Doctor Cao Chunqiang Dies after Beatings and Forced Labour

Name: Cao Chunqiang
Gender: Male
Age: 37
Address: Tenth Group, Eighth Village, Banzeng Township, Shunqing District, Nanchong City, Sichuan Province Occupation: Medical Doctor
Date of Death: January 4th, 2010
Date of Most Recent Arrest: March 28th, 2006
Most Recent Place of Detention: Xinhua Men's Forced Labour Camp in Mianyang City
City: Nanchong
Province: Sichuan
Persecution Suffered: Forced labour, brainwashing, beatings, torture, interrogation, detention, denied visitation

Doctor Cao Chunqiang used to have his clinic in the Sanhekou Community in Longmen Town. Because he practised Falun Gong, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) personnel kept harassing him, forcing him to close the clinic in May 2004. He had to work for the Lanjun Drug Store in Longmenchang to support his family of five.

On the morning of March 28th, 2006, while Mr. Cao was working in the store, Huang Longjun, the Longmen Town Police Station director; deputy director Liao; Gaoping District Domestic Security agent Tian (female); and a group of officers arrested him. Seven or eight officers beat and kicked him brutally, severely injuring his head, ear, and genitals. Police said he was arrested for practising Falun Gong, and giving people materials exposing the persecution of Falun Gong. His left ear festered, and his other injuries were not treated.

Police detained Mr. Cao in the Shunqing Township Detention Centre and refused to tell his family where he was, causing delay in his injuries being treated. Police first had him do forced labour in the detention centre for 18 months, then took him to the Xinhua Men's Forced Labour Camp in Miaoyang.

By February 17th, 2007, on Chinese New Year's eve, the camp authorities had to release him due to his ill health. He was deaf and had no strength at all. His family asked the responsible parties to pay for his operation in the hospital.

Soon after the operation, Mr. Cao's health worsened and he had difficulty eating. Doctors found he had late stage liver cancer and would not live much longer. His family was very sad and angry. They asked for compensation. Mr. Cao died on January 4th, 2010. He was as thin as a skeleton, with a big swollen belly. The agencies involved promised to compensate his family 90,000 yuan after the funeral costs, but his family has yet to receive anything.

Chinese version available at http://www.minghui.org/mh/articles/2011/3/5/237207.html