Lieutenant-Commander Suffers Eight Years of Imprisonment, Family Demands Release

In 2001, former Lieutenant-Commander Mr. Wang Youjiang from the Communications Department of Lanzhou City's Military District, Gansu Province, was sentenced to ten years in prison for his belief and for exercising his freedom of speech. He has been imprisoned in Dashaping Prison in Lanzhou City. To date, it has been eight years. Throughout this time, he has been severely tortured. Now he is extremely weak and his family members are demanding his release.

In August 2008, Dashaping Prison persecuted many Falun Gong practitioners, using security for the Olympics as an excuse. Twice Mr. Wang was kept in a small cell for 15 days. For more than six months, his family members were also prohibited from seeing him. His parents are already very old. Having travelled long and far from Yongdeng to see their son, on their arrival their anticipated visit was heartlessly denied. On January 8th, 2009, Mr. Wang's father came to visit him after the Fifth Prison District Educator Xiao Bin told him that he could see his son. However, he was turned away again. Xiao Bin told him, "If he were just a murderer or an arsonist I would have allowed it, but he's not transforming (i.e. giving up his beliefs)."

The following is a statement made by Mr. Wang's family demanding his release:

Our family member, Mr. Wang Youjiang, 39 years old, a university graduate, is a former Lieutenant-Commander at the Communications Department at the Lanzhou City Military District. Because of his belief in Falun Gong, he printed flyers to explain the truth behind the persecution and was arrested by the Lanzhou Public Security Bureau on January 10th, 2001. After three months of imprisonment, he faced trial in a closed courtroom on July 3rd and was sentenced to ten years of imprisonment. To date, he has been imprisoned for eight years. Throughout this time, he has suffered inhumane torture. Both his body and mind have suffered for prolonged periods, and now the former energetic Youjiang has become emaciated and unable to walk. In August 2008, using the excuse of the Olympics, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) began a new round of persecution against Mr. Wang. His family members were denied visitation rights and Xiao Bin told us, "Because Wang said that I am 'a wolf in a human skin,' he has been imprisoned in a small cell twice (for 15 days each time), and will not be able to meet with his family members for six months."

Mr. Wang has suffered such tremendous injustice and inhumane torture, and it hurts his parents dreadfully. Brought up amidst hardships and through years of saving and education, he finally became a leader for the country and the support of the family. However, due to his perseverance in his belief, for writing a banner that said "Undo the Injustice to Falun Gong," he has to suffer imprisonment and injustice. A handsome, capable lieutenant-commander cannot even tend to his daily necessities now. His wife and son are separated from him, and there is no one to take care of his parents.

In late December 2008, the prison educator, Xiao Bin, told us that we could visit in January. However, when we visited during the stated time, we were turned away once again. Xiao said, "It's our superior's orders. Visits are allowed for all other criminals, except for Falun Gong, even more so for Wang Youjiang."

Article 5, Chapter 2 of the Constitution of the People's Republic of China states, "Citizens of the People's Republic of China enjoy freedom of speech, of the press, of assembly, of association, of procession and of demonstration." Article 36 states, "Citizens of the People's Republic of China enjoy freedom of religious belief." Article 3 of the People's Republic of China Criminal Law states, "only those actions deemed illegal under clear and written laws are illegal, and will be punished according to the law; those actions which are not deemed illegal by the law will not be punished as such." Moreover, Mr. Wang was tried and imprisoned in secret without his family being notified. Therefore, the 2001 sentencing of Mr. Wang for the crime of "organizing and using cults to hinder the implementation of law" is illegal and invalid.

Mr. Wang's family members and all righteous voices hereby call out to the world, "Cultivation in Falun Gong is not illegal; release Wang Youjiang immediately!"

Contact information for personnel in Lanzhou City responsible for persecuting Mr. Wang:

Dashaping Prison
Mailing address: 298 Foci Street, Lanzhou City, Gansu Province, or Dashaping Prison (PO Box 28) Postal Code 730000
Prison Chief Yang Wancheng
Prison Management Section Chief Zhang Quanming
Education Section Chief Li Zongming,
Education Deputy Chief Wang Changlin (very evil), Zhang Donghong (female)
Ninth Prison District Leader Zhang Haijun: 86-13609344958 (Mobile), Police ID: 6203583
Lanzhou Prison Disciplinary Committee: 86-931-8323059
Lanzhou Prison Office: 86-931-8362876
Fifth Prison District Educator Xiao Bin: 86-931-3526150

Gansu Prison Management Board
222 Jingning Rd, Chengguan District, Lanzhou City

Chinese version available at http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2009/1/25/194125.html