39-year-old Mr. Lian Yikun Dies after Only Two Months of Incarceration in Suihua Forced Labour Camp

Name: Lian Yikun
Gender: Male
Age: 39
Address: Wumahe District, Yichun City
Occupation: Unknown
Date of Death: July 14th, 2012
Date of Most Recent Arrest: April 26th, 2012
Most Recent Place of Detention: Suihua Forced Labour Camp
City: Yichun
Province: Heilongjiang
Persecution Suffered: Arrest, ID card confiscated, homelessness, imprisonment, forced labour

On July 14th, 2012, the family of Falun Gong practitioner Mr. Lian Yikun was shocked to learn the news that Mr. Lian died in Suihua Forced Labour Camp. He had been held there for only two months and was believed to be in good health when he was first incarcerated.

Mr. Lian was born in 1973 and lived in Wumahe District, Yichun City, Heilongjiang Province. He was held in the Yichun City Forced Labour Camp for one year in 2000, after going to Beijing to appeal for the right to practise Falun Gong. Afterwards he had to leave home to avoid further persecution. Because his identification card had been confiscated by the authorities, he experienced great difficulties in life and work. Mr. Lian returned home on April 26th, 2012, to apply for an identification card. However, he was arrested. He was taken to the Suihua Forced Labour Camp in May.

Two months later, Mr. Lian died. He was only 39.

Suihua Forced Labour Camp has been a central place to detain male Falun Gong practitioners in Heilongjiang Province. The First Team specializes in abusing practitioners using intensified means, in an attempt to force them to renounce their belief. Guards Shi Jian, Jin Qingfu, Fan Xiaodong, Bi Fei, and others are “professional thugs” trained in the Suihua Forced Labour Camp to persecute practitioners.

The severe persecution of Falun Gong practitioners at Suihua Forced Labour Camp, including torture, has been ongoing since 1999. During the past 13 years, the persecution at this camp has caused injury, disability, death, or mental collapse of many practitioners. Several dozen male practitioners are still being detained in the camp.