  Brushing a strong alkali compound onto the bottoms of the feet |
  Burning the feet with a cigarette lighter |
The above are representative illustrations, not actual photos
Facts of the Persecution
People's Hearts Determine Their Futures
Voices of Justice
Practitioners Exchange Insights and Experiences
News and Events Around the World
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(Clearwisdom.net) Falun Dafa practitioner Ms. Qin Kejing from Donghe District, Baotou City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous District was in her 50's. She had been detained because she went to Beijing to appeal after July 20, 1999, and was sentenced labor camp in 2001. While in Huhhot City Womens Labor Camp, she was cruelly tortured by police and prisoners. In 2002, she was tortured nearly to death. The Labor Camp Administration was afraid of being held responsible for her death, and had her family take her home. She died during 2003 Spring Festival Holiday season.
The lawless officials in Baotou City have continued to persecute firmly cultivating Falun Dafa practitioners since the persecution began on July 20, 1999. Besides Qin Kejing, many others have been tortured until disabled. About ten practitioners were sentenced prison, several dozen were sentenced to labor camps, many more suffered torture in brainwashing classes, and many have become destitute and homeless in order to avoid being illegally arrested at home.
Names and contact information for the responsible parties:
Qin Pusheng (male), Baotou City "610 Office" employee, 86-13947234777(Cell), 86-472-5861677.
Chen Jianzhong (male), Baotou City "610 Office" employee, 86-472-5129407 (Office)
Yu Li, Wuyuan Labor Camp Police (Production Office Chair), 86-13847860049 (Cell).
Yu Wei (male), former Baotou City Donghe District "610 Office" employee, 86-472-5860286.
Liu Honghai (male), Party Director of Bayan Police Substation of Donghe District, 86-13304728281 (Cell).
Zhang Yao, police of Bayan Police Substation of Donghe District, 86-13191454766 (Cell).
Fang Dong (male), Qingshan District of Baotou City "610 Office" employee, 86-0472-3329610.
Xiao, Director of Gongyuanlu Police Substation of Donghe District, 86-472-4132018 (Office)
Zhou Jianbing, police of Nanhai Police Substation of Baotou City, 86-13171212857 (Home), 86-472-5890618.
Li Shuhua, Police Team Leader of Donghe District Station, long-term involvement in persecuting Falun Gong, 86-472-4161517.
(Clearwisdom.net) Nan Xiaoqing and his family live in Zhang Anmiao Village, Wanggang Township, Xishui County in Hubei Province. They have remained steadfast in their belief in Falun Dafa, but because of that, Jiang's regime broke up their family. The father, Nan Chuyin, died in February 2001 as a result of the persecution. The mother and one of the two younger sisters were also illegally imprisoned numerous times. In addition, the other younger sister has been sentenced to six years in prison merely for distributing Falun Gong materials to clarify the truth to people. Nan Xiaoqing continues to be illegally imprisoned in the Xishui First Detention Center, long past the expiration of his term over a year ago. He suffers from four serious diseases but is still being tortured. He is as skinny as a rail and is in critical condition.
Mr. Nan Xiaoqing is in his thirties. He was sentenced to eight years in prison one month before the Xishui County Court even held a trial. Afterwards, they held a secret trial to announce the end of the case without even informing Nan's family. Nan has appealed to Huanggang City Intermediate Court. Nan has been subjected to severe torture in the detention center. He is extremely weak and is exhibiting symptoms of serious disease. For fear of being held responsible, the detention center sent Nan to the Huanggang City First Hospital on September 6 for an examination. Nan was diagnosed with hypertension, hypertension-related heart disease, kidney function failure, and hardening of the cerebral arteries. He has difficulty digesting food and is emaciated. He only weighs a little over 30 kilograms (65 lbs).
Nan was originally a college student at the Southwest Sichuan Petroleum Institute. His father Nan Chuyin was an excellent doctor with a good reputation and who got along well with others. His mother is a housewife. One younger sister, Nan Tianju, is 26 years old. The other sister, Nan Xifen, is 23 years old and works in the field of nursing and medicine. The five-member family happily learned about Falun Dafa in 1999. They strictly followed the teaching of "Truthfulness, Compassion, Tolerance" to become good people. Through practicing Falun Gong, the sicknesses they suffered from before were cured. They became healthy in mind and body. The whole family lived in harmony and was widely known as a happy family.
Nan was illegally arrested twice and imprisoned for a long time because he
went to Beijing to appeal against the wrongful treatment of Falun Gong to the
Central Government. During that time the Southwest Petroleum Institute accused
Nan of skipping classes for 23 days and expelled him. In May 2000, the Xinhua
News Agency reported that Nan had given up practicing Falun Gong after being
"re-educated". After that, the Southwest Petroleum Institute readmitted him. In
June 2000, the "Sichuan Daily" printed a trumped-up story that Nan had been
"Reformed", which further deceived those who were unclear about the truth of
Falun Dafa.
In April 2003, Nan publicly clarified the magnificence of Falun Dafa to many people. The Xishui police then arrested him and imprisoned him in the Xishui First Detention Center for 19 months beyond his jail term. The Xishui Court sentenced him to eight years of imprisonment without going through any judicial procedures. Six months later they convened a secret court to finish the routine. Nan's family members were not informed during that whole time.
Nan's father Nan Chuyin practiced the Falun Gong exercises in Xishui Square on December 25, 1999, and was brutally beaten. Police officer Xia Shousong smashed his forehead with a flashlight. Together with police officers Yang Jian, Li Xunhua and Gan Shitao, they also slammed Nan to the ground and stepped on his neck with their leather boots. In addition, they randomly kicked Nan on his head and other parts of his body. Nan's face was full of blood. After that, he was delivered to the Xishui First Detention Center. He was beaten almost daily and suffered from endless other tortures. Because of these tortures, Nan was passing blood in his stool. His lower abdomen started to swell bigger and bigger. In May 2000, he was transferred to the Huangshi Labor Camp. Because of his extremely poor physical condition, authorities at the Huangshi Labor Camp dared not admit him. Nan was then returned to the detention center. On September 24 he was transferred to the Shayang Labor Camp and endured further abuse and mistreatment. One night in February 2001, Nan Chuyin died after spitting up a massive amount of blood. "Hubei Legal System Newspaper" published an article on February 23, 2001, distorting the facts. The story lied, claiming that Doctor Nan Chuyin "died because he was obsessed with Falun Gong and refused to be treated."
Nan Xiaoqing's mother and his younger sister closest to him in age Nan Tianju were also imprisoned numerous times because they practiced the Falun Gong exercises and clearly told the government that Falun Dafa is great. Several times they were each on the verge of death. Nan's youngest sister Nan Xifen worked in Sichuan. Because she told the people the truth about Falun Dafa and the facts of the persecution and what her brother suffered and let everyone know that Falun Dafa is great, she was sentenced to six years. She remains imprisoned in Sichuan and is suffering severe torture.
A once happy and good family has been mercilessly persecuted by certain individuals and police officers from Sichuan Public Security Organizations, prosecuting organizations and the people's court. This abuse and mistreatment caused the death of one family member, the imprisonment of others, and the near death of yet another. It is truly extremely tragic!
The names and phone numbers of the relevant departments and responsible personnel:
Hubei Province's Xishui County People's Prosecutor
The chief prosecutor's phone number: 6-713-4235521
Hubei Province's Xishui People's Court
Office: 86-713-4238009
Trial monitoring telephone: 86-713-4238074
Criminal Court No. 1 Chief Judge Tan Zhaojin: 86-713-4238041
Criminal Court No. 1 Deputy Chief Judge Yang Zongdian: 86-713-4238071
Criminal Court No. 1 Deputy Chief Judge Yang Xianqi: 86-713-4240535
Xishui County Judicial Bureau
Office: 86-713-4238009
Judicial Bureau Chief Zhou Zuosheng
Xishui County Police Department chief: 86-713-4234206
Xishui County Police Department deputy chief in charge of Falun Gong Huang
Haijun: 86-713-4262510
Organizations and individuals who need to understand the truth of Falun Gong:
Hubei Province's Xishui County Police Department's deputy political commissar
in charge of incarceration (detention center) You Haibo: 86-713-4226409
Xishui County Police Department First Detention Center chief: He Zhenguo
86-713-4239282
Xishui County Police Department First Detention Center prison doctor: Lu Bilin
86-713-4210395
Hubei Province's Gong Jingyuan Law Firm: 86-713-4232953; Administrator Wang
Yuting: 86-13607251522 (Cell)
Hubei Province's Zhongzhisheng Law Firm: 86-713-4232351; Administrator Wei
Zhijie: 86-13986520979 (Cell)
Xishui County Legal Affairs Help Center (Legal Aid Center): 86-713-4228610;
Administrator Wang Jinhua: 86-713-8906382
Hubei Province, Huanggang City Intermediate People's Court
Hubei Province, Huanggang City People's Prosecutor
Hubei Province, Huanggang Municipal Public Security Bureau
Hubei Province, Huanggang Municipal Public Security Bureau Jail Management Crew
(Clearwisdom.net) The following are truthful descriptions of the conditions that Falun Dafa practitioners were subjected to in Zhangshi Brainwashing Center, Shenyang City, Liaoning Province.
An unknown substance was then poured into the tube. Some police threatened to use beer. Others incited the perpetrators to prepare very dry and salty corn paste, which is hard for the stomach to bear, and leaves the mouth completely dry after the feeding. During the process, the people involved rotated the tube or yanked it back and forth to increase the pain.
Every time a practitioner was force-fed, she sent out a heart-rending, painful groan. The accomplices giggled and laughed wildly. These two sounds echoed throughout the entire small building of Zhangshi. It was beyond description.
Practitioners were thrown down onto a bed. A guard pressed his legs against the body and held the arms down with his hands. At the same time, another persecutor violently forced the upper and lower jaws apart. Practitioners were often beaten severely on the face during the process. After an extended period of such torture, the stainless-steel tool was pushed between the teeth, and twisted to open up very large. Dafa practitioners' mouths were opened so that they could be opened no further. The joints in both jaws were almost torn apart.
The accomplice would then rapidly pour bowls full of water into the mouth, while holding the practitioner's nose. If the practitioner made an effort to spit it out, he or she would be beaten. Usually water was poured quickly, and the next bowl would be pouring before the first one was finished, causing the practitioner to gasp for air and feel weak. Some teeth were broken or torn out by the tool. This happened three or four times every day, and sometimes the personnel even filled the bowl with unknown drugs.
(Clearwisdom.net)
1. Ms. Lu Suming, about 48 years old, is a former employee of the Mentougou Court, Beijing City. In 2001, since Ms. Lu refused to renounce Falun Gong, her home was searched and she was unlawfully sent to forced labor camp for one and a half years. She was released in December 2002. Not long after her release, she published a formal declaration of her determination to continue to practice Falun Dafa on the Minghui website (The Chinese version of Clearwisdom). She also clarified the truth about Dafa to her colleagues, supervisors, and those she came in contact with. She helped those who renounced the practice of Falun Gong under pressure to recognize that they were taking the wrong path.
Someone turned her in to the police, and she was sent to a brainwashing center. A member of the "610 Office" recounted that Lu Suming continued to clarify the truth about Falun Dafa to people in charge of the brainwashing center. Officers tried many different ways to coerce to renounce Falun Gong, but none succeeded. It is rumored that Lu was sent to forced labor camp again and that she was fired from her job.
2. Mr. Zhao Fugui is about 30 years old and a resident of Kanfangzi Village, Yongding
Township, Mentougou District. His entire family practices Falun Gong. He used to
work for the Capital Steel Works, but was fired because he insisted on practicing Falun Gong. During the period from 2000 to 2002, someone reported on Zhao's mother when she delivered literature about Falun Gong. His home was searched, and all four members of his family (Zhao, his wife, his mother and his wife's younger brother) were sent to a forced labor camp. While they were imprisoned at the labor camp, their home was robbed.
Later, Zhao found a job, where he clarified the truth about Falun Gong to people he came in contact with, using his personal experiences. He also helped former practitioners who had been brainwashed. However, he was turned in to the police again. In 2003, his home was searched again, and he was arrested. His current whereabouts are unknown..
3. Mr. Xie Haitao is around 30 years old. He was an employee of the Capital Steel
Works, and lives at Shuangyu, Mentougou District. In 2001, he was sent to forced labor camp for distributing literature about Falun Gong. After his release, he was fired from his job. He bought a truck to transport goods to earn a living and continued to practice Falun Gong. In 2003, he was sent to forced labor camp again after his name was given to the police.
4. Just before April 25, 2004, two female practitioners from Mentougou District was arrested for distributing literature about Falun Gong. One of them was released several days later. The other went on a hunger strike and continued to clarify the truth about Falun Dafa to people she came in contact with. Seeing her determination, the local authorities transferred her to another district.
5. Before July 20, 2004, another 5 practitioners (two men, three women) from the Mentougou District were unlawfully arrested. The eldest of them is a lady in her 60's. It was reported that an undercover agent discovered them and had them arrested.
6. Ms. Xiaoping is around 40 years old and a practitioner from Mentougou. She began to practice Falun Gong because she sought a solution for her poor health. After the persecution began in 1999, she continued to study Falun Dafa at home and did the Falun Gong exercises on a hill near her home for about four years. In 2003, she was reported to the police. Her home was searched and she was detained.
(Clearwisdom.net) At 5:00 a.m. on June 9, 2004, around ten people from the Public Security Bureau in Chengbei District broke into the home of 50-year-old Falun Dafa practitioner Ms. Huang Xuehui. They confiscated her computer, Falun Dafa books, truth clarification CDs and other personal belongings, and abducted her to the detention center. Currently Huang Xuehui is being detained and persecuted in the No.1 Detention Center of Nanning City.
On July 9, 2004, the Public Security Bureau in Chengbei District abducted practitioner Mr. Cai Junping, who is about 30 years old, and his whereabouts are unknown.
At around 7:00-8:00 a.m. on July 9, 2004, Chen Qingyue, Wei Jie and six other policemen from the Nanning City Public Security in Chengbei District and Xincheng Police Station broke into the home of practitioners Ms. Pan Xiangyang (47 years old) and Mr. Yan Yule (20 years old). They confiscated a computer, Falun Dafa books, truth clarification CDs and other personal belongings, and illegally arrested them. Currently Pan Xiangyang and Yan Yule are detained and persecuted in the No.1 Detention Center of Nanning City.
On August 9, 2004, the Xincheng Police Station abducted Dafa practitioner Ms. Zhou Liping, who is about 30 years old, and her whereabouts are unknown.
Phone numbers of people involved in the persecution of practitioners:
Policemen Chen Qingyue, Wei Jie 86-771-2594907
Xingcheng Police Station in Nanning City, Guangxi Province 86-771-2802326
We hope that practitioners are able to call and clarify the truth to them, so that they will stop their persecution.
(Clearwisdom.net) A Falun Gong practice site was established at the Renmin University at the beginning of 1996. Before the persecution of Falun Gong started, about 500 people regularly practiced at this site. Since then, Renmin University, which is also known as a "secondary central communist party school," quickly became an area heavily influenced by Jiang's persecution of Falun Gong.
