The Torture Method "Splitting the Body" Used on Falun Gong Practitioners in Jiuquan Prison, Gansu Province

The four main prisons that persecute Falun Gong practitioners in Gansu Province are Lanzhou Prison, Gansu Women's Prison, Jiuquan Prison, and Tianshui Prison. There are about 22 practitioners still being detained in Jiuquan Prison. Liu Yongchun died while detained in the 5th division. Zhang Yanlong was severely tortured and passed away on August 25th, 2007.

1. The Torture Method "Splitting the Body" (or the "Beng Torture")

"Splitting inmates' bodies" is a very vicious method of torture used in Jiuquan Prison to persecute Falun Gong practitioners. This method was passed down from ancient times. It is used on practitioners who are locked in confinement cells. It involves handcuffing a person's hands, then using wires to fasten the handcuffs to two heaters. The torturer pulls the wires in opposite directions, making the victim feel as if his arms are being torn off. This method puts the victim through agonizing pain. The longer the arms are pulled, the more pain he suffers. Especially in the morning, the pain is so great that one would rather die than continue to live.

In February 2003, Mr. Wang Xiaodon from Yuman City was transferred to Jiuquan Prison by guards from Lanzhou Prison. Because Mr. Wang refused to "confess" to committing any crimes, he was detained in a confinement cell. He went on a hunger strike to protest the persecution. In April 2003, he went on a hunger strike again after he saw an article on the bulletin board that defamed Falun Gong. His condition was critical after hunger striking for eight days. Ning Weixin, a particularly wicked guard, and his supervisor applied the "Beng Torture" to Mr. Wang for a whole day and night. Three days later, they again used this torture on him.

In July 2003, eight practitioners were transferred to Jiuquan Prison from Lanzhou Prison. They were locked in confinement cells on the fourth floor of the West Building. Because Mr. Lu Quanyi and Mr. Li Yuhai refused to recite the "criminals' code of conduct," Ning Weixin and his supervisor used the "Beng Torture" on them. Mr. Lu lost consciousness after going though it. He was carried by four criminal inmates to the clinic. Thirty minutes later he regained consciousness and was again put through the torture. By 4 or 5 a.m., he was in so much pain that his screams could be heard throughout the whole prison.

Practitioner Mr. Wang Xiaodong went to Ning Weixin and protested his use of this torture on Mr. Lu Quanyi and Mr. Li Yuhai. Half an hour later, Ning took him to the confinement cell and tortured him the same way for three days and two nights.

In July 2004, Mr. Ma Yong and Mr. Wang Wenzhong were transferred to Jiuquan Prison from Lanzhou Prison. In September, they were ordered to recite the "criminals' code of conduct." Because they refused, Ning Weixing locked Mr. Wang into a confinement cell and applied the "Beng Torture." To protest the persecution, Mr. Wang jumped out of the window from the second floor. He broke his arm. He was taken to the medical clinic for treatment. When Mr. Ma protested the torture used against Mr. Wang, Ning immediately tied him up and used the same torture on him.

On December 1st, 2005, Mr. Zhang Yanrong, Mr. Liu Yongchun, and 20 other practitioners were transferred to Jiuquan Prison from Wuwei Prison. They were put through a new round of vicious persecution. Attempts were made to "transform¹" Mr. Zhang and several other practitioners. They were not allowed to sleep and were constantly threatened and beaten. When Mr. Shen Shiyong, who was detained in the second division, protested the guards' abuse of practitioners, he was put in a confinement cell where they used the "Beng Torture" on him.

2. Mr. Wang Zexing was persecuted and became mentally disordered

Because of the long-term threats, beatings, and torture, Mr. Wang became mentally disordered and couldn't take care of himself.

Mr. Wang Zexing was from Yongchang City, Gansu Province. He was very strong and healthy before the persecution began. He had a very capable wife and a lovely child. They benefited from Falun Gong tremendously. After the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) started persecuting Falun Gong on July 20th, 1999, his family and he persisted in exposing the persecution and appealing for Falun Gong. Because he didn't have money for train fare to Beijing, he resolutely set off on his bike. From Yongchang City to Beijing, he rode more than 3,000 miles. He slept on the road and ate when he could. After a great deal of hardship he arrived in Beijing and shouted, "Falun Gong is good!"

In 2002, Mr. Wang and his wife, together with other practitioners, went to hang banners and posters in the streets. After one such night, leaflets exposing the persecution of Falun Gong were posted all over Yongchang City. The Communist regime's personnel were shocked and began frenzied, mass arrests. Twelve practitioners were arrested and sent to prison. Mr. Wang didn't say a word when he was interrogated by the police. They hit him on the ankle bone with a glass bottle causing it to swell as thick as his thigh. Inmates in the detention centre berated and bullied him. He was put through great physical and mental suffering.

In December 2002, Mr. Wang Zexing was detained in Lanzhou Prison. In March 2003, he was transferred to Wuwei Prison. On December 1st, 2005, he was sent to Jiuquan Prison. When he was detained in Wuwei Prison, he was forced to undergo surgery that involved opening his abdomen. Afterwards, he was taken back to a confinement cell and left there without anyone to take care of him. No practitioners were allowed to see or talk to him. He became very weak and lost the ability to walk. In December 2005, he was carried to Jiuquan Prison.

The physical and psychological persecution of practitioners in Jiuquan Prison was even more severe. Those practitioners who didn't give up their practice were deprived of sleep. They were beaten, insulted, and isolated in confinement cells where they were forced to watch videos that criticized and slandered Falun Gong.

Amidst ongoing threats, beatings, and torture, Mr. Wang Zexing became mentally disordered. At present, he can't take care of himself.

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")

Chinese version available at http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2009/3/5/196566.html