Liu Zhimin Has Difficulty Walking After Punitive Forced-Feeding in Hulan Prison in Heilongjiang Province

Falun Dafa practitioner Mr. Liu Zhimin from Harbin City has been detained in the Hulan Prison (located in Hulan District, Harbin City, Heilongjiang Province) because he refused to be "transformed¹." He is being subjected to forced feeding.

On July 6th, 2007, Liu Zhimin's family went to the prison to visit him. The receptionist said that the higher authorities needed to give their approval in order for them to visit a Falun Dafa practitioner. His family members went to the guards in the prison ward where Liu Zhimin was detained. The guard said, "Liu Zhimin is on hunger strike, and we are feeding him. If you want to see him, go to the 610 Office² for approval."

Chen Weiqiang (male), a division leader in the 610 Office, is stationed in the Hulan Prison. He said, "Whoever refuses to accept forced transformation, refuses to write the "four statements³," refuses to do hard labour, or refuses to obey the authorities cannot be visited." His family members said, "We have visiting rights. How could you deny us our rights?" Chen said, "There is a document to that effect from the national government." When Mr. Chen's family members asked to read the document, Chen said, "Even we cannot access the document specifically." The family members said that they would appeal to the higher authorities. Chen told them, "No matter who you appeal to, I have the final say here."

The family met with an administrator and told him about the situation. The official told them to wait outside with no further elaboration. Warden of the No. 15 Ward Lu Dongming told them, "He [Liu Zhimin] didn't write the four statements. There is a regulation that there is not any visitation unless the prisoner writes the four statements." After the family members repeatedly requested to visit him, the officer reluctantly agreed that they could talk over the phone. When the family members asked for an explanation, Lu Dongming said, "If he does not accept "transformation" and does not write the four statements, you'd better not come here again. If he writes the four statements, I will immediately let you have a meal together." The family members said, "We don't even know how he is doing or if he is still alive. We have to see him in person."

His family strongly demanded to see him. Only after negotiating from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. was Liu Zhimin's sister allowed to see him. That day, Liu Zhimin had to be held up by other people and had difficulty walking.

Note

1. "Reform or Transform" Implementation of brainwashing and torture in order to force a practitioner to renounce Falun Gong. (Variations: "reform", "transform", "reformed", "reforming", "transformed", "transforming", and "transformation")

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.

3. "Four Statements": Practitioners are coerced under brainwashing and torture to write the "four statements" as proof that they have given up their belief. Created by the 610 Office, they consist of "a letter of repentance," "a guarantee" to never again practise Falun Gong, a "Dissociation Statement" to declare a dissociation with Falun Gong and promise not go to Beijing to appeal for Falun Gong, and a list of names and addresses of all family members, friends and acquaintances who are practitioners.

Chinese version available at http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2007/7/11/158641.html