Families Broken Apart by the Persecution in China Ask, "When Will Our Loved Ones Come Home?"

Tongliao, Inner Mongolia is a remote small town. It was filled with people on the day of the Lantern Festival. People were feeling in a very festive mood and the atmosphere was joyous. However, there were people who didn't enjoy the holiday because they couldn't be united with their families. It wasn't that their families didn't want them to come home, or that the rare snowstorm had stranded them in crowded train stations. It was because of their adherence to the belief of "Truthfulness, Benevolence, Forbearance", the principles of Falun Gong, and the fact that they were being held in detention centres, prisons, and forced labour camps. During this festive season, they missed being with their loved ones as much as their families missed them.

Falun Gong practitioner Ms. Tang Liwen has been arrested and detained six times since the Chinese Communist Party began cracking down on the spiritual practice of Falun Gong. Her home has been repeatedly raided and heavy fines were imposed on her. On January 4th, 2008, she was again arrested and her house was ransacked. That was almost two months ago, but the local detention centre has refused to release her. She has a three-year-old grandson who always says innocently, "I haven't seen Grandma for a long time. I want to see her."

Mr. Zhou Jinpeng, a former plant worker in Tongliao City, was sentenced to seven years in 2004. We can imagine how difficult it is for his family to lose him since he is the backbone of the household. During these years of detention, he has suffered from all kinds of torture and relatives have not been allowed to visit him. Last year his friend went to visit him in Chifeng Prison, but he was not allowed to see him.

Ms. Wang Qi, a 30-year-old health care professional, was arrested by the District Public Security Bureau while she was distributing leaflets exposing the persecution. She was detained in Hexi Detention Centre and later was sent to the forced labour camp in Huhhaote City for two years. She has a five-year-old son who had never been without his mother before. Now, in the absence of his mother, imagine how he feels! His mother also misses him very much.

Ms. Tian Xin, a printshop worker, was arrested and sent to a forced labour camp for the second time. She was sentenced to two years in Huhhaote City Women's Labour Camp. Her son, Guo Siyuan, is a 12-year-old boy who has already experienced the sorrow of family partings. Before he turned three years old, his mother went to Beijing to appeal for Falun Gong and she was arrested and held for 35 days. Before he turned six, his parents were divorced and he lived with his mother. When his mother was sent to the forced labour camp the first time, he moved to his grandmother's house and lived with her. When his mother was sent to the forced labour camp this time, he cried very bitterly and shouted for her. He often dreams about his mother. Although his grandmother takes good care of him, she can't replace his mum.

Mr. Han Naijun, a Tongliao Railway Worker, was arrested on June 28th, 2007. After being detained for six months in Hexi Detention Centre, he was sentenced to serve three years in a prison in Inner Mongolia. His family couldn't find out where he was being detained. His parents are both 80 plus years old. One of them is paralysed in bed and needs care, and the other one cries everyday, hoping their son will come back. Mr. Han also has son who is soon going to take the college entrance examination. He needs his father's support.

There are still many more Falun Gong practitioners who are being held in detention centres, forced labour camps, and prisons. Although they are deprived of their freedoms by the authorities, they are still very faithful to their belief. Meanwhile, because of the steadfastness of these practitioners, more and more people are beginning to learn the truth about the persecution. The voice of justice gets louder and louder. The persecution of Falun Gong will not last much longer.

Chinese version available at http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2008/2/25/173095.html