The Terror of Xishanping Forced Labour Camp in Chongqing City During the Olympic Games

During the Olympic Games, there was a atmosphere of terror in the Xishanping Forced Labour Camp in Chongqing City. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) officials held a variety of conferences, enforcing rules and regulations to restrict people's freedom. Armed police were on active duty.

The Seventh Division in Xishanping Forced Labour Camp specialized in persecuting Falun Gong practitioners. Lei Kejin was the captain of the division for many years before he was transferred to a different division. Lei had been actively participating in the violent "transformation¹" of Falun Gong practitioners since the persecution began. His hands were stained with the blood of Falun Gong practitioners. Because of his active involvement in the persecution of Falun Gong, Lei became the torch bearer for the Olympic Games.

Before the Olympic Games, about twenty Falun Gong practitioners were detained in the Seventh Division. The number of practitioners who were detained there drastically increased to over fifty. These practitioners were arrested only because they had a few Falun Gong books at home. Some of these practitioners came from rural areas and had only recently begun the practice.

Wanzhou County is adjacent to Liangping County. They are two remote districts in Chongqing City. When the Olympic torch travelled to Wanzhou County, both counties suffered from a frenzy of arrests by the CCP. Four practitioners in Wanzhou County were arrested and sentenced to terms in forced labour camps. Another four practitioners in Liangping County were also arrested and sentenced. For some reason, there were two practitioners who had been arrested, but not sentenced, and another eight female practitioners in Liangping County were also arrested.

Practitioners Mr. Chen Minguo and Mr. Chen Xiaojing were over 60 years old. Since the number of practitioners who were arrested in Liangping County had already reached the "arrest quota," Mr. Chen Minguo and Mr. Chen Xiaojing were "sold" to another county for 2,000 yuan¹ each to meet its regional quota. After they were arrested, their families attempted to determine their whereabouts. Three months later, they learned of their arrests and detention in the Xishanping Forced Labour Camp.

Of the fifty practitioners detained, about twenty of them were over 60 years old.

Mr. Qin Daqun, 58, was detained in the Seventh Division of Xishanping Forced Labour Camp. In addition to being tortured by squadron guards, Wei Shaohong attempted to force him to sign the so-called three statements³. When he refused to sign, Wei and other guards made him stand and carry sandbags for a long period of time. He was sent to the hospital when his life was in jeopardy. When he was on the verge of death, he was taken home. He died shortly thereafter.

Mr. Meng Xuetao, 39, worked in the People's Bank of China. Because he practised Falun Gong, he was twice sent to a forced labour camp. He currently is unable to walk normally, and needs support when walking or squatting, so that he won't fall.

Mr. Zhang Ge, 41, worked for the department of taxation in the Wansheng District. He is almost completely blind because of the persecution, and he can't take care of himself. He needs someone to take care of him.

Mr. Zhang Xingyu, 61, lived alone.

Mr. Xu Xiaohua, 30, suffered from mental disability since childhood. He made a living by driving a tricycle.

Mr. Xie Jin was a lecturer at the Institute of Posts and Telecommunications in Chongqing City. He was implicated and jailed three times. His legs turned black, festered and became numb. He now has difficulty walking.

Mr. Zhang Peisheng's legs had steel plates inserted and he has difficulty walking.

Mr. Wang Zhihai, about 40 years old, was beaten by a gang of prisoners, resulting in a serious brain injury. There is blood in his pineal gland, and he is bedridden.

Mr. Tang Yi, about 43 years old, was a masters degree graduate student. On his way to find work, he was arrested and sent to a forced labour camp because he was found to have Falun Gong related materials with him. He was arrested a total of three times. During his second detention in a forced labour camp in Yunnan Province, he was released due to the help of his mother and his continued protest by going on a hunger strike. During detention, Mr. Tang held a hunger strike and shouted "Falun Gong is good" to protest the persecution. Later, Mr. Tang only ate a small amount of food that his family bought for him. Mr. Tang's mother, who is not a practitioner, went around seeking justice for her son. She rode dozens of kilometres on a bike to bring food for her son every day. She once took out a pile of certificates which were awarded to her son and sternly said to the prison guards, "You are not nearly as good as my son." On November 25th, Mr. Tang again broke away from detention.

Mr. Kang Hong, 38, graduated from Chongqing Medical University. He was jailed four times. His leg was fractured and he sustained mental injuries as a result of the persecution by prisoners. He is on the verge of death.

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. "Yuan" is the Chinese currency; 500 yuan is equal to the average monthly income of an urban worker in China.

3. "Three Statements": Practitioners are coerced under brainwashing and torture to write "Repentance Statement," "Guarantee Statement" or 'Dissociation Statement" as proof that they have given up their belief. In the statement, the practitioner is forced to admit remorse for practising Falun Gong, promise to give up Falun Gong, and never again associate with other practitioners or go to Beijing to appeal for Falun Gong.

Chinese version available at http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2008/12/13/191490.html