Appendix to the case of Wang Guiju who died as a result of the persecution
Ms. Wang Guiju, 62 years old, was a retired engineer of the Capital Steel Metallurgy Institute. Her husband Li Wenzhong is a retired teacher of the Chinese Language Center at Renmin University. They lived at the Renmin University housing complex in the Jingyuan Building #5, apartment #14. After the persecution began in 1999, Wang Guiju appealed to the government, using her own example of recovered health and uplifted morals. Her consequent detention began her ordeal of harassment, monitoring and multiple arrests that followed over the next two years. She eventually went into exile to avoid additional persecution. Under tremendous political pressure, her husband forced her into a divorce one month before her death.
On April 27, 2004, because she had been without a home base for a long time, Wang Guiju went back home for a change of clothes and to withdraw some money from the nearby Renmin University Branch of the Industry and Commerce Bank. She called her husband the day before. Her husband Li Wenzhong had been brainwashed, so he reported her to the Renmin University Residential Committee. When Wang Guiju went to withdraw the money, police officers that had been waiting at the bank abducted her and sent her to the Haidian Brainwashing Center. Only 18 days later, on May 14, she was tortured to death. They announced to the public that she had "committed suicide by jumping off a building." There are no high buildings near the brainwashing center. Her clothes, bankbook and 20,000 yuan in cash were divided among the police.
After her death, Wang Guiju's body was quickly cremated. Her husband, afraid of "adversely affecting his future" did not attend her funeral. He even claimed, "I still hope for a promotion." (Although he is retired as a teacher, he may have other titles conferred on him and have other opportunities of getting promoted.) His actions made his two sons, who were in Japan, indignant. They called and condemned their father's vicious deeds. This is another example of how this wide-spread persecution throughout Mainland China has destroyed human nature and family relationships.
Chased by the police and national security guards, Ma Kun went into exile to avoid further persecution
Ms. Ma Kun, born in 1964, was a teacher at Renmin University News Institute Broadcasting Test Center. She was from Shenyang City, Liaoning Province, and grew up in Xianyang City, Shaanxi Province. She graduated from the Media Department of Jiangxi University, now called Nanchang University, in 1987 with a major in photography. Her book of photographs Journey was published in October 1999 by Great Wall Publishers and has become a collector's item, sought by people in dozens of countries. She was among the earliest groups of specialists with a higher education degree in photography in the country.
Ms. Ma Kun first learned about Falun Dafa in August 1997. She was detained multiple times after July 20, 1999, for appealing on behalf of Falun Gong. She was once put into a metal cage after going to report the truth to the people's representatives (congressmen) in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. She was arrested again in April 2000 for distributing Falun Dafa truth flyers. In the middle of March 2001, political hoodlum He Zuoxiu gave an anti-Falun Gong lecture at Renmin University. To thwart practitioners' efforts to expose He's true character, Ma Kun and four fellow practitioners were arrested and sent to Beijing's Tuanhe Forced Labor Camp for brainwashing. They were threatened that they would be put into a labor camp if they refused to renounce their belief.
One week into the brainwashing class, none of the five practitioners had yielded. They were allowed to return to the university and resume their teaching duties. In late March 2001, when Ma Kun was giving a lecture to graduate students, she was abducted again and taken to the Tuanhe Forced Labor Camp Brainwashing Class. Three other practitioners at Renmin University were abducted at the same time. Under the tremendous mental and physical pressure, Ma Kun yielded to the authorities, betraying her ethics and belief. She wrote the "Guarantee Statement" and "regret statement." After returning to the university, Ma Kun was threatened and coerced into further "badmouthing" Falun Gong. Beyond tolerance, Ma Kun could no longer live a life "telling lies as truth" against her convictions. On January 25, 2002, Ma Kun left home and went into exile. During this period, Ma Kun wrote frequent letters to President Ji Baocheng and other leaders at Renmin University, telling the truth of Falun Gong and her persecution experiences. She restated her belief in cultivating Falun Gong. As a result she is wanted by police and national security guards around the country. Under enormous political pressure, her husband Sheng Xigui was forced to divorce her. There is no current information about Ma Kun .
People responsible at Renmin University:
President Ji Baocheng: 86-10-82570099 (Home), his wife Chen Zuying is the Communist Party Secretary of the Adult Education Institute at Renmin University
University Communist Party Secretary Shen Yunsuo: 86-10-62511006 (Office)
Security Department: 86-10-62511073 (Office) Director Li Jingsheng: 86-10-62515183(office)
Political and Security Section: 86-10-62515719
Security Sector: 86-10-62511074
News Institute Communist Party Secretary Liu Xiayang: 86-10-62511013, 86-10-61511009
(Clearwisdom.net) Daxing Dispatch Center and Women's Labor Camp in Beijing are concentration camps for destroying the human spirit and abusing the physical body. We Falun Gong practitioners, who aspire to be good people, publicly clarified the truth about the persecution, and were then illegally imprisoned.
Once entering the Dispatch Center, one is immediately surrounded by a group of police dressed in black uniforms. The police push and press the practitioner on the ground using one foot on the back; then equipped with electric and rubber batons, they stand on the sides, shouting and scolding loudly. They force prisoners to hold their heads with both arms (arms behind the lower-back of the head with fingers crisscrossed), arms cannot be held too high or too low, and must be held right behind the back of the head, otherwise the electric batons would fall on the head with a loud crack; with heels clamped together, toes pointed outward, and elbows clamped in between the legs, it is a very uncomfortable position. If the police are unhappy about you or a detainee shows any sign of weakness to go on, punches, kicks, and electric and rubber batons would fall. This is the first round of torture. There are older women, and also 18 to 19-year-olds, who are shaken and confused, crying for their mothers and wanting to go home.
In the dispatch center, one room serves as the bedroom, the conference room, and the working room. There are 12 beds in the room, but 14, 15 and sometimes 17 people sleep in the room. 12 sleep on bunk beds, 4 on the floor, and there's also one guard who watches Falun Gong practitioners. When sound asleep, if Falun Gong practitioners bent their legs, the guard would hit them to wake them up and tell them that they were practicing Falun Gong during sleep.
The forced labor was intensive and there was a quota to meet. They wrapped chopsticks for 17 to 18 hours everyday. They had to complete the quota before they could rest.
They also had to endure police's excessive insults and other criminals' deliberate abuses. For instance, a drug addict ordered a doctor who is also a professor to mop the floor underneath the bed, and then kicked her in the rear for fun. The drug addict Luanli who is the unit leader defecated and urinated in the shared room and ordered the near-sighted, sixty-year-old Guo Shumin to clean up the mess for her.
In the cold of December, they'd assemble people at four or five o'clock in the morning for drills. Some people from other areas did not have heavy, cotton-padded jackets or woolen sweaters and still had to do drills in their light clothing. The uncoordinated movements of the 60 and 70-year-old seniors from mountain regions who had never exercised before were the target of insults and were laughed at. Anyone who showed caring expressions or gestures of assistance would be chewed out by the police and other criminals. Everybody walked silently with lowered heads, hands held in and eyes straight ahead. No one dared to stand at the door or near the window. Everyone was as mechanical as a robot.
34-year-old Falun Dafa practitioner Ma Xiuyun, who refused to sign a "Guarantee Statement" and insisted on continuing cultivation practice, was imprisoned on the second floor of the Women's Unit in the Dispatch Center. She was locked in a warehouse which had no heating facility. With windows wide open she would be tied to a bedpost and/or hung from the bed, bare-footed, with no food or drink and was not permitted to release her bodily waste and was severely beaten. In order to keep her alive, the evil people casually fed her a steamed bun. In order to reform her, they forced her to remain in her soiled underwear. The drug addict said, "This is to wake her up! She cannot stand the smell so she will reform." A week later, they then put her in the bathing room and stripped her for a wash down. Her arms and legs were bright from the swelling and were difficult to move, but they still forced her to do physical labor. The heavy, warm clothes and socks that people gave her to keep warm were taken by the drug addict for her own use. The toothpaste, soap, shampoo, facial tissue, paper and other daily necessities that Falun Gong practitioners brought with them were all taken or robbed by the police and other criminals.
Sun Li of Dalian is 30-something-years-old. She used to be diagnosed with regeneration barrier anemia. After practicing Falun Gong she was cured. Sun Li went to validate Falun Dafa in Beijing, and the police sent her to the dispatch center. The group leader Wang Chao locked her in isolation for a day without reason. Wang Chao kicked and punched Sun Li, denied her of food and water, and made her squat, and used the torture method of "Flying an Airplane" to torture her. He even sexually harassed her by shamelessly touching Sun Li's private parts.
Ma Ziying is a 50-something-year-old practitioner from Beijing. One day she was working in the lobby in the 2nd building. While she was waiting in line for the restroom, police officer Guo Linna suddenly slapped her numerous times, saying that Ma Ziying wasn't looking at the ground, but was looking at her instead.
The police punished Xiong Wei of Haidian, Beijing, with lame excuses and forced her to squat up and down while saying "report, yes, yes" 500 times. She was later transferred to Xinan Labor Camp 4th Group.
In the labor camp, the 4th group leaders Li Jirong and Liu Qinzhen would punish practitioners who kept a handkerchief under their pillow. They would criticize them in group meetings and take off 10 points. If the wash basin wasn't placed the way officer Zhang Shuxian liked it, she would force the practitioner to write a self-critic and to apologize in group meetings.
Liu Guiping is a 30-something-year-old Beijing practitioner. She was exhausted after extremely intensive labor, and was sent to the emergency room. They performed 5 electrocardiograms and other various examinations on her. They gave her medicine and put her on a 2-hour observation. On the 3rd day she was re-examined and was taking 7 to 8 kinds of medicine daily. They were hypertension pills and other pills to treat the heart. That night the prison medical doctor told her that she was going to be fine. Officer Li Ziping (the shift-manager) then said, "The doctor said you are fine, you are pretending to be sick, you have to write me a self-examination." A day later Liu Guiping went back for an examination, did 3 more electrocardiograms, and was taking 7 to 8 kinds of medicine; yet she still participated in laboring, as well as writing the "self-examination" for not being sick.
Those in the camp and center that were over 50-years-old all had various degrees of constipation. It was because of the limited water supply; 7 to 8 practitioners shared only a small pot of water, with 1 or 2 mouthfuls it was gone. Another reason is because of the lack of vegetable intake. The third reason is because they weren't given the time to use the restroom. They had to stand in long lines for the restroom. Oftentimes the police would force them out before they even finished. Another reason is because of stress, causing internal secretion disorder, constipation, loss of hair as well as high blood pressure.
Just in the 4th group 27 to 30 people were taking medication. Some of them would utter words during their sleep. They would give reports as if talking to a superior, cry, curse, criticize others, and sleepwalk during their sleep. This happened everyday.
Zhao Xiaohua is a 30-something-year-old practitioner from Chongwen District, Beijing. She was in the 5th unit, 4th group. She was often beaten during the night; we could hear her cries throughout the halls. Liu Xiuping from the 6th unit is a 30-something-year-old college student from Lanzhou, Gansu. Li Jirong had brutally beaten her in the past. One time officer Zhang Xiaojie cursed Teacher and Liu Xiuping showed displeasure. The unit leader Chen Lili suddenly jumped on her and beat her. Liu Xiuping's face was black and purple, and her body was bruised all over.
The group-assembly in the labor camp was even more vicious. Du Rongfen was steadfast in her practice. She is a 30-something-year-old from Jing County, Hebei Province. Because she shouted "Falun Dafa is great," Chai Guo and other male guards beat her with electric batons in the group-assembly. Du Rongfen's screams made listeners throw up, urinate in their pants and shudder. They put Du Rongfen in isolation for over 10 days and didn't allow other practitioners to come into contact with her.
There are too many examples and we can't mention them all. We can only disclose some of them to shed light on the truth of the Jiang regime's persecution of Falun Gong.
(Clearwisdom.net) Ms. Zhang Tongtong, 17 years old, is a Falun Dafa practitioner from Mengyin County, Shandong Province. On July 20, 2003, she went to Beijing to appeal to the government on behalf of Falun Gong and was arrested by the Beijing Public Security Branch Bureau. She was brought back to Mengyin County by Lei Yancheng, chief of the Mengyin County "610 Office," and sent to a brainwashing center.
Ms. Zhang Tongtong went on a hunger strike to protest the illegal arrest. She asked to see her family members and asked for her release. At around noon on the third day of her detention, her father (not a practitioner) was told to go visit her. Lei Yancheng threatened Tongtong's father: "If your daughter doesn't start eating, you will not be leaving here." Zhang Tongtong told them, "If you don't let my father go, I will not eat." Jiao Yuxiang, deputy chief of the "610 Office," said to her sarcastically, "You think you are still qualified to bargain with us?"
Several days later, Tongtong's father came to visit her again. Lei Yancheng threatened him again, "If your daughter is not being transformed, you won't be leaving here!" Her father said, "If you detain me illegally for twenty-four hours, I can go to court to sue you for your abuse of power." Lei laughed and said, "That is funny! You are going to sue me? I am the law here, what I say is what counts. Also there is a secret order from Jiang Zemin that we don't have to follow the law when it comes to dealing with Falun Gong affairs. Go ahead and sue me, nobody will bother with you." Lei Yancheng then had him imprisoned for ten days.
During their imprisonment, both father and daughter were verbally abused by Lei Yancheng, Fang Simin (deputy chief of the county "610 Office"), Jiao Yuxiang, and Wang Xin ("610 Office" staff member). They were beaten and forced to watch films slandering Falun Dafa and spreading lies about the staged Tiananmen Square self-immolation. They were forced to write down what they "learned", brainwashed every night, and deprived of sleep. Lei used different tactics on Tongtong's father. At one instant, Lei would say to Tongtong's father, "We won't beat your daughter, since she is only a child. Let's work together to educate her and save her." But later, Lei would threaten her father, "We are following Jiang's policy that it doesn't matter if we kill a Falun Gong practitioner, and those who are killed can be counted as suicide. Although I don't have the power to kill you, I can have your daughter sentenced for ten or eight years in prison." This kind of treatment exhausted her father both mentally and physically.
After they detained her father for ten days, they told him to go home and to bring fifteen thousand yuan in exchange for her release; otherwise, Zhang Tongtong would be sent to Jinan Forced Labor Camp for two years. They also told him that the order for her daughter to be sent to the forced labor camp had been approved. Later on, no one from Zhang Tongtong's family was allowed to visit her. Lei also threatened Zhang Tongtong by saying, "You are being sentenced to two years of forced labor. If you are not reformed, we will send you to the labor camp." Lei and his subordinates used lies, trickery, intimidation and extortion against her family, and in the meantime subjected her to brainwashing.
On August 26, 2003, Zhang Tongtong's father managed to borrow fifteen thousand yuan, which is a huge sum of money for a poor village family. Lei and his subordinates were overjoyed and divided up the money among them. Mr. Zhang wasn't given any receipt or documentation for the money.
Now, Zhang Tongtong's family is deeply in debt, and her father blames her for causing their family such a burden. This has created a tremendous amount of pressure for Tongtong. Another family is being torn apart as a result of the persecution.
