Older Mr. Luo Chaoming in Critical Condition at Deyang City Prison, Sichuan Province

Mr. Luo Chaoming, a practitioner from Dazhou City, Sichuan Province, was jailed at Deyang City Prison on January 17th, 2009. A week later, the prison called his family and told them that Mr. Luo had suddenly developed high blood pressure, heart disease, and pericardial effusion (accumulation of excess fluid around the heart). The caller reported that Mr. Luo was in critical condition and had been admitted to the Shuangliu Justice Officers Hospital in Chengdu City, Sichuan Province.

Mr. Luo Chaoming, 60, retired from the Dazhou Steel Factory in Dazhou City. On March 7th, 2008, he was arrested for possession of Falun Gong materials by officers of the Da County Police Department, including Du Pengfei, director of the Domestic Security Division, and Pan Jinlan, associate director. At the police station, when Mr. Luo refused to disclose the source of the materials, the officers beat him, forced him to stand for extended periods of time, deprived him of sleep, and later forced him to sleep on wet floors for several months.

On November 18th, 2008, Mr. Luo was secretly sentenced to four years in prison. On January 17th, 2009, he was secretly taken to Deyang City Prison.

After Mr. Luo's family received the call that he was in critical condition, his wife and brother rushed to the hospital and arrived there at 11:00 p.m. that night. The officers on duty refused to let them in at first. But after Mr. Luo's wife identified herself and explained that she had been contacted by Deyang City Prison, the officers checked with the prison's administrative office and then allowed the visit.

Escorted by three officers, Mr. Luo's wife was permitted to see her husband but was not allowed to speak with him. The officers let her stay for only a few minutes. She saw that Mr. Luo had no eating utensils or change of clothes. After repeated requests, Mr. Luo's wife was allowed to buy these for her husband. But after she returned with the items, she was denied further visits.

Chinese version available at http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2009/1/30/194522.html