today. What happens? Could you tell me who is actually in charge?”
Masanjia: “There are many superiors. It is noon now. They are taking rest. Leader Shao is no longer in charge of her. It’s no use whoever you want to talk to.”
Zhang Zhengtong: “Could you tell me then who is currently in charge?”
Masanjia: “There are a few superiors. Is it necessary to tell you? Tell me whom you want to talk to? There are many superiors.”
Zhang Zhengtong: “I want to find Wang Xiaoyan. I am her husband. I want to talk to her.”
Masanjia: “My superior just said that he is taking a rest. Who do you want to talk to? A superior or Wang Xiaoyan?”
Zhang Zhengtong: “I want to find Wang Xiaoyan. I want to talk to her. Could you make a decision and let her come to talk to me please?”
Masanjia: “That’s not possible. That’s not possible.”
Zhang Zhengtong: “Is it your regulation in the labour camp that people being detained are not allowed to talk to their family?”
Masanjia: “That’s right. It’s not allowed.”
Zhang Zhengtong: “I would like to tell you….”
Masanjia: “It is allowed to call out from inside. It’s not allowed to receive call from outside.”
Zhang Zhengtong: “You said differently before.”
Masanjia: “It is alright to call from inside to outside. They are not allowed to receive calls.”
Zhang Zhengtong: “I am recording this phone conversation. I will inform the Justice Bureau.”
Masanjia: “Go ahead.”
Zhang Zhengtong: “If you talk like this, I will…”
(The phone was cut off)

Mr Zhang Zhengtong told reporter that he would provide these phone records to all human rights groups, media and political circles in Europe who are concerned with human rights situations in China. From these phone records, it is easy for people to see the lawlessness and rudeness in China’s forced labour camps. It is also easy to see that the staff working in the labour camps are not free to say what they want. Mr. Zhang believes that these facts would make European parliament and German government to be more concerned with Chinese Communist regime’s persecution of Falun Gong.