(Clearwisdom.net)
"If more people are involved in Falun Gong practice, fewer people will listen to them"
One day I ran into a middle school teacher that I had clarified the truth about Falun Gong to before. He asked me if I still practiced Falun Gong. I told him that practicing Falun Gong had made me healthy, both physically and mentally, so how could I stop practicing?
The teacher replied that it was because Falun Gong was so good that Jiang Zemin's regime banned it, because it interfered with his regime. I was confused by this and asked him to explain further.
The teacher said, "Your Teacher has taught you to become a person that follows Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance. Do not strike back if someone beats you! Do not swear back if someone curses at you! Think of others first and look inside yourself when conflicts arise. Quietly, you have become better people. You are on the right track. Look at today's society. People look out only for their own benefit and do not care much about others. Things such as corruption, drugs, and many bad things have led society to deeper levels of degradation. Now, so many people, like you, want to practice Falun Gong. If more people are involved in Falun Gong practice, fewer people will listen to them (Jiang's faction)."
"Now, I know why there are so many people practicing Falun Gong."
By a practitioner from Dalian City
On March 29, 2004, I went to Yuxian County, Henan Province, to visit my relatives. At dinner, several guests tried to make a toast and handed me a cigarette. I politely refused. They asked me why I did not drink or smoke. I told them, "I practice Falun Gong." They were quit surprised. They stopped me and said, "You dare to admit that you are a Falun Gong practitioner. You could get arrested, if we report this to the police."
I told them calmly, "I am not a bad person and haven't done anything wrong. They should not arrest me." Someone asked, "The government has banned Falun Gong, why do you still insist on practicing? What kind of benefits can people or society get from it? "
I replied, "I do not smoke or drink, and I have become very healthy after starting to practice. Our Teacher has taught us to conduct ourselves according to Truthfulness, Compassion, and Tolerance. Do not strike back, if someone hits you. Do not swear back, if someone curses at you. Think of others first and look inside yourself when there is a conflict."
One person stood up, waved his hands to stop me and said, "You don't even need to go any further. The things you have talked about are already very good -- if it just allows people to stop smoking and drinking, and gives them good health, it's already great. Now, I know why there are so many people practicing Falun Gong."
On the night of September 28, 2004, the Chinese consulate in Houston held a celebration and invited many local Chinese celebrities. Learning this news, Falun Gong practitioners in Houston went to the consulate, hoping to clarify the truth of Falun Gong to the local Chinese people and the consulate staff.
One practitioner arrived several hours before the party began. He practiced the exercises on the lawn in front of the consulate. Several staff from the consulate tried to drive him away, claiming that it was illegal to practice on the lawn and called in the police. Soon four policemen arrived. After finding out the whole story, the police told the staff that what Falun Gong practitioners did was legal.
According to the local practitioners, they have been practicing the exercises and appealing peacefully before the consulate unremittingly for 5 years, since the persecution of Falun Gong began. Recently the consulate staff planted many flowers and bushes on the lawn facing the consulate, to drive away Falun Gong practitioners, so practitioners contacted the local police department and the city government. The mayor's office responded saying that Falun Gong practitioners are allowed to practice in front of the consulate.
About an hour before the party began, practitioners who finished working arrived at the consulate one after another. Some of them practiced exercises, some displayed banners and truth clarifying signs. The people who came to attend the party passed by the practitioners one by one with smiles of goodwill and understanding nods.
Some of them were well acquainted with one of the practitioners present. They greeted the practitioner in the face of consulate officials and chatted with him happily. One of them said to the practitioner, "I went inside to attend the party, while my conscience stayed outside with you". Another one went into the consulate with Falun Gong truth clarifying materials presented by practitioners.
A passer-by came over to find out what had happened. The practitioners explained the story. He then said, "I support you completely. I have some emergency matters now; however I would like to take 5 minutes to appeal together with you." After speaking he stood among practitioners.
The consulate officials nervously came to the door. One of them came over and attempted to drive Falun Gong practitioners away again. Practitioners remained standing there peacefully. One practitioner was kindly reasoning with the official. At that time the police came over and told the official to leave, claiming that the Falun Gong practitioners have the freedom and right to appeal there peacefully.
One practitioner expressed gratitude to the police and comprehensively clarified the truth of Falun Gong, including the extent of the persecution by Jiang's regime overseas and how Chinese embassies and consulates circulate rumors and interfere with practitioners' activities.
The police said that they support our appeals and were thankful for our cooperation. They also said that they know very well that we are peaceful and they felt at ease with us. One policeman said jokingly, "They (the consulate) called us in to deal with you, but we came to protect you instead. In fact we showed no partiality to any sides. We only support justice and abide by the law." Another policeman said, "I saw a consulate staff take your photos just now. Will that be harmful to you?" One practitioner answered: "Since the persecution of Falun Gong started on July 20, 1999, they have been collecting our names and personal information. Some practitioners (for example Charles Li) were arrested upon arrival at Chinese airports."
After practitioners thanked the police for their support, several consulate officials immediately went to the police and tried to speak with them further; however the police left impatiently. Later the police told practitioners, "They (the consulate) are very hard to deal with."
The party finished very quickly. About half an hour after the party began, people began to leave. Some came over to see the truth clarifying display boards, some accepted the truth clarifying materials and said "thank you." Sometimes a group of people stood outside of the consulate. The practitioners greeted them sincerely and invited them to learn the facts of Falun Gong and to help stop the persecution, as well as wishing them a Happy Fall Festival.
When one guest left, he said to the practitioners, "You are so amazing!" One practitioner said that the guest already heard the truth of Falun Gong and was very sympathetic. He also admired practitioners very much but he showed doubt that practitioners could carry on much longer. He said he would wait and see. Whenever he saw practitioners take part in community activities or held truth clarifying activities, he would express his admiration.
Another guest stood before the truth clarifying display board, saying, "I take your side. But why don't you just practice at home? That way you can prevent being tortured or even murdered." One practitioner responded, "The result will be the same even if you only practice at home. Moreover even on the free lands overseas, many practitioners are still harassed by consulates." He understood immediately and nodded repeatedly.
Practitioners also seized the opportune moment to clarify the truth to Chinese officials standing in front of the consulate and told them that the prime culprit Jiang Zemin, who persecuted Falun Gong and other officials involved, had been sued overseas. More and more people across the world know the truth and stand out to support Falun Gong. The practitioners advised the officials not to take part in the persecution. The officials did not speak and listened silently. One of them quietly took off the card with his name.
Practitioners feel more and more people are learning the truth of Falun Dafa. The goodness and the unrelenting efforts and great benevolence and forbearance of practitioners are gradually going deep into people's hearts.
(Clearwisdom.net) Some officials in Anping County, Hebei Province, followed Jiang's Regime closely in the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners. Since July 20, 1999, nearly a thousand families in the county have suffered all kinds of abuses: hundreds of practitioners have been arrested, sentenced, sent to forced labor camps, brainwashed, and otherwise mentally abused or physically tortured. Some officials also extorted money from practitioners and their families. According to incomplete statistics, as of January 2004 more than 60 families in the county were either fined or had extorted from them a total of over 203,700 yuan. The Clearwisdom website has reported details of some of these incidents. Among the officials that brutally tortured the incarcerated practitioners are Anping County's Police Department Political and Security Sector head Hou Dajian and Anping County's Detention Center administrator Sun Hongli. They are the most vicious ones.
Hou Dajian organized several sorties to arrest practitioners. He was rewarded by his superiors for his active participation in the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners. Every time he arrested practitioners, he would body-search them, both males and females. If he could not find much cash on a practitioner, he would get very angry and start beating the male practitioner or verbally abusing the woman practitioner. Hou often extorted money from practitioners' family members. The highest "fine" he ever levied was 18,000 yuan, which caused the families and the practitioners significant mental and financial hardship.
Anping County Detention Center administrator Sun Hongli designated certain rooms in the center to torture practitioners. He also instructed other criminals to torture practitioners cruelly and force fed practitioners who were on hunger strikes. Below is a description of the tortures one practitioner experienced in Anping County Detention Center.
Feet Burned by Strong Alkali; Force Fed highly concentrated salt solutions
I started practicing Falun Gong in 1997. In 2002, I was arrested and sent to the Anping County Detention Center where I was subjected to vicious tortures. Police Hou Dajian from the Anping County Police Department's Political and Security Sector instructed several guards to drag me into a dark room and put me in handcuffs. They fastened me to the ground and whipped my legs with finger-sized sticks. Every stroke left me with a black bruise. They whipped me until they were too tired to continue.
Several days later they dragged me into a room with a large metal chair. They tied me to the chair and started beating my legs, feet and toes with arm-sized wooden sticks. They beat me so hard that the sticks broke into pieces so short that they could not even hold onto them any more. Later, police officers kicked my ankles and legs with leather boots and stepped on my toes as hard as they could.
The bruises from earlier tortures had not yet disappeared, but center administrator Sun Hongli again ordered the guards to tie me up onto the metal chair. This time they instructed other criminals to hit my chest with their fists and elbows continuously for an hour. In the process I kept telling them the truth about Falun Gong, telling them all practitioners are good people and they should not treat good people like this.
I went on a hunger strike to protest the illegal imprisonment and persecution. On the sixth day of my hunger strike they started brutal force-feeding. Seven or eight people pushed me down to the ground and tried to insert tubes into my nose. I did not cooperate. They injured my nose and throat and made them bleed but failed in the force-feeding. Later they found two experienced people to again try to force feed me, but they also failed. The force-feeding procedure was extremely painful. Later they tried to give me intravenous infusions, but they could not find any vein in my arms or legs. Finally they forced the needle in, but I did not corporate and pulled the needle out. I am a good person, not a criminal! They should not have imprisoned and tortured me like this.
On the eleventh day of my hunger strike, Sun Hongli and the guards carried me to an empty warehouse, where I was tied to a bench. Sun instructed criminals to take off my shoes and socks and then brush a strong alkali compound on the bottoms of my feet. Such alkali could easily burn through skin. After a while they let a criminal named Zhigang burn the arch of my feet with a cigarette lighter for about half an hour, which left two date-sized blisters on the bottoms of my feet. They also force fed me highly concentrated salt solutions, leaving my mouth full of salt.
The unendurable pain and suffering I experienced is really hard to describe. These atrocities against me were all carried out under Sun Hongli's instructions. During the whole process he kept yelling, "This is the punishment for not eating. If you die I will cremate you immediately."
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Brushing a strong alkali compound onto the bottoms of the feet |
Burning the feet with a cigarette lighter |
The above are representative illustrations, not actual photos
Anping Detention Center: 86-318-7524363. Director: Sun Hongli
Anping County Police Department: 86-318-7524205, 86-318-7524270, 86-318-5254652
Political and Security Sector Director Hou Dajian (from Anping County's Qianliuying Village) 86-137-03182638 (cell), 86-318-7526826 (home)
Yang Shushan, Hengshui City's "610 Office" head, currently living in Anping County
Du Jianping, on Hengshui City's "610 Office" staff, currently living in Anping County
Zhang Yi, Anping County's "610 Office" head
Wu Zhengxiang, from Anping County's Nanzhuan Huotou Village, chairman of the Political and Security Section: 86-137-03182885 (cell), 86-318-7267781 (home)
Jiao Chunling, female, Deputy Chief of the County's Police Department in charge of Falun Gong: 86-139-03183678(cell), 86-318-7526826 (home)
(Clearwisdom.net)
October 4, 2004
Mr. Speaker, I rise to urge passage of H. Con. Res. 304, expressing the sense of Congress that the Government of the People's Republic of China should cease its persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in the United States and in China. Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, I commend you for introducing this legislation and for speaking out against human rights abuses throughout the world.
Members of Congress need to be aware of the brutal suppression of human rights and religious freedoms being carried out by the People's Republic of China. From forced abortion and labor camps, to the imprisonment and sometimes even execution of brave Chinese who dare to stand up for their faith or political beliefs, Hu Jintao's regime, like that of Jiang Zemin before, is one of the worst violators of human rights in the world.
While Christians, Tibetan Buddhists, and Muslim Uighurs are all being persecuted for the faith, the suffering of peaceful Falun Gong practitioners has been especially intense. In 1999, China's dictators launched a brutal campaign to completely eradicate Falun Gong from their country through whatever means necessary, claiming that Falun Gong was a threat to "social order" in China. The reason behind this campaign of brutality is clear: by the mid to late 1990s, the number of Falun Gong practitioners began to exceed the number of members of the Communist Party. Like all dictators and totalitarian terror systems, the PRC fears and hates what it cannot control. So it sought to destroy and intimidate those who practice Falun Gong. I would also note that the regime has labeled as "cults" and is now oppressing other groups with followings comparable to that of the Falun Gong, such as the Xiang Gong, Guo Gong, and Zhong Gong qigong groups.
Falun Gong is not a religion, per se, but rather more like a philosophy. Based on the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Tolerance, Falun Gong uses a series of five physical and mental exercises to assist its members to purify themselves spiritually and peacefully resolve conflicts. Whatever one may say about the merits of their beliefs, the evidence is very clear that Falun Gong practitioners are peaceful individuals who want to be left alone to practice their beliefs as they see fit.
To carry out the task of smashing those who practice Falun Gong, the Beijing dictatorship created "610 Offices" throughout China to oversee and direct the persecution of Falun Gong through brainwashing, torture, and murder.
The State Department Human Rights Report for 2003 has several pages documenting the plight of the Falun Gong. We know at least 250 Falun Gong members have died as a result of torture thus far. For instance, in only a three-month period from June to August last year, more than 50 Falun Gong died in custody, many from torture in detention camps. Other estimates place the total body count higher. Bodies of the tortured victims are often cremated immediately to conceal evidence of torture. The report indicated that Falun Gong adherents sent to mental health institutions have been administered psychiatric drugs and electric shock treatments by Chinese authorities.
Several thousand Falun Gong practitioners--estimated at 125,000 or higher--are held in labor camps, prisons, and mental hospitals, where they are forced to endure torture brainwashing sessions. For example, in December 2003, Liu Chengjun, sentenced to 19 years in prison in March 2002 for involvement in illegal Falun Gong television broadcasts, was reportedly beaten to death by police in Jilin City Prison.
The government continues to find new ways to crack down on Falun Gong. Over the past year, the Government initiated a comprehensive effort to round up practitioners not already in custody and sanctioned the use of high-pressure tactics and mandatory anti-Falun Gong study sessions to force practitioners to renounce Falun Gong. Even practitioners who had not protested or made other public demonstrations of belief reportedly were forced to attend anti-Falun Gong classes or were sent directly to reeducation-through-labor camps, where in some cases, beatings and torture reportedly were used to force them to recant. These tactics reportedly resulted in large number of practitioners signing pledges to renounce the movement.
At the National People's Congress session in March, Premier Wen Jiabao's Government Work Report emphasized that the Government would "expand and deepen its battle against cults," including Falun Gong. Thousands of individuals were still undergoing criminal, administrative, and extrajudicial punishment for engaging in Falun Gong practices, admitting that they adhered to the teachings of Falun Gong, or refusing to criticize the organization or its founder.
During April to June 2003, the Government launched fresh accusations that Falun Gong practitioners were disrupting SARS-prevention efforts. State-run media claimed that, beginning in April, Falun Gong followers "incited public panic" and otherwise "sabotaged" anti-SARS efforts in many provinces by preaching that belief in Falun Gong will prevent persons from contracting SARS. Authorities detained hundreds of Falun Gong adherents on such charges, including 69 in Jiangsu Province during May and 180 in Hebei Province during June.
