The Persecution of Practitioners in Handan City Forced Labour Camp, Hebei Province

The following Falun Gong practitioners are currently detained at the Special Division of the Handan City Forced Labour Camp in Hebei Province: Zhang Jinru, Tian Xinchang, Li Yongting, Li Zhonghai, Zhang Lianjun, Ma Baoguo, Zhang Qingchao, Ma Xiuyuan, Zhang Qushan, Bai Lianhe, Li Qiuming, He Shiguo and Jin Jianlong.

Among others, guards Liu Yazhe and Chen Chen have been actively involved in persecuting practitioners. They monitor the practitioners around the clock, forbid them from talking about Falun Gong or walking around freely, and even follow them when they fetch water or use the toilet. Inmate assistants Zheng Baowei and Liu Tianzeng have teamed up with guards Ge Qingxi, Wang Zhiming and Zeng Yiwei, attempting to force the practitioners to "transform [forcibly renounce Falun Gong]."

A typical day in the labour camp starts at 6:00 a.m. After washing up, the forced labour of making wreaths begins and doesn't stop until 9:30 p.m. There is almost no break time. The three insubstantial meals include two small buns, a piece of pickled vegetable, and a ladle of thin rice soup for breakfast, two buns with a scoop of bok-choy (Chinese cabbage) soup, sometimes with tree leaves or worms in it, for lunch, and two buns with a scoop of thin rice soup for supper. The food is not enough for anybody. As soon as a refill is announced, the other inmates all run to get more, leaving nothing for practitioners. In addition, the workshop is in the dining hall, and the irritating smell left from the work materials lingers.

In Spring 2009, practitioner Li Jingjun from Jize City developed leukaemia due to long-term forced labour and malnutrition. His face was disfigured and he was very weak. After visiting the clinic every day Mr. Li was still forced to do labour. He was finally put on medical parole.

Practitioner Jin Dianlong, 60, is from Shen County of Heshui City. He was forced to do long-term labour despite his high blood pressure of 220. At the end of the day, his eyes became bloodshot, yet sometimes he had to work overtime, until 10:00 p.m. He has to take anti-hypertension tablets to stay alive.

Practitioner Song Jipu from Hengshui City was transferred to the Special Division in May. He had refused to be "transformed." Prior to that he was in the First Division and was subjected to forced labour. He had very little sleep because of the long-term labour. Besides that, he had to be on-duty at night. The air in the workshop was filled with foam particles. As a result Mr. Song developed a serious pulmonary disease from the dust, and had a fever that wouldn't break for a week. He had to be hospitalised and was put on medical parole.

Practitioner Ma Xiuyuan was given an extended term of six months. He had to mount wreaths and work until midnight, and sometimes as late as 3:00 a.m. every day.

Practitioner An Qinghai is from Jize City. He is around 37 years old. His workload was suddenly increased in May. His supervisor Shang Lin kept intimidating him and putting him under intense pressure. Besides emitting chemical vapours, the material he worked with was very shiny and very irritating to the eyes. The long-term forced labour caused his eyes to blur to the point that he almost went blind. The head of the division nonetheless refused to allow Mr. An to received any medical treatment.

Practitioner Zhang Runsheng, 31, was a worker at the Handan City Iron and Steel Group Company. In April, his workload was increased. Because his supervisor Shang Lin constantly intimidated and intensively pressured him, Mr. Zhang suffered a mental collapse. He was watched over and taken care of by practitioner Chen Wenjing until he was put on medical parole.

Practitioner Geng Sanhuan is disabled. One day in the summer of 2009, he was beaten by Zhang Xuegang while he cleaned spittoons. On a stormy night last summer, he was beaten by inmate assistant Huang Zhangnian simply for sitting on the floor.

In March, practitioner Zhang Qushan was beaten because inmate assistant You Yufang criticised him for not singing or counting off loud enough. You Yufang reported him to guard Ge Qingxi. That night, Ge led Wang Matun, Zhang Jianqiang, and Xing Deke to beat Zhang Qushan on the fifth floor. As a result of the beating, Zhang Qushan couldn't stand up without holding onto the wall for support. His back was full of bruises and he showed symptoms of broken ribs.

In July and August 2009, several guards were trying to force practitioner Zhang Jianqiang to give up his belief in Falun Gong. Guards Gao Jinli, Zuo Tao, and Jia Yingbin took turns shocking him in the ribcage area with two electric batons.

Practitioner Zhang Qiugen from Xingtai County suffered a stroke one morning in March as soon as he got up. Half of his body was numb, and he was sent to the hospital for a check-up. Upon returning, he went to the clinic to fill his prescriptions and tell the doctor what had happened, but the guards stopped him and forced him to continue doing slave labour.

Practitioner Liang Fuxiang is from Wuan City. One night in the spring, he suffered a heart attack and was in great pain. He had no medicine. He was ignored by the persons on duty when he asked for help.

When practitioner He Shiguo was made to stand for a long time, guards Ge Qingxi and inmate Zhang Xuegang slapped his face and beat his hands, legs and shoulders, which caused heavy bruising. He was beaten so badly that he had difficulty getting in and out of bed.

Practitioner Zhang Hongtu is around 70 years old. He was also made to stand for a long period of time, and guards Zuo Tao, Gao Jinli and Gao Fei constantly humiliated him. Guard Zuo Tao slapped his face and kicked him many times when he tried to explain the facts about Falun Gong to them.

Practitioner Zhang Mengguo was beaten by inmate assistant Gao Jinzhu and lost a tooth.

In summer 2008, practitioner Nie Bingzhang was severely beaten by guard Zuo Tao, resulting in perforation of both eardrums. He could not hear others talking.

From May to September 2009, Education Office director Li Poyong slandered Falun Gong, and deputy director Shen Yingjun actively participated in brainwashing Falun Gong practitioners. In the labour camp, guards blatantly stole from practitioners, including taking their detergent and soap. As a result some practitioners couldn't wash their clothes or take a shower for a long time. When practitioners' hands are stained with toxic materials they don't have soap to wash it off. Some also don't have time to wash up before they eat.

The persecutors include Gao Jinli, Zuo Tao, Jia Yingbin, along with Cui Wenyan, Wang Lixia and Wang Mingting from the Education Division.

Chinese version available at http://www.minghui.org/mh/articles/2009/12/14/214407.html