Around May 10th, 2008, the Lianshan District Court sentenced two practitioners from Huludao City, Liaoning Province. Mr. Huang Lizhong was handed a nine-year prison term, and Mr. Zhao Liang was given a ten-year term.
On May 10th both practitioners lodged an appeal with the Huludao Intermediate Court in an effort to overturn the court's decision. On June 12th, however, the court upheld the original verdict.
On the afternoon of June 12th, Mr. Huang and Mr. Zhao's families visited the detention centre where the two were being held.
What they saw really shocked them. Not only had Mr. Huang been badly tortured and the hair on his head shaved off, but he also looked very emaciated and spoke in a very weak voice. He was in such an awful state that his family hardly recognized him.
After only a few minutes with Mr. Huang, the detention centre manager, Chen, told the family that they had to leave.
The second day his family went back to the detention centre, looking to talk to Chen, but Chen said that he did not have time to talk.
On June 14th, the families visited the detention centre once again and were told that Falun Gong practitioners could not have visitors. In addition, they were told that both practitioners were going to be transferred to another location on June 17th, and if they wanted to, they could visit them there.
On June 17th, Mr. Huang and Mr. Zhao were taken to Jinzhou Prison. On June 26th, Mr. Huang's family visited him there and were told that he was being housed in the First Ward. The family was not allowed to see him however, after waiting for one-and-a-half hours. The reason was that Mr. Huang is a Falun Gong practitioner.
Later that day, when Mr. Huang's family went to the First Ward of the Liaoning Provincial Prison, a guard told them not to come any more, as Mr. Huang would soon be moved to yet another prison, where he may get a chance to appeal, and they would be allowed to visit him there.
When the family asked about his physical condition, the guard did not reply directly, but only said that Falun Gong practitioners were not forced to do labour there.
Normally, practitioners who are sentenced in Liaoning Province are first held at the Liaoning Provincial Prison for two months, then transferred to various regional prisons.
As of yet, Mr. Huang and Mr. Zhao have not been transferred to regional prisons.
Gao Ensi (male), Intermediate Court judge: 86-429-3166449 (Office), 86-13898995566 (Mobile)
Wei Aijun (female), Lianshan District Court judge, 86-429-2163962 (Office)
Below is Mr. Zhao Liang's appeal letter to the court:
Appeal request:
A not guilty verdict and an unconditional release
Appeal reasons:
Firstly, it is a well known fact that Falun Gong is not like the government says it is, and it certainly is not a "cult."
The current situation with Falun Gong is similar, in a way, to that of the "Great Cultural Revolution" and the "June 4th Tiananmen Massacre," as in all three incidents the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) filled the minds of the public with lies so they could successfully carry out their political agendas.
Falun Gong is a cultivation practice that is open to everyone. There are no organizations involved, and the goal of cultivation is the same as that of other religious beliefs.
It is already an indisputable fact that practising Falun Gong brings hundreds of benefits to its practitioners and to society as a whole without harming a single person or nation. This conclusion was reached by the CCP itself, before the brutal suppression of Falun Gong began.
Falun Gong is freely practised in over 80 countries by over one hundred million people. Wherever Falun Gong goes, it is welcomed. This is evidenced, in part, by the numerous awards that it has received from local people and different governments. Only in China is Falun Gong suppressed. The list of countries that condemn this persecution is steadily growing.
The persecution of Falun Gong and the government's outright violations of human rights has not gained any support from the international community. The whole world knows that Falun Gong is good. This is something that the CCP dares not tell the Chinese people.
Secondly, according to the Constitution of the People's Republic of China, citizens have the right to freedom of publication, assembly, speech, association, and demonstration.
Since Falun Gong practitioners are also Chinese citizens, they should similarly enjoy these God given rights.
No organization or government has the right to interfere with these basic human rights.
Thus, the computer, printer, and Falun Gong promotional materials, etc., that were found in my home, including my written opinions of the CCP, are all completely legal to have in my possession and do not in any way constitute a crime.
I hope the court will see the truth of what I am saying and will realize that Falun Gong is accepted in every country except China. I hope your decision in this case will abide by justice, so that you can enjoy a glorious future.
I herewith address Huludao Intermediate People's Court
Defendant: Mr. Zhao Liang, May 10th, 2008
Chinese version available at http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2008/6/29/181134.html
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