But Beijing is not confining its disgusting torture and brainwashing campaign to its own people. Chinese-American citizens and permanent residents are also victims. One American citizen, Dr. Charles Li, was arrested January 22, 2003 in China upon his arrival at an airport. A Falun Gong practitioner, the Chinese government alleges he attempted to sabotage television and radio equipment, even though he had just arrived in the country. Dr. Li has gone on continual hunger strikes to protest his arrest but been subject to forced feedings. There are reports that he is being subjected to brainwashing and anti-Falun Gong propaganda. At least 37 other Falun Gong practitioners who have family members that are residing in the U.S. are also in prison in China. Authorities also detained foreign Falun Gong practitioners from other countries. For example, in January 2003, two Australian citizens were deported for engaging in Falun Gong activities in Sichuan Province.
As my colleagues know, a sizeable number of Falun Gong practitioners reside here in the United States. They attempt to raise awareness about the horrors their fellow believers are subject to through meeting with government officials and through holding peaceful protests. Just this past August, Falun Gong members gathered on the Mall to pass out literature and inform Americans of the great suffering those in their faith are enduring. When Hu Jintao and other state leaders responsible for this purge are visiting foreign countries, Falun Gong members travel overseas to protest and raise awareness of the brutal persecution.
In response, China's persecution against the Falun Gong has moved outside of China's own borders. Large numbers of Falun Gong in the United States have reported to have been harassed. The FBI is currently investigating beatings of Falun Gong practitioners in Atlanta and Chicago. On June 23, 2003, Falun Gong practitioners in New York were harassed and physically violated by Chinese nationals associated with the consulate. Charges have been filed with the authorities. Li Li and some of her friends were involved with this incident.
Persecution of Falun Gong in China is horrific enough itself. The fact that China is now exporting its repression to weaker foreign nations under the guise of ''safety'' and ''public order'' is even worse. The cancer of China's repression is spreading all over the world. The PRC is not content to beat and torture and silence those inside its own borders. Now it is seeking to bully other nations into doing its bidding. When will this country wake up and stand up to this kind of nonsense?
I call upon all members of this body to support H. Con. Res. 304. I call on the administration to step up its efforts to speak up for the Falun Gong and out against the actions of the Chinese government immediately.
(Clearwisdom.net)
October 4, 2004
Mr. Speaker, the U.S. State Department's 2004 International Religious Freedom report for China begins as follows: "During the period covered by this report, the Government's respect for freedom of religion and freedom of conscience remained poor, especially for many unregistered religious groups and spiritual movements such as the Falun Gong."
According to the report, the arrest, detention, and imprisonment of Falun Gong practitioners continued, and practitioners who refuse to recant their beliefs are sometimes subjected to harsh treatment in prisons and reeducation-through-labor camps and there have been credible reports of deaths due to torture and abuse.
Foreign observers estimate that half of the 250,000 officially recorded inmates in the country's reeducation-through-labor camps are Falun Gong adherents.
Falun Gong blends aspects of Taoism, Buddhism, and the meditation techniques and physical exercises of qigong (a traditional Chinese exercise discipline) with the teachings of Falun Gong leader Li Hongzhi. Despite its spiritual content, Falun Gong does not consider itself a religion and has no clergy or places of worship.
Mr. Speaker, this resolution calls upon the government of China to immediately end the harassment, detention, physical abuse, and imprisonment of individuals who are exercising their legitimate rights to freedom of religion, freedom of expression, and freedom of association as stated in the Constitution of the People's Republic of China.
The importance of this cannot be overstated--the protection of religious freedom is intimately connected to the protection of other fundamental human and civil rights, as well as to the growth of democracy.
A government that acknowledges and protects freedom of religion and conscience is one that understands the inherent and inviolable dignity of the human person, and is more likely to protect, the other rights fundamental to human dignity, such as freedom from arbitrary arrest or seizure, or freedom from torture and murder.
Mr. Speaker, this resolution sends an important message to the government of China that we will not look the other way when they violate the basic rights of their people, and that we demand of our partners in the international community the protection of the most basic human rights--freedom to worship freely.
(Clearwisdom.net)
October 4, 2004
Mr. Speaker, I would like to express my support for H. Con. Res. 304, a resolution honoring the tradition and practice of Falun Gong. As a cosponsor of this resolution, I urge my colleagues to vote yes on this important piece of legislation.
H. Con. Res. 304 calls on the Chinese Government to stop interfering with the religious and political rights of individuals in the United States to practice Falun Gong. The Chinese Government has gone so far as to spread falsehoods about Falun Gong and to harass, detain, abuse and imprison Falun Gong practitioners. The practitioners are simply exercising their legitimate right to freedom of religion and expression, and the actions of the Chinese Government conflict with international standards of freedom and human rights and must end immediately.
I have an admiration for the practitioners and adherents of Falun Gong and I am invested in the movement both in the United States and abroad. I remain committed to the task of making Falun Gong safe to practice in any country in the world. The members of Falun Gong are opposed by a Chinese government that unjustly views them as dissenters. This view is entirely without merit. In reality, Falun Gong is an inherently peaceful, apolitical movement that stresses nonviolence and meditation. Since Falun Gong was outlawed in 1999, hundreds of nonviolent practitioners have been arrested, tortured, libeled, and detained without charge or proof of any wrongdoing.
Sadly, the unwarranted and unprovoked aggression against Falun Gong has not ceased, nor is it limited to China. There have been unprovoked attacks in the United States and Falun Gong members have been subjected to a humiliating and denigrating blacklist.
One incident that I found particularly offensive took place in June 2003. Falun Gong members were attacked and beaten while holding a nonviolent protest in New York City. In an effort to end the discrimination that confronts Falun Gong practitioners, I wrote a letter to the Manhattan District Attorney, Robert Morgenthau, requesting an investigation of this case. I hope that justice prevails in this case.
With passage of H. Con. Res. 304, we can send a strong signal condemning China's human rights abuses and we can take one step closer to ensuring Falun Gong members the freedom of religion and assembly guaranteed to them by law.
(Clearwisdom.net) Our message conveyed to the public is carried by our truth clarification materials, so it is critical that we safeguard the message, tone and approach used in our materials so they can have the best effect on the audience we are trying to reach, which for the Manhattan effort, are Westerners living and/or working in Manhattan.
We have many English materials for truth clarification that are quite good and are available to those in Manhattan who are passing out the materials on street corners, at torture exhibit sites and other events in New York City.
However, a few of issues have come up that we need to all be aware of because it will greatly influence how effective our truth clarification efforts are:
1) On a few occasions, practitioners from different areas have put in time and effort to produce English materials that were nearly identical to materials already produced by another area, and consequently, we have duplicated our efforts. With everyone so busy, we need to coordinate ourselves better so we don't waste time and resources duplicating efforts.
2) Some materials have been brought to Manhattan for distribution that either contained inappropriate material, tones, or approaches that may not be very effective with Westerners in Manhattan.
3) Some materials have been brought to Manhattan for distribution that contain only local contact numbers from other areas, and no contact information for the New York area.
What makes the issue a little more complicated is that we have many practitioners coming to the New York area who do not speak or read English, so it is difficult for them to determine which materials to use.
Therefore, below we have listed out all the English materials that are available to be used in Manhattan and for each one given a brief explanation as to the message it carries for everyday people so practitioners who are unfamiliar with the materials and/or do not read English can determine which ones to use in different circumstances.
Please do not hand out materials on the streets in Manhattan unless they are included in this document.
Also, please do not print materials in your local area and then bring them to Manhattan. If you would like to help with the printing effort, have your local Falun Dafa Association contact New York's Falun Dafa Association.
If you know of other good English materials that you think would be good for use in Manhattan but are not specified in this document, please share the materials with the New York Falun Dafa Association and we will add them to this document.
Thank you.
New York Falun Dafa Association
Falun Gong Fliers
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FALUN DAFA
These two flyers are the same except for the main photo on the cover. These flyers focus mostly on the practice itself and have been used for a few years at local practice sites around New York. These flyers contain a little information about the persecution, but mostly they promote the practice.
 WHY ARE MILLIONS PERSECUTED FOR DOING THIS? |
 WHEN BAD THING HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE |
While these two flyers have very different covers, the content inside is very similar. They focus mostly on the persecution, explaining what the persecution is, why/how it started and a little about the propaganda. These flyers also contain some information on the practice of Falun Gong.
Falun Gong Newspapers
FALUN GONG TODAY
This newspaper was made especially for Western New Yorkers. It contains comprehensive information on the main questions everyday people have about Falun Gong, such as details and an overview of the persecution, why/how the persecution started, Jiang's role, the propaganda, lawsuits, how to help, etc.
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FALUN DAFA READER
These are general English newspapers that cover what is Falun Gong, what is the persecution, torture and killings, lawsuits, etc.
NOTE: There are a few newspapers with "Falun Dafa Reader" as the title, but with different covers. They are all fine to use.
STATE TERRORISM
This newspaper focuses mostly on the persecution, torture, killings, etc. There is a section in the back that gives a brief overview of the practice.
This newspaper might be good for handing out at torture exhibits.
Falun Gong Magazines/Publications
COMPASSION
Lawsuit Around the World Take Aim at Genocide in China
This magazine covers the persecution and related lawsuits very in-depth, with a few personal stories and one article about the practice.
It is expensive and so should only be given to people who express a particular interest to know more or for when we meet with VIPs
COMPASSION
Celebrating Ten Years of Truthfulness， Compassion， Forbearance
This magazine covers the history of Falun Gong in China and around the world, with information about the persecution and events around the world.
It is expensive and so should only be given to people who express a particular interest to know more or for when we meet with VIPs.
UNITED NATIONS REPORTS
This magazine documents all the UN reports on Falun Gong, and could be very good when meeting with UN or any kind of government official or concerned organization. Many officials find these reports very credible because they come from the UN.
There is also an insert available which details the locations of NYC practice sites where newcomers can learn the exercises. This, of course, is also appropriate to hand out.
(Clearwisdom.net) I was continuously tortured both physically and mentally while detained at the Xindian Female Labor Camp in Taiyuan City, Shanxi Province. Such long-term suffering, however, could not change my determined heart. When I looked within throughout that experience, I also found many of my own attachments.
In "Towards Consummation" Teacher taught,
"Do you know that one of the biggest excuses the old evil forces use at present to persecute Dafa is that your fundamental attachments remain concealed? So in order to identify those people, the tribulations have been made more severe."
When I read this article before I was detained, the issue of "fundamental attachments" always puzzled me. I could not figure out exactly what they might be.
Now I have realized that I study the Fa with attachments. For example, I studied the Fa for the purpose of eliminating karma and in hopes of avoiding suffering in the future. I refused to denounce Falun Gong because I was afraid that I would go to the hell if I did. I realize now that all of these thoughts are attachments. "Studying the Fa" is to distinguish the righteous from the evil and to assimilate to the principle of "Truth, Compassion and Tolerance." As long as my path is righteous, I should not give in no matter how much suffering I have to bear.
I have heard some practitioners claim that they agreed to be "transformed" and give up their belief under pressure, then continue to practice after being released and do "good deeds" to make up for their mistakes. In the article "Dafa is Indestructible" Teacher said,
"And any attachment of fear is itself a barrier that prevents you from reaching Consummation..."
We have waited for tens of thousands of years just for this Fa rectification period and to save sentient beings. Why do we step back when Dafa needs us to step forward?
In the labor camp, some practitioners who have their third eyes open said that they had seen Teacher, and that He asked them to do certain things. I knew myself that what they saw were fake Fashen. Others were spreading fake articles, claiming Teacher wrote them. I only believed what I had read myself and nothing else.
My third eye is not open. But I firmly believe in Dafa.
"The Fa can break all attachments, the Fa can destroy all evil, the Fa can shatter all lies, and the Fa can strengthen righteous thoughts."
("Drive Out Interference")
We can always see through the lies if our heart is within the Fa.
Beginning October 23, 2003, the labor camp started another round of physical and mental torture against me. I was completely deprived of sleep and forced to stand for 24 hours. I was not allowed to sit or to use the toilet. I was forced to squat. When I asked to use the toilet I was forced to insult Dafa and Teacher before I was given permission, so I always tried to prolong this need. As a result, I sometimes lost control of my bodily functions. Sometimes the police forced me to stay outside in cold weather in the middle of the night wearing only a thin layer of clothing. I was given only preserved salty vegetables and cold steamed buns, while the criminals were fed vegetables. To avoid the need to use the toilet, I ate and drank very little. After two months, my bones began to protrude from my body. Several months later, I lost the ability to walk; however, they still forced me to carry heavy loads. Even today my knees still cause me pain. One time a criminal struck me on the head, and it bled profusely. They continuously tortured me for over two months, but I never denounced Dafa and Teacher.
I recall another time when a criminal beat me up. The beating was excruciatingly painful. I was not afraid at that moment, but I was fearful later on. Then I saw Teacher in a dream. He told me, "You have been through so much. What are you afraid of?" I then realized that I still had the attachment of fear, and that this was my fundamental attachment. Studying the Fa is to assimilate to the principle of "Truth, Compassion and Tolerance" and it is unconditional. Dafa is indestructible. What was I afraid of? Gradually I got rid of my heart of fear.
When I was forced to stay out in the cold, others saw me being carried by beings in other dimensions. I just knew that I could endure anything as long as I firmly believed in Dafa. This was despite constant threats from my tormentors who said, "You will suffer forever until you are brainwashed." They even asked me, "If you know that you will not see the day come when the Fa rectifies the human world, will you still refuse to be brainwashed?" I told them that I would never be brainwashed. During those days, I often thought to myself, "Even if I were tortured every moment of my entire life, even if I lose my life, I will never be brainwashed. What am I afraid of, so long I have Teacher and the Fa in my heart?" The tribulations disappeared when these righteous thoughts came out. When they tortured me, I truly felt as if "hundreds kind of tribulations all come down" (cited from "Hongyin").
I feel incredibly fortunate to have obtained the Fa during the Fa rectification period. Although I have suffered to such an extent, I know that validating Falun Dafa is the most sacred and magnificent thing I have ever done. I have waited for millions of years for this moment.
When detained in the labor camp, every word of Teacher is precious. I suggest fellow practitioners, especially those who stay at home, learn to recite all of Teacher's articles and lectures. Let's treasure this precious opportunity and strive forward for the sake of the truth and Dafa. Our future is bright.
(Clearwisdom.net) One month after starting to practice Falun Dafa in 2001, I joined the television project team. After five months, I began to memorize the Fa, and after seven months, I organized a Falun Dafa club at school. During the initial stages of clarifying the facts in the television group, I went to New York without hesitation. It has been three years today. During the whole process, it was apparent that I was doing well, even though I started relatively late. I managed to quickly catch up with the powerful current of the Fa-rectification. But under these circumstances, I discovered that I had deeply concealed attachments.
From a young age, I was very good at art. Every time I took part in the inter-school art competition, I won first prize. Because of this, I gradually became indifferent to the competitions. No matter what happened, I would win first prize. When I was attending high school, I was given commendations for one of the first three prizes in each competition I entered. It was an established practice that for every three minor commendations, one would be awarded a minor honor, and with three minor honors, one would be awarded a major honor. When I graduated from high school, I had won six or seven major honors and broken the school record. The school nominated me as the most accomplished graduate for that year. I managed to enter the art class through examination for admission to the Senior Middle School. At the University, I also managed to secure a place in the most prestigious academy. With all these accomplishments, I could not stand anyone being better than I was. It gradually turned me into someone who was very unyielding and always looking to put others down. I was becoming very irresponsible.
During this period of time, I discovered that I had some very impure sentiments while doing work to validate Dafa. Very often, I would accept a great quantity of work. At times I could perform the task very well and accomplished a lot. But as I thought about it more, I came to realize that for the practitioners who began practicing after the persecution began in 1999, there was no distinction between validating the Fa and cultivation. So, was I really cultivating during the process? Certainly, my temper improved a fair bit. I was becoming more patient. But I discovered that when I accepted an assignment, it was only to prove that I was superior to others in doing the work. Because I thought I could do better than others, it was natural that I should do the work. Sometimes I looked down on the work of fellow practitioners. Having carefully examined myself, I found that in my mind, I was not really clarifying the truth, nor was I considering the salvation of all sentient beings.
When fellow practitioners complimented me after I produced a film on clarifying the facts, I became more conceited. Considering it now, even though I made many compact discs for clarifying the facts to be sent to China, because I had so many impure thoughts, their effectiveness was greatly reduced. When I read Teacher's article that reminded us that we should not be trying to prove ourselves but should be trying to validate Dafa, I thought that it was not directed at me, so I was unwilling to face my greatest attachment.
Because I had such ideas and attachments, whenever I was confronted with problems, I only casually looked within. I was kidding myself into thinking that I had already looked within, when in fact I had not dug out the problems at the roots. On top of that, as an ordinary person, I had always been prone to a lot of empty talk. It led me to talk a lot at Fa-study sessions about my experiences. This only enhanced my attachments. For a certain period of time, I was unable to speak up when I attended Fa-study sessions. Sometimes I started to speak, only to find that my brain was totally blank. I could not remember what I wanted to say. Sometimes, when I had just started to speak, someone would interrupt me. Thinking about it now, I know it was Teacher giving me a hint: "Listen more to other people's experiences and carefully contemplate your own."
If you ask me what the most frightening thing in cultivation is, I would say it is when you "deceive yourself." Finding excuses for not doing the three things that Teacher requires us to do became a habit. At the same time, I would also think to myself that I should not do such a thing in the future. But, because I had already found some excuse for myself, when I repeated the mistake, I would only see it as something trivial. Then, I would again tell myself just not to repeat it in the future. This had become a regular occurrence, until I read Teacher's recent article, "Let Go of Human Attachments and Save the World's People." Every time I read it, I would cry uncontrollably. Initially, I would feel that Teacher was merciful, as I used to shed tears when I read any of Teacher's articles. But when I used the Fa to reflect on what I did, I realized why I was crying. My long-term attachments had blocked my path to returning to the origin. Perhaps it was because the part of me that had cultivated well understood that I had not been diligent. I always sought comfort, knowing full well that there is very little time left in the Fa-rectification period.
Previously, a fellow practitioner told me, "If you have not cultivated well, do not be so hard on yourself to act that way." It was like what I used to believe, just concentrating on whatever I have enlightened to. But after close examination, this was actually making excuses for myself again. Teacher has taught us to have a high requirement for ourselves, and when we do anything according to the Fa, nothing should be left out. But we often make excuses for ourselves. No matter what we have enlightened to, it is only a very insignificant portion of the boundless Fa. So why don't we demand more of ourselves?
I wanted to share my experiences with fellow practitioners, so that we may improve in cultivation together.
(Clearwisdom.net)
Our Footprints are All Over Manhattan; Clarifying the Truth All Over New York City
(By a Falun Gong practitioner from Washington, DC)
Since mid August we have taken to the streets of Manhattan every weekend to clarify the truth about Falun Gong and distribute flyers. Other than holding torture exhibits in busy streets, I almost always held up an exhibition board. One side of the board chronicles facts of the persecution; the other side gives an introduction to Falun Gong. I stood near a subway entrance intersection. I held the board in one hand, flyers in the other. I directed the board toward the area where there were the most people, and many people accepted a flyer.
If we speak at the same time we hand out flyers and hold up the board, the effect is better. Even if passers-by don't take accept a flyer, they would hear us or see the board. I noticed that many people took flyers out of sympathy after they read the facts of the persecution. Several people tried to give me money or iced tea. I thanked them but didn't accept anything from them. Once, a girl looking like a student stood next to me, waiting for the light to change. I asked if she wanted a flyer, but she said no. She shook her head. But when she read "Stop Persecuting Falun Gong in China!" on the board she said, "Sorry" and took a flyer. We should do our best and provide people with the opportunity to be saved. Master is the one who saves people!
At first, I stood at one place for half a day or longer at a time and often didn't eat anything until 3:00 p.m. or 4:00 p.m. Some people passed me by several times a day. At first they refused to take a flyer. After they had passed me several times, they took one. When I first saw practitioners walking around with boards I didn't think it was a great idea. Later, when we held a torture photo exhibit at Sixth Avenue and 52nd Street, we saw many people, so we formed into groups of two. I held the board high and another practitioner distributed flyers. Although many passers-by didn't take a flyer, I observed that they looked at the boards from a distance.
On Sunday, September 26, we walked to Madison Avenue. We saw police officers all over the place. They said it was a Muslim holiday and there was going to be a parade in the afternoon. We found out that if only one police officer was on duty, he or she would take a flyer and listen to us clarifying the truth; however, if there were two or more officers, they would refuse to take a flyer, saying they were on duty. They know China is under dictatorship, but they don't know why the government would persecute Falun Gong. I told one officer that former dictator Jiang was envious and could not tolerate so many people believing in Truth-Compassion-Tolerance. When I told them the former dictator also controlled the Chinese military, he believed me totally. When I talked about jealousy, I mentioned the fairy tale Snow White and I used it to illustrate Jiang's envy, likening Jiang to the queen in the story.
When the Muslim parade group passed us, we turned the exhibition boards toward them. After the parade, everyone gathered at 23rd Street where many street vendors were present. We held up boards and distributed two bags of flyers. We even had the opportunity to talk to some of them; no one refused us.
Some practitioners paired up and walked around to clarify the truth. The outcome was very good. We realized there are 16 main north-south avenues, including Park Avenue, Madison Avenue, Lexington Avenue and Broadway. If we have two practitioners standing on each side of the street, we would need 64 practitioners. Starting from the south end of Manhattan, it's approximately six miles to reach 86th Street, and we can walk this distance easily in one day. We will have left our footprints behind all over Manhattan. Other practitioners can do it their own way. The people would feel our omnipresence and they would want to know the cause.
This "walking" truth clarification effort, to allow people to hear or see the truth, is like a Great Wall of Courage. We won't block traffic, we don't need a permit and we don't need to spend money on advertising. As the old forces are restricting the mainstream media, this is an effective way to break away from the old forces' arrangements.
In the past month, we discovered many ways to clarify the truth, not only through a torture exhibit but also by way of a torture picture exhibit, entertaining shows, speeches, movie viewing. Coming into contact with anyone it is a good opportunity to clarify the truth to that person. When we park our car, when we buy fast food, when we ask for directions at a gas station, we can use these opportunities to clarify the truth to the predestined people who cross our paths, and we should not let the opportunity slip. Once, I went to have a document notarized and gave the clerk a flyer and a VCD. She was very happy and grateful.
All in all, as long as we always remember we are Dafa practitioners, opportunities are everywhere. Master's fashen is arranging everything so we can offer salvation to more people.
The above are some of my suggestions and experiences. Please point out anything inappropriate.
Breaking Through the Language Barrier and Clarifying the Truth in Manhattan
(By a practitioner from Taiwan)
I realized it is an urgent matter to clarify the truth in Manhattan, part of Falun Dafa practitioners' sacred mission. After making arrangements with family and at work, we took off for Manhattan.
No one in our group speaks English, so before we left, I prepared some simple dialogue in English and Chinese. I made banners and pictures and downloaded truth clarification audio from Clearwisdom.
However, when we first stood near Time's Square and were face to face with the tall Westerners, we were afraid and overwhelmed.
After sharing with fellow practitioners how to overcome the language barrier, we realized we are validating the Fa and we should work as one whole body, so that we as particles form a field of righteous thoughts and fully utilize every practitioner's strength.
Drawing from what we learned during the two previous days, we used the least number of practitioners to hold banners and picture boards. One or two practitioners distributed flyers, while the rest of the practitioners did the Falun Gong exercises. We created a good field and the outcome was very good.
People constantly stopped by to look at the pictures and take flyers. They asked us questions and looked shocked. Some wanted to learn the exercises. At first we could only use gestures with one or two English words, but they seemed to understand. But we thought, "Wouldn't it be great if we could clarify the truth clearly and thoroughly!" Soon, an English-speaking practitioner came and helped us, so we would not miss the predestined people.
Every time before we settled down to clarify the truth, we corrected our mindsets and formed a benevolent field. English-speaking practitioners always came to help us so we complemented each other and worked well as a whole body.
Everyone who learned the truth during this process responded kindly. They said, "We support you;" "we wish you success;" "good luck", "God bless you." More and more people learned the truth.
From this trip to Manhattan I learned that the presence of a single Dafa practitioner has righteous power. Once we break through human notions such as "I can't do this, I can't do that" we can do everything. As long as our xinxing is up to the standard and we are well prepared, a benevolent look and a kind smile and greeting would work in Manhattan to do what we are set out to do.
A Truth Clarification Trip to Manhattan
(By a Dafa practitioner from Taiwan)
On September 20, 2004, we arrived in the center of world commerce and finance, Manhattan.
Scene one: we felt this was a very important historic mission. After we dropped our baggage at the hotel, we wanted to go out and clarify the truth. We went near Time's Square, but everyone was in a hurry and ignored us. Some practitioners traveled a long distance to awaken these people. In the evening we went to the Time's Square again but people were still in a hurry. Two practitioners sat down, sent forth righteous thoughts and did the meditation. Two practitioners distributed pamphlets and clarified the truth, and one practitioner held the board. When we played Falun Gong music, the whole atmosphere changed. Many people looked at the boards and the practitioners who were doing the meditation, and we were shorthanded in giving out the flyers. The changes were simply magical. People supported and encouraged us, and some learned the exercises. We left at 11:00 p.m. and were going to come back on the next day.
Scene two: after sending forth righteous thoughts at 6:00 a.m., we decided to go to a subway station. We saw people in suits going in all directions. We smiled and held up the boards, hoping to give them the most precious gift in their life. They were in a great hurry but some smiled and took a flyer from us. We were happy for them.
Scene three: After we entered a subway station, people who didn't take the flyer on the street took it in the station. Almost everyone asked for the flyer. We were truly happy for them.
Scene four: after we sent forth righteous thoughts at noon, we saw a man sitting beside us doing some exercise gestures. We thought he was a fellow practitioner. When we asked he said he was passing by, and he felt energy passing through his body. He was curious, so he sat with us. We gave him a flyer.
Scene five: Battery Park. Today is Saturday and we originally planned to clarify the truth on Ellis Island, but the police said we were not allowed to take flyers and display boards onto the island. After a discussion we decided not to go to the island but stay where we were and do the meditation and distribute flyers. The music attracted all the people who were waiting for the ferry. There were people from 11:00 a.m. to 4 p.m., and many of them looked at the boards and took flyers.
On our way back, we passed by a fair, and many people looked at the boards and asked us how to learn Falun Gong.
Scene six: today is Sunday, our last day in Manhattan. We again went to the
ferry terminal but there were no many tourists in the morning. Crowds of people
arrived at 11:30 a.m. All of us got tanned in the sunshine, but we were not
deterred in our determination to offer people salvation. Today everyone who
speaks English clarified the truth and we distributed all of our flyers. Our
hearts felt warm and fulfilled.
Practitioners from Australia, New Zealand, and Japan clarify the truth on the streets of Manhattan.
(Clearwidsom.net) We clarify the truth to people in New York's busy Manhattan, up and down its broad avenues. These are some anecdotes about New Yorkers that I'd like to share with everyone.
The other day I was giving out truth-clarifying material. As I turned my head, I saw a lady standing in front of the torture exhibition and busily explaining to three or four companions about Falun Gong and why practitioners are being persecuted. I was pleasantly surprised and asked her, "Are you helping us to clarify the truth and explain about the persecution? This is great!" She nodded her head with pride so I could not help but hug her. She was very happy that she could help us. She also told me that she knows the truth about the persecution and had helped distribute truth-clarifying material previously. I gave her more leaflets when she expressed the desire to give some to her friends and colleagues.
Another New Yorker, who had come by the day before and taken a lot of truth-clarifying flyers to distribute, came back again to ask for more material to distribute.
On Saturday afternoon a lady who works in a nearby office building came to the torture exhibition. She went straight to the table containing materials and petitions and signed her name. She said that she had taken a flyer in the morning and read it straight after she got back to the office. She felt unable to sit still after she had read the information, so she rushed back to our location in the afternoon and asked what else she could do. I recommended that she tell the truth about the persecution to other people. She nodded and said that she would clarify the truth to government officials such as the senator in her district, the mayor, the governor and so on and urge them to continue their efforts at ending the persecution of Falun Gong.
After he learned the facts of the persecution from us, a gentleman told us that we should let more people know about our activities. He mentioned a weekly magazine in New York City that reports all the local events such as street fairs, educational activities, entertainment, appeals and demonstrations. They could report the times and locations of our Torture Exhibits in advance so more people could learn about our activities.
When people hurriedly walk by without accepting a truth-clarifying flyer, I often feel a gentle sadness as I watch them disappear into the distance. A few times, some of them have turned back to grab material from me.
After another New Yorker listened to the facts of the persecution, he told me that he had a Master's degree in Library Science. He signed our petition with the surname "Wood." We kept chatting and finally he bent down and added a few more letters to his surname and made it "Woodstock." He looked at my puzzled expression and, with a little embarrassment, explained that "Woodstock" was his real name, but he had been a little worried at first so he didn't write his complete surname.
A couple that came from Europe to tour New York was very supportive after we clarified the truth to them. Some time after they departed they returned to give us some of their food and water.
On Saturday a New Yorker named Anthony came and told me that he had learned a great deal about the East and China and that he had practiced a kind of Daoist gong. After I clarified the truth to him and told him about Falun Gong, he expressed the desire to learn it, so I taught him the first and second exercises and the Lotus position of the fifth exercise right there. When he was learning the meditation, he could only manage it in the single lotus position with his leg turned high upwards. He came by again on Sunday and told me that he had practiced at home Saturday and his leg turned much lower during the meditation. He again studied the posters and the torture exhibition carefully. With deep sympathy he looked at the older female practitioner who was acting out the "Tiger Bench" (1) torture and asked her how long she had been practicing Falun Gong and where she was from. Before he left he said that he would continue to distribute truth-clarifying material for us and he would find the exercise practice sites in New York City.
(1) Practitioners are forced to sit on a small iron bench that is approximately 20 cm (6 inches) tall with their knees tied together. With their hands tied behind their backs or sometimes placed on their knees, they are forced to sit straight up and look straight ahead.
(Clearwisdom.net) Wall Street's skyscrapers are sparkling under the brilliant sunny September sky. The vehicles rumble on the busy street, and people walk in haste. With yellow T-Shirts, Falun Gong practitioners appear on Manhattan's main boulevards and side streets to distribute truth-clarifying materials, to tell the truth about the persecution of Falun Gong in China, and to stage torture exhibits. "Aunt" Tao, who lives in Maryland, also came to New York to tell the truth. The following are several encounters she has had.
One day a nicely dressed lady with extraordinary disposition showed up in front of Aunt Tao. When Aunt Tao started to hand a flyer to her she said, "I already have your information, and I also have watched your VCD. Both are very good. I also browsed your homepage on the Internet. I am sincerely sympathetic for your cause and will support you, but the reason I came here today is to ask you a question, "You are here now, but how long will you stay in New York and when will you return home?" Her beautiful blue eyes were looking at Aunt Tao with concern. Though Aunt Tao's English was not fluent, she understood every word the woman said. Aunt Tao replied, "I do not know how long I will need to stay in New York. If I need to stay here for another month, and all the people in New York can be as nice and kind as you about understanding and supporting us, then I will return home. If this result cannot be achieved yet, then I will continue my stay in New York." Aunt Tao said these English words very naturally, which was beyond her own expectations. Right after she said these words, tears started flowing from the woman's eyes. She tightly grasped both of Aunt Tao's hands as her tears streamed down her face. She could not say anything for quite a while. Before leaving, she kept asking Aunt Tao to take care of herself.
An older Chinese couple from Hong Kong was in New York on a business trip. When they saw Aunt Tao telling people the truth about Falun Gong, they could not understand why she would do such a thing. Although they appeared unsympathetic, Aunt Tao calmly started to explain the facts to them. Before long, the couple was nodding in agreement again and again. Before leaving, they also took truth-clarifying materials to read later. After they left, a practitioner came over to ask Aunt Tao, "What did you say to them? How come they changed their attitude all of a sudden?"
According to Aunt Tao they had asked, "How come Falun Gong is everywhere in New York? Isn't Falun Gong banned in China? When you do things like this, won't the Chinese government be embarrassed?" Aunt Tao had responded, "The reason that China banned Falun Gong was because the dictator, Jiang, was afraid that there were too many people believing in 'Truth, Compassion, and Forbearance' and he could not satisfactorily control these people. Except for China, Falun Gong is legal in all other countries. They are the ones guilty of the crime of persecution, yet they want to frame and criminalize Falun Gong. Our efforts to reveal the truth are to offer people salvation, including you, from being deceived and from having your minds poisoned." The couple also said, "The circumstances for Falun Gong in Hong Kong are also very difficult!" Aunt Tao said, "That is because the Chinese Communist Party suppresses Falun Gong in an attempt to make the 'one country - two systems' policy into a policy in name only." In response, the older couple hastily nodded and said, "Indeed! Indeed!"
Aunt Tao told us later, "In fact, this is the mighty virtue of Dafa. Our actions are the result of Teacher allowing us to raise our mind nature or Xinxing."
(Clearwisdom.net) A Falun Dafa practitioner told me the following story of a fellow practitioner.
By the coast of the East Sea, there was a beautiful village. One of the families has lived there for generations. The family has done many good deeds. Above their doorway, they have a huge, red sign that says "Hall of Good Deeds." The family members have been admonished by their elders to be good persons and to do good deeds. This is the family of the great grandfather of the practitioner. The great grandfather was kind and honest, always ready to lend a helping hand to other people. He was also very talented. He knew Chinese medicine, the Book of Changes, and the Eight Trigrams. He is mostly known for his skills in treating animals.
Long ago, many households in the village raised big animals. When villagers' animals had problems, he could treat them. He never asked for any money in return. The practitioner's grandfather and father were both influenced by the great grandfather's virtue. The practitioner belonged to the fourth generation. Her grandmother used to tell her about the relationship between good deeds and our life. She would tell her, "Your grandfather has been in the army for ten years now, and he has been in many dangerous battles, but he has never been shot. Isn't this magical? This is the reward for the good deeds done by his ancestors." All these had planted a seed in her mind about the relationship between good deeds and rewards. She had understood the principle that good will meet with good and evil with evil. Therefore early in her life, she followed this principle, and was kind and helpful to others, which laid a foundation for her obtaining the Fa later on in her life.
She was a hard-working employee. She never minded her own interest and had won the trust of her boss and had always been given important posts. Once, in an accident, she came into contact with some chemicals, which caused her to become unconscious for twenty minutes. She was then asked to go home to recuperate, her salary was suspended, and the company only paid for her living expenses. Then her health deteriorated. She became slow, lost her memory, felt nauseous, had bad coughs, felt sick and dizzy, there was a spasm of blood vessels on her face, and she developed heart problems. Every now and then her heart would skip a beat. She had problems all over her body.
She turned from a healthy woman to a patient that required twenty-four hour monitoring. As soon as she got a cold, she would slip into a coma. She was on the verge of death six times and emergency medical services were required to rescue her. She had visited numerous large hospitals for treatment and had seen many specialists. She was told that nothing was available to cleanse her body of the toxins. Her symptoms were getting more and more serious, and she had to stay home, but she needed someone to be with her at all times. If she went into a coma, she would die within three minutes if assistance were not available. Her whole family was devastated. Her mother cried and her husband was so worried. Her preschool child did not know how to write, but learned to use Pinyin (Mandarin phonetic symbols) to write, "To save mom, call 120" and left the note by the phone. Sadness and fear hovered over the family.
While she was clinging to life, in 1997, a lady gave her a copy of Zhuan Falun and told her that as long as she studied the book and practiced the exercises, and followed the principle of Truthfulness, Compassion and Tolerance, Teacher would cleanse her body for her. She started to read Zhuan Falun. She didn't remember anything at first, but she persisted and read a dozen pages at a time. All of a sudden she felt very good. The sick feeling was reduced. She continued to read, and the more she read, the better she felt. She wanted to do the exercises, but she was so weak and could not stand. So she started with the sitting exercises. At first, she could only do it for one or two minutes, and it was excruciating, but she felt good afterwards. From three minutes, she went on to five and ten minutes. After a period of time, she touched her face and it did not feel as rough as before.
After a month of the sitting exercises, she started to do the standing exercises. She tried to get up, but could only do one movement. Then she said to herself, it is such a good exercise, I have to continue no matter what. She managed to complete the first movements of the first exercise three times, then the third and fourth exercises. The second exercise was quite difficult for her. Her heartbeat would stop on and off and she could not breathe, but she persisted. After three months, it got better and she was not dizzy any more. She stopped suffering from dizziness and her insomnia was better. Since then, she did not need her mother or husband to look after her. Every time she practiced, she perspired, with a strong odor, even in deep winter. She asked some veteran practitioners about that, and was told that since she was poisoned, Teacher Li may just be cleansing body, ridding her body of the poison.
Six months later, it was Teacher Li's birthday. She said to herself, as a gift to Teacher Li, I have to be able to do the lotus position with both legs. As soon as she had the thought, she was able to put her two legs in lotus position for about ten minutes. Not long later, she was nodding her head every time she meditated, which meant that her Small Heavenly Circulation was opened. She had never expected this to happen so fast. Since then, she studied the Fa and meditated every day. At first, it took her about two weeks to finish Zhuan Falun and she could read Zhuan Falun three times in a month. Often, by the time she read the third lecture, she would have karma-eliminating symptoms. Her illnesses all came back. It took her three to five days or a week at most to get better. It happened repeatedly, just as Teacher Li had pointed out in his article "Sickness Karma." She memorized what Teacher Li said, "It's hard to endure, but you can endure it. It's hard to do, but you can do it." No matter how hard it was, she would forge ahead. Once she could not move as if she was in a coma. She had her faith in Teacher Li, and strengthened her righteous thoughts. She asked her husband to put the book of Zhuan Falun on her chest. After about two or three minutes, she was fine. She was very grateful to Teacher Li and became more diligent in her cultivation.
Another six months later, she had a fever. She knew that it was Teacher Li who was helping her to eliminate her karma. She was going to measure her body temperature, but then the thermometer fell to the ground and broke into two parts. She realized that she could put up with it. After much struggling and pain, she fell asleep. When she woke up, her fever had subsided and she felt so good. In the past, her body was cold all the time. In the winter, she had to be covered with four padded quilts plus a hot water bottle. Now she felt warm and the cold feeling was eliminated by Teacher Li. She asked her mother to feel her feet and hands, which were nice and warm.
One year later, her great heavenly circulation was connected and she could lift off when she meditated; when she walked or rode on the bike, it was like being pushed. She felt so light and all her illnesses were gone. Teacher Li had given her a new life. Every day, she would say to people that Falun Dafa is good. Her parents told everybody that Falun Gong is a miracle and it cured their daughter's terminal illnesses. She looked so fresh and great. Eighteen months later, her Maoyou Heavenly Circulation was opened, her head moved from side to side when she meditated, first to the left, then to the right, repeatedly. She felt a warm current through her body. At that time, only her thoughts were left, she could not feel her body. It was a great feeling. She experienced the magic of Falun Dafa. Step by step, she experienced the cultivation process outlined by Teacher Li in Zhuan Falun. She cherished the opportunity to practice Falun Dafa and she studied and practiced every day.
After the persecution began on July 20, 1999, many practitioners went to Beijing to appeal for the right to practice Falun Dafa and safeguard Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. Although very few practitioners in her city went, she went on her own to the National Appeal Office to talk to the people about the wonders of Falun Dafa. Even the plainclothes officers listened to her attentively until she finished. Some even said, "Falun Gong is good. Look how energetic she is." After that, they were not as harsh to her anymore. Then she was sent to the Beijing Office of her city, where about 30 practitioners were being detained, from 7 years old to over 70 years old. When she realized so many practitioners had stepped forward to validate Dafa, she was very moved.
On the next day, she was picked up by a representative from her company and sent back to the local police station. There she continued to clarify the truth to the police. One of the policeman said, after hearing her story, "So and so is not well, I think he should practice Falun Gong." The police asked her, "All those that went to Beijing to appeal had to be thrown in jail, how come you are not afraid of being jailed? Other people are very afraid." She said, "To safeguard Falun Dafa, I am not afraid of dying, nor being jailed." After she was jailed, many practitioners in her area went to Beijing to validate Dafa.
She did not write any Guarantee Statements after she was released. For two years, the police tried all kinds of tricks to "transform" her, but were not successful. They were very angry and said, if she refused to write the statement, they would send her to a forced labor camp. Her boss knew that she was a nice person and rejected the police. "My employee is a good person. You cannot send her to a forced labor camp." Failing that, the police monitored her and sent her to brainwashing classes many times. It turned out that it was easier to move mountains than to move her. Whoever dealt with her found it impossible to change her.
On a Sunday afternoon, she was taking a child of her relative home. She was reciting one of Teacher Li's articles,
"Indestructible righteous faith in the cosmos's Truth forms benevolent Dafa disciples' rock-solid, Diamond-Like Bodies, it frightens all evil, and the light of Truth it emanates makes the unrighteous elements in all beings' thoughts disintegrate. However strong the righteous thoughts are, that's how great the power is." ("Also in a Few Words" Essentials for Further Advancement II)
While she was walking north along the sidewalk, a car was coming towards her. They were only about 3-4 meters apart. At this point, she saw some white smoke coming out from the back of the car and at the same time, there was a loud "boom." The car exploded. Broken glass was flying everywhere like snowflakes. She was not scared at all seeing things flying all over. She thought, I have a protective cover from Teacher Li. As soon as she had the thought, she felt that her body was covered and she was not hurt at all. Then she remembered the child, where is he? He was crying in the bike-seat, but he was not injured at all. There was a lot of broken glass in the boy's bike-seat. She picked up the child and let him walk a little. He seemed ok. She looked at the car. The doors, windows, and roof were all gone. One sales person ran out to inquire about the incident. She told her that the car exploded. Seeing the two of them standing amongst the broken glass, the sales person was amazed. "You guys were not hurt? You two are so lucky." She said, "Yes, it is because I practice Falun Dafa. It's my Teacher who has saved us." However, several people died due to the accident.
The explosion, the shower of broken glass, and the flying car doors, windows--any one of those could have killed them. The experience just proved that the Buddha Law is very immense.
(Clearwisdom.net) From September 29-October 3, 2004, the Indonesia Book Fair 2004 sponsored by Indonesian Book Publishers Association was held at the Jakarta Hilton Convention Center. The Chairman of the Indonesian Book Publishers Association hosted the opening ceremony. The theme of the book fair was "Books and Children." There were 120 participating organizations distributed at A and B exhibition halls.
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"Uncompromising Courage" Art Exhibit
Indonesian Falun Dafa Association participated in the book fair. Besides holding Falun Dafa books exhibit, Falun Gong practitioners also held an "Uncompromising Courage" Art Exhibit, and received warm response from the audience.
Falun Dafa books exhibit was at A hall, "Uncompromising Courage" Art Exhibit was at B hall. The two halls were adjacent. Arriving at the Falun Dafa books exhibit booth, after watching the video of Master Li teaching the exercises and practitioners demonstrate the exercises, many people wanted to learn the exercises, and asked practitioners to teach them on the spot.
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Falun Dafa Books Exhibit
The "Uncompromising Courage" Art Exhibit attracted many people's attention. They were deeply touched by the paintings that depict the contrast between good and evil in the brutal persecution of Falun Gong initiated by Jiang's group. The paintings tell people that when the persecution against the principle of "Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance" occurs, in order to uphold truth and justice, Falun Dafa practitioners have been facing the persecution with an uncompromising courage, and replying to hatred, torture and even murder with their great compassion and tolerance.
A visitor said he liked the painting entitled "Homeless." The child's pure and innocent face makes her so adorable. A key is hanging in front of her chest, but she can't enter her home, because "610 Office" sealed it up. Her parents who practice Falun Gong were arrested, and she can only stand outside with tears running down her face. Another painting depicts a young mother who is reading a book and her daughter who is asleep in her lap. Both mother and daughter look so peaceful. It warms your heart at seeing it. He wanted so much to buy these paintings. The paintings are so touching that he wanted to learn more about Falun Gong and read the book Zhuan Falun.
"Uncompromising Courage" Art Exhibit achieved an unexpected effect during the five days' book fair, and has played an important role in explaining the facts about Falun Gong and exposing the persecution. According to the sponsor of the book fair, visitors to the book fair were approximately 150,000, and there were much more visitors on weekends.
Visitors who came to view the art exhibit said that as soon as they entered the gate, they saw the art exhibit, a sole exhibit among stacks of books. Very unique. Some said that after viewing the first painting, they wanted to learn more details. It seemed that the paintings were almost magnetic. Some one said that it was quite easy to understand the paintings. But after viewing them, he was shocked, and was reluctant to go on viewing. Are such inhumane things still happening? We are living at a civilized century, how can such brutality still exist?
Upon seeing a Falun Gong practitioner in the painting being hung up at a "610 Office," sustaining injuries and having blood stained all over her body and on the floor from the wolf dog's bites, and seeing Ms. Chen Zixiu in thin and torn clothes walking in freezing snow field, her frostbitten and swollen feet being shackled, and several officers from "610 Office" behind her. Ms. Chen suffered from all kinds of torture, but she is still so peaceful with her head holding up high and a shining ring above her head, several female visitors wanted to cry, and some could not help shouting out, saying that they could not bear continuing watching.
A Chinese person viewed the paintings and learned what Falun Gong is and why Falun Gong is being suppressed in China. His initial unfriendly attitude was changed as he came to understand that Falun Gong has been persecuted by Jiang out of his own political interests. He sincerely said that he did not understand Falun Gong, and what he had learned until then had all been negative. After viewing these paintings, he believed that the suppression of Falun Gong is unreasonable. He decided to practice the exercises, and wanted to read the book Zhuan Falun, the book that can improve the moral standards of more than 100 million people. He wouldn't give up such a hard-won opportunity.
A famous martial arts star, after viewing the paintings, asked what Falun Gong is and why people practicing Falun Gong are subjected to brutal torture? Practitioners explained to him that Falun Gong is a cultivation practice of both mind and body, and can rapidly upgrade unceasingly declining moral standards. Falun Gong follows the supreme principle of "Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance." The martial arts star said he was attracted by the teachings of Falun Gong, and he would definitely find the book (Zhuan Falun) to read.
(Clearwisdom.net) At this particular anti-torture exhibition, an actor depicting a murderous looking Chinese policeman waves an electric police baton and beats an already bleeding elderly woman locked in a small metal cage. It is in the heart of Manhattan near Water Street, an area of office buildings and crowds of office workers. The Falun Gong practitioners are performing the symbolic anti-torture exhibit to remind the hurried New Yorkers that Chinese police are torturing their fellow citizens with more cruel methods than they did to their enemies in the revolution.
The locals' paces are hurried; they are busy with work and life and have little time to think about other things. Most of them only have a few seconds of time to look at the truth-clarifying materials, but the persistent Falun Gong practitioners are letting people know about Falun Gong and the persecution in China.
 Anti-Torture exhibition at Vietnam Veterans Plaza |
 A lady is asking a practitioner from Kentucky questions |
 A practitioner from Chicago is distributing flyers at Water Street and Vietnam Veterans Plaza |
 A practitioner from Pennsylvania introduces Falun Gong to a passerby |
 A practitioner distributes newspapers in front of No. 55 Water Street |
One group of youngsters watched the display boards and said, "It (persecution) is stupid" and asked where they could learn the exercises. A woman from Ireland talked to a practitioner and said she had heard about the persecution before. She said the Irish would not tolerate persecution of "Truthfulness Compassion Tolerance". When the practitioner told her that the Irish government had rescued a Chinese student practitioner from the Forced Labor Camp back to Ireland, she said she was very proud of her government. One African American woman watched the pictures and immediately she recited the famous word from Dr. Martin L King Jr., "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."
The monuments want people to remember the history of people killing each other, but people are forgetful and so history replays again and again. Today, the Falun Gong practitioners are like moving monuments who are using their efforts and sacrifices to remind the people of history and encourage them to step up to stop the persecution so as to build a better future for mankind.
(Clearwisdom.net) The 2004 Three Gorges Indigo Festival, sponsored by the Taipei County Government and the Three Gorge Township Office, recalled the spectacular early indigo dyeing industry in Three Gorges through a series of activities that included history and culture lectures, indigo dyeing demos and an indigo costume exhibit. Practitioners held successful activities to introduce Falun Dafa and clarify the truth on Sept 18 and 19, when many tourists went to visit art booths in front of the Township Office.
The Falun Gong display boards told the stories of "Introduction of Falun Gong by Master Li Hongzhi," "Wide Spread of Falun Dafa in More Than Sixty Countries," "One Hundred Million Practitioners" and "More Than One Thousand Awards and Recognitions." The display also told people about the persecution of Falun Gong by Jiang's regime in China, which has made more than one thousand Falun Gong practitioners lose their lives, hundreds of thousands be detained and countless people forced to leave their homes. As a result, Jiang Zemin and other responsible Chinese officials have been sued in many countries. They will eventually receive punishment.
 Falun Gong practitioners' display boards |
 People attentively listen to a Falun Gong practitioner's explanation |
Many tourists went to ask for more information about Falun Gong with great enthusiasm. A man with artificial hands asked, "Can I practice Falun Gong?" The Falun Gong practitioner encouraged him, saying: "The book tells us the most important thing is a person's heart when someone wants to start cultivation. Though you've lost your hands, there may be a miracle for you as far as you have a great determination to cultivate yourself and follow the criteria of a cultivator...It may be a little hard for you to do exercises for now, but you can refine your heart and become a good person who assimilates the cosmic characteristics, 'Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.'" The man looked very encouraged. He said he would go to a bookstore and get a copy of Zhuan Falun to read.
A trout farmer's booth was next to the Falun Gong booth. The farmer told Falun Gong practitioners that he bought Zhuan Falun a few years ago but hadn't found time to read it. After hearing Falun Gong practitioners' introduction, he decided to study the book carefully. One of his employees also became interested and attended a nine-day lecture later with his friend.
With more and more people beginning to know about Falun Gong, those who have predestined relationship with Dafa continue to join the Fa-study and exercises. Many people, including children, attended the Falun Dafa nine-day lecture in the Three Gorges Area. The message of "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance" has found a home in more and more people's hearts.
(Clearwisdom.net) To make the Munich Oktoberfest extra special, the Munich City Government's Cultural Office, Social Affairs Office and Foreign Affairs Committee jointly held a Cultural Festival celebration on September the 25th. Several dozen groups were invited to participate in the celebration, including Falun Gong practitioners who were invited to perform on stage.
 Waist Drum |
 Falun Gong Excercises Demonstration |
Although the weather was not so good, with some local showers from time to time, the wonderful program attracted a multitude of people. The splendid performances provided by various groups from different countries and areas received tumultuous applause time and again. Falun Gong practitioners also provided performances of waist-drumming, dancing and a demonstration of the Falun Gong exercises, which added a lot to the splendor of the Cultural Festival celebrations. When some practitioners performed the Lotus Dance, their graceful and elegant performance attracted a lot of camera flashes. At the precise moment, the sun happened to emerge from clouds, and a ray of sunlight illuminated the stage like a spotlight, symbolizing that the sky was smiling on us. In addition, while practitioners were performing the five sets of exercises, the people joyfully accepted the information materials distributed by other practitioners.
Source: http://clearharmony.net/articles/200410/22315.html
(Clearwisdom.net) From September 24 to 27, 2004, UK Falun Gong practitioners organized an Anti-Torture exhibition tour in three major cities in Scotland: Glasgow, Aberdeen and Dundee. The exhibitions attracted many local people. Streams of people came to sign our "Bring Jiang to Justice" petition. Jiang Zemin, the former head of the Chinese Communist Party, initiated the persecution of Falun Gong in July 1999, which has led to more than a thousand Falun Gong practitioners being persecuted to death and tens of thousands of innocent people being illegally detained. Local newspapers and radio stations reported on the anti-torture exhibition.
Preparatory Work
Before the exhibition tour began, practitioners prepared an information package including an invitation letter, posters and an introductory leaflet about Falun Gong and sent them to all major local media, UK Parliament members, Scottish Parliament members, European Parliament members, social workers, university lecturers and NGOs. The purpose was to take this opportunity to further inform them about the ongoing brutal persecution of Falun Gong in China.
A few western practitioners helped to call the newspaper publishers to inform them directly about the events in the three major cities. As a result, the main newspapers and radio stations reported the news of the anti-torture exhibition in advance and informed their readers that this would be a good opportunity for them to learn the truth about this brutal persecution in China.
September 24th and 25th in Glasgow
Even during the set up of the banners and tables in Glasgow's main busy pedestrian street, people started to come to ask for the starting time and wanted to sign our petition. We then decided to prepare the signature table first while doing other preparatory work so that passers-by could sign their names on the petition.
An official from an organization which has very good relations with China received our invitation letter and came to see our exhibition. After learning the truth about Falun Gong and the ongoing persecution in China, he wished us success and signed the "Bring Jiang to Justice" petition.
Many people asked practitioners a lot of questions and some of the questions were quite searching. Once they got satisfactory answers, not only did they sign the petition to support bringing Jiang to justice, they also wholeheartedly said: "We wish you luck."
There were many school students coming to see the exhibition. They carefully read posters and took Video-CDs and leaflets and then queued to sign the petition. They pointed at Jiang's picture and said he was a bad guy. They also told practitioners that their schoolteacher informed them about the ongoing persecution of Falun Gong in China. The children were not frightened by the torture enactment. In fact not only were these children unafraid, they wanted to sign their names to support Falun Gong.
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There were streams of people coming to sign the petition. These included students, professional people, housewives and refugees. A westerner said, "I understand you. You are the bravest people. I will write an article about you and leave it on my personal web page." There was a refugee from Iraq. He pointed at Jiang's picture and said he was like Saddam and would have the same fate as Saddam. He then signed on the petition.
When the day's activity finished and we were busy packing up, there were still people coming to sign our petition.
September 26th in Dundee
After the two-day exhibition in Glasgow, practitioners came to the Central Square in Dundee city centre to hold another Anti-Torture Exhibition. The local newspaper had reported on exhibition earlier on the 23rd September. That day a journalist from this newspaper came to the exhibition and conducted a further interview.
A schoolteacher told practitioners that his students were all aware of the persecution of Falun Gong in China and therefore specifically came here to learn more. He also intended to invite Falun Gong practitioners to teach Falun Gong at his school.
As in Glasgow, many school students came to see the exhibition and asked questions. They all signed the petition in support of bringing Jiang to justice.
September 27th in Aberdeen
On the final day of the Anti-Torture exhibition tour, practitioners went to one of the most northern city of Scotland Aberdeen. In order to inform the local newspaper about the exhibition in person, a practitioner bought a copy of the local newspaper and was surprised to find that the newspaper already reported the news of our exhibition that day. Practitioners then decided to contact them and hoped that they would send their journalist to come to cover our activity.
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As usual, practitioners gave out leaflets, talked to people about Falun Gong and the persecution, and asked people to sign our petition. Many passers-by stopped to take a look at our exhibition, read posters and sign the petition. A journalist from the local newspaper came in the afternoon to take photos.
Five western teenage girls came to talk with practitioners. When they learned the truth, they asked practitioners if they could help to collect signatures. When practitioners said yes, every one of them took a petition board and started to collect signatures from passers-by. Almost nobody refused their request. They only returned the petition board when our activity was about to finish. Practitioners found that not only did they sign the petition themselves, they also collected more than fifty signatures.
Source: http://clearharmony.net/articles/200410/22320.html
Zhou Xuefei endured more than three years of torture in a Chinese labor camp. She was so hungry she ate toilet paper, and was forced to remain in a squatting position for three days with her hands tied behind her back.
The young woman knew that Sam Lu, her husband of less than three months, had fled to the United States after her arrest, but she was not allowed to receive the letters he was writing from his new home in metro Atlanta.
Through 38 months of suffering, Zhou, 30, never gave up hope she would see her husband again, and Lu, 36, while working feverishly to gain her release, never doubted that his wife would someday be free to join him here.
"I could not," he said.
"I would not," she said.
On Thursday, her first day in Georgia, the woman whose name translates as Flying Snowflake said she was overwhelmed. She stayed close by her husband's side at a welcoming reception at the state Capitol.
"I am happy like a fool," Zhou said. "I am so touched and moved by everyone's support."
Zhou was arrested near her home in Shenzhen almost four years ago for passing out pamphlets on meditative exercises practiced by Falun Gong, the spiritual group outlawed by the Chinese government.
Lu had been arrested for the same reason and held briefly just before their wedding. After his wife's arrest, Lu fled their home in southern China and returned to the United States, where he had studied accounting five years earlier at Georgia State University.
He thought he would have a better chance of helping the woman he loved by leaving China, and began a letter-writing campaign to state and federal lawmakers.
He started a Falun Gong class at the Community Center in Smyrna near his home. He and friends continued to write letters and hold protests of Falun Gong persecution.
Mary Hook Silver, a Fulton County librarian and Falun Gong supporter, said she was touched by Lu's steadfast loyalty and love for his wife. She joined Lu at a march last summer in Washington, and wrote letters to her congressman seeking help with Zhou's release.
State Rep. Wendell Willard (R-Dunwoody), a recipient of Lu's e-mail campaign, passed a House resolution in April supporting Lu's efforts.
"I appreciate his persistence and passion to free his wife," Willard said before greeting the couple Thursday.
Lu believes his letters filtered through to Chinese officials, who released Zhou from the Sanshui Women's Labor Camp in January, because, they said, she had reformed.
Zhou said Thursday she was surprised because she had been asked to recant her beliefs two days before her release and refused. The camp director told her that her husband had worked hard to free her.
After Zhou's release, Louisa Assibi -a volunteer coordinator with the International Rescue Committee in Atlanta - helped Lu by filing paperwork with immigration officials. She said the two were lucky it took less than a year.
Zhou was granted political asylum and flew to New York on Sept. 11. The couple spent the last few weeks meeting with a Falun Gong group in Manhattan. They plan to return to the city Sunday, but Lu said his heart was in Georgia and they would return here to live.
Both admit they have changed since they last saw each other. Zhou said her husband was more patient and tolerant than she remembered. They plan to have a family someday, but Lu said his wife needed to recover from her abuse.
"The deeper parts of her are the same," he said. "Now I have my wife. I am a happy man."
http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/northfulton/1004/01wifefree.html
On Friday, September 24, a Chinese consulate official in Houston made a surprise phone call to the founder/chairman of the Houston Multicultural International Film Festival (http://www.hmiff.com), Stephen Allen, and asked him to cancel the screening of one of the festival's scheduled films.
The film, Sandstorm, is a Canadian-made independent film that depicts the torture and abuse of a Falun Gong student in China. This film has won several awards recently at film festivals in the U.S. (http://www.SandstormMovie.com).
The Houston festival's chairman responded saying, "This is America. We have freedom of press and freedom of belief here." The consulate official apparently proceeded to call the Houston Film Commission (http://filmhouston.texaswebhost.com/) and pressure them to block the screening. This attempt also failed.
On Saturday, Sandstorm won the Houston festival's highest prize, "Best Feature Film." Sandstorm Writer/Director Michael Mahonen was in Houston for the event.
Mr. Mahonen, an accomplished Canadian actor but 1st time director, will be at the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival in Los Angeles from Sept 30-Oct 7. Sandstorm is screening in LA at the Fairfax Laemmle on Oct 5 at 10:30 pm.
On Monday, Sandstorm played at the Greenwich Film Festival (http://www.greenwichfilmfestival.org) as part of the festival's Chinese Theme Night. The Greenwich festival reportedly received a phone call from an official at the Chinese consulate in New York saying that they would be at the screening there, but no one from the consulate was reported to attend.
Sandstorm will making its New York City premiere in November at the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival (http://www.nyfilmvideo.com/index.html). Before then, it will be playing at 6 other film festivals across the U.S.
Ironically, all this transpired just ahead of a vote in the U.S. Congress scheduled this week on a Resolution (House Congress Resolution 304 -- see H. CON. RES. 304, http://www.thomas.loc.gov) that directly criticizes the Chinese government and its agents in America for pressuring, harassing, and even assaulting Falun Gong students in the U.S. The Resolution names New Yorker Gail Rachlin, "...the Falun Gong spokeswoman in the United States, [whose apartment] has been broken into 5 times by agents of the Chinese regime since the regime banned Falun Gong in 1999 in China." The Resolution also cites several examples of Chinese consular interference like what transpired in Houston on Friday.
Link: www.sandstormmovie.com
http://la.indymedia.org/news/2004/09/117281.php
The Chinese police, or Public Security Bureau, is responsible for persecuting religious communities, arresting and detaining in the first half of 2004 hundreds of religious believers. It is also responsible for such normal police activities as apprehending drug traffickers and other criminals, directing traffic and patrolling the streets. But despite its very prominent role in state control of religious affairs, little is understood outside China about the massive monitoring and control system maintained by the Public Security Bureau, its very significant impact on religious affairs in China, and the nature of the discussions on religion and "cults" by members of the public security system. Forum 18 News Service here explains the system and its importance, as well as outlining ongoing discussions of reform amongst Chinese officials and scholars. But despite these discussions, the public security system is highly likely to remain an instrument of state repression.
Among the most shocking television images in recent years are those of Chinese police -- more commonly known as "public security officers" -- beating Falun Gong protestors in Beijing's Tiananmen Square before dragging them into waiting vans to be taken to detention centres. Several years after the height of the state repression of the Falun Gong movement and its practitioners, religious believers in China continue to suffer at the hands of public security officers.
In the first half of 2004 alone, hundreds of believers have been arrested and detained. In recent incidents, more than 100 house church leaders were arrested by public security officers and military police on 6 August in Tongxu County, Kaifeng City, Henan Province. The same day, police arrested eight Roman Catholic priests and seminarians in Quyang County, Shijiazhuang Village, Hebei Province.
Meanwhile, public security agents throughout China maintain active surveillance over Falun Gong practitioners, punctuated by periodic crackdowns. According to the Falun Gong, over 100,000 practitioners have been sent to reeducation-through-labour (laojiao) camps operated by the public security system. [...]
Despite the public security system's prominent role in the state's "management" of religious affairs, little is understood outside China about this massive system of state control, its significant impact on how religious affairs in China are managed, and the nature of the discussions on religion and "cults" by members of this community.
As its name implies, the public security system -- the police -- is directly responsible for maintaining public order and internal security. Public security officers are involved in apprehending drug traffickers, corrupt officials and petty criminals. They also guard government and commercial office buildings, direct traffic and patrol the streets.
Yet these visible functions only scratch the surface of the public security system's immense powers and jurisdictional responsibilities. In effect, the men and women of the public security system are the Communist regime's eyes and ears to ensure the state's control over all aspects of China's political life, society and economy. Public security agencies hold extraordinarily detailed information about their objects of interest. For example, they maintain data on the size of each "cultic" group and its membership, the extent of its geographical influence and its foreign connections.
Public security agents oversee internal as well as external security. To maintain external security, public security agents oversee the foreign travel of Chinese citizens and foreigners' entry into the country. The People's Armed Police -- made up of former People's Liberation Army officers and soldiers and managed jointly by the Ministry of Public Security and the Central Military Commission -- maintain border security. Public security agents also have counter-intelligence responsibilities.
Internally, in addition to preventing and cracking down on major and petty crimes, public security officers provide protection for senior Communist and government officials. They also manage the household registration system (hukou), which maintains an individual file on every citizen. Moreover, they regularly police the Internet for undesirable materials. The public security system also operates the appeals office (xingfang), which is where citizens can file grievances against state officials. Furthermore, the public security bureaucracy operates the notorious reeducation-through-labour system that imprisons many dissidents, including religious believers, without due process.
The public security system is a massive bureaucracy that extends from the Ministry of Public Security -- led by a member of the powerful Communist Party Politburo -- in the central government in Beijing down to police stations in the townships and villages of the hinterland. Like other government agencies, a public security organ functions at each level of government.
At the level of province or "autonomous region" -- such as Tibet and Xinjiang -- the public security department oversees the entire province, most of which have populations numbering in the tens of millions. Henan, for example, home to most of China's underground Protestant house churches, has over 90 million people, making it the country's most populated province. According to the 2000 "Chinese Public Security Encyclopaedia", among the chief responsibilities of these provincial public security departments are researching and analysing social conditions in their provinces or regions; drawing up policies and countermeasures to maintain public security; and guiding and coordinating sub-provincial public security authorities.
Each provincial public security department contains numerous offices, each of which has clearly delineated responsibilities. These range from directing traffic and firefighting to maintaining political and economic security. In some cases, religion offices are established within the provincial departments to meet the needs of local conditions. Major municipalities such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Chongqing -- which are equivalent to provinces in their status within the administrative system -- possess public security bureaus that possess similar functional offices as their provincial counterparts. For example, a list of the major responsibilities for Beijing's Public Security Bureau is given on its website http://www.ebeijing.gov.cn/Government/Organizations/t20030924_1528.htm.
Subordinate to the provincial public security departments are a myriad of public security branches and police stations at the levels of prefecture, county, township and village. At each level, the public security offices are accountable to the public security offices of the level immediately above them, creating a firm chain of command. At the same time, public security offices at each administrative level are also subordinated to the Communist Party headquarters and the government at that level of administration.
One major effect of this "vertical and horizontal accountability" is that public security offices at every level of the administrative hierarchy are held liable by their superiors -- those within the public security system and non-public security officials at their corresponding levels of administration -- should they fail to maintain effective control over their respective areas of responsibilities. This system thereby puts great pressure on public security offices at each level to "perform". This system can be seen in action simply by examining the state's repression of the Falun Gong movement.
When the central government in Beijing became annoyed with the regular influx of Falun Gong protestors from areas outside the capital, it threatened provincial governments with punishment if they were unable to control their respective populations from making their way to Beijing. This threat was then relayed from the provincial governments to their respective subordinates at the prefecture, county, township and even village levels. These government leaders naturally turned to public security officials at corresponding administrative levels for the execution of these directives. At the same time, it is clear that public security officials also received similar orders from their superiors within the public security system. In addition to directives issued within the public security system, public security officials were also pressured by government leaders at corresponding administrative levels to ensure the effectiveness of enforcement. This "systemic" factor partly explains some of the most egregious abuses against Falun Gong practitioners as well as adherents of other religions and beliefs.
[...]
http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=422
An exhibition demonstrating the torture methods used by the Chinese authorities against followers of an outlawed spiritual movement was held in Aberdeen yesterday. Practitioners of Falun Gong held the Persecution Meets Principle exhibition in the city's Castlegate and attracted more than 200 signatures to a petition [calling for an end of the persecution].
[...]
Hundreds of thousands of people in China are estimated to have been sent to labour camps, and hundreds handed jail sentences.
The exhibition, which had already visited London, Cambridge, Edinburgh and Oxford, uses photos, props and actors to demonstrate the suffering of Falun Gong followers in the practice's homeland.
It was also a chance for people to find out more about the practice based on a philosophy of compassion and tolerance. Eddy Aitken, one of the exhibition organisers, said: "I think there has been quite a positive reaction.
"The exhibition has raised a few eyebrows, and we have had a number of people ask us about why there is not a school in Aberdeen. So we have managed to raise awareness of Falun Gong, which is what we were trying to do."
In stark contrast to the normal obnoxious groups of protesters that roam campus, a new type of activist can now be found around the NYU area. Promoting the cause of the Falun Gong, a [group] being persecuted by the Chinese government, these protesters, made up largely of older folks of Asian descent, are trying to raise awareness in America of the ultra-repressive Chinese government.
These protesters mostly sit quietly in meditation, unlike the normal - and the term "normal" is used very loosely here - campus protesters we are subjected to. Their message is spread mainly through signs or pamphlets distributed by a polite activist.
They do not scream; they do not go out of their way to rudely accost passers-by. Members of the Falun Gong movement are nice, courteous activists.
[...]
Granted, activists for other, more widely recognized issues - like the Iraq war or terrorism - get plenty of dismissals as well, but it seems like the courteous Falun Gong are getting more than their fair share.
Part of it is because the Falun Gong do not resort to the outlandish and oftentimes illegal manners of protest that other activist groups turn to. Most likely, there will never be a news story about a member of the Falun Gong assaulting an NYPD detective just trying to do his job.
The Falun Gong members will never be arrested for crashing private events. While these types of criminal antics may attract attention for other activist groups, it is not the style of the Falun Gong, and for that, citizens of the city should be grateful.
Unlike other protesters, the active members of the Falun Gong make sure that their activities are actually related to their goals. When they meditate quietly on campus, they are demonstrating what they want the right to do in their own country. When anti-Bush protesters ride dozens of bikes through busy city streets, they are saying nothing about their agenda.
The members of the Falun Gong are not part of the screaming left or the screaming right. They have no equivalent of a Rush Limbaugh or a Michael Moore. These protesters are the nice guys that get ignored.
As students in what is supposed to be an institution of higher learning, as part of what is deemed a "global university," and as citizens of a country that, like it or not, is the only superpower left in the world, it is our duty to pay attention to protesters like the members of the Falun Gong. We cannot allow ourselves to become so jaded by the flood of obnoxious activists that we ignore the ones that actually have something important to say and are willing to say it in a civilized manner.
These members of the Falun Gong movement serve as role models for activists everywhere. They are providing a service to the world and to us, not only by raising our awareness about an important issue, but also by showing us that protests do not have to be obnoxious.
We at least owe it to them to do our part to see that, for once, the nice guys do not have to finish last.
Will Phung is a columnist for Washington Square News.
Part 1: http://www.clearwisdom.net/emh/articles/2004/10/5/53163.html
Part 2: http://www.clearwisdom.net/emh/articles/2004/10/6/53009.html
2.3 Violations of China's Procedural Law--Criminal Law Procedures
2.3.1 Article 3: "The public security organs are responsible for the investigation, detention, arrest, and preliminary hearing of criminal cases. The people's procuratorates are responsible for the inspection, issue of arrest, detection and lawsuit of accepted cases. Except as stated in special regulations of law, no other organizations, groups or individuals can exercise these rights. While filing lawsuits, the people's courts, the people's procuratorates and the public security organs must follow the pertinent regulations of this law and other laws."
This article stipulates that, except for the above three systems--- Public Security, Procuratorate, and Court in carrying out their individual functions according to the law, no other organizations or individuals, including the "610 Office" have the right to file a lawsuit or exercise the criminal procedure power.
2.3.2 Article 6: "While filing lawsuits, the people's courts, the people's procuratorates and the public security organs must rely on the masses and must take facts as the basis and the law as the criteria. All citizens are equal before the law, and no one may be shown privilege."
This article stipulates two basic principles in an open society: (1) Take facts as the basis and the law as the criteria; (2) All people are equal before the law. All people, whether they are President or average citizen, must respect the law and abide by the law. Any words and deeds beyond or against the law are illegal acts and should be brought to justice.
2.3.3 Article 11: "Except as stated in special regulations, the people's courts must put all cases on trial publicly. The defendant has the right to defense, and the court has the obligation to ensure the defendant's right to defense."
This is an important article guaranteeing the defendant may legally exercise his/her right to defense. And this article also stipulates that ensuring the defendant's right to defense is the obligation of the people's courts. Therefore, whether or not the defendant is a Falun Gong practitioner, he/she has the right to defense.
2.3.4 Article 12: "Without the judgment of the people's courts according to the law, no person can be declared guilty." This article is the concrete reflection of the principle "Presumption of Innocence". It means that, before the courts' judgment according to the law, a person is innocent, and he/she cannot be treated using punishing or abusive measures because of presumption of guilt.
2.3.5 Article 32: "The suspect or defendant, besides being able to plead for himself/herself, can entrust one or two people as the defender. The defender could be: (1) lawyer; (2) people's organization or people recommended by the workplace of the suspect or defendant; (3) guardian or relative of the suspect or defendant. A person who is in punishment or who has been deprived of freedom cannot be a defender."
The defendant can exercise his/her right to defense, and also can entrust a lawyer or special unit or relative to plead not guilty or less guilty. This is an important right, and nobody or organization can prevent or deprive it.
2.3.6 Article 58: "The term for which the suspect or defendant is released on bail until trial by the people's courts, the people's procuratorates and public security organs cannot be more than twelve months, and the term of surveillance cannot be more than six months. During the period of bail or surveillance, the detection, lawsuit and trial of cases cannot be interrupted. When the suspect or defendant is found not eligible for criminal responsibility or the term of bail or surveillance is over, the people and pertinent unit on bail or under surveillance should be notified in a timely manner."
Bail and surveillance are forced-measures to be used during the criminal detection. They are conditional and time-limited and cannot be used indefinitely or abused unconditionally.
2.3.7 Article 59: "Arrest of the suspect or defendant must be approved by the people's procuratorates or decided by the people's courts and executed by the public security organs."
This article strictly stipulates the legal procedure for arresting a person. That is, the decision of arresting a person can only be made by two organizations: the people's procuratorates or the people's courts. No other organizations or individuals have the right to make this decision. Only one organization may execute an arrest: the public security units. So the "610 Office", residents' committees, and workplace security sections have no right to exercise this authority.
2.3.8 Article 64: "When the public security organs detain a person, the detention warrant must be shown. After detaining, except in situations of hampering the detection or being unable to inform, the family or workplace of the detained people should be informed about the reason for detention or the place of detention within 24 hours."
Article 65: "the public security organs must interrogate the detained people within 24 hours. When found that he/she is not eligible to be detained, he/she should be released immediately with the release documentation. For those who may be subject to detention but without sufficient evidences, they can be released on bail or put under surveillance."
These two articles definitely stipulate how detention measures may be executed by the public security organs: (1) the detention warrant must be shown; without the detention warrant, any detention is regarded as illegal; (2) Within 24 hours, the family or workplace of the detained people should be informed; (3) the detained people should be interrogated within 24 hours; (4) While being released, the detained people should be given the release documentation. In Mainland China, the police have detained Falun Gong practitioners at will and at any time, without showing any warrant or proof. They do not inform the family or workplace of these detentions for a long time, and they do not give any release documentation when releasing them. All these are illegal acts.
2.3.9 Article 69: "If the public security organs think the detained people should be arrested, they should submit it to the people's procuratorates for approval within 3 days of detention. Under special circumstances, the time of submitting can be prolonged from one to four days. For likely suspects committing crimes on the run or committing crimes many times or committing crimes in a group, the time of submitting can be prolonged to 30 days."
Usually the duration of criminal detention is 3 days, and it may be up to 7 days under special circumstances. Adding 7 days for approval by the people's procuratorates, the total duration of detention is 14 days, and it cannot be more than 30 days. Criminal detention over 30 days becomes illegal detention. In Mainland China, many public security organs use criminal detention as a punitive measure, detaining Falun Gong practitioners for an extended term. This act is absolutely illegal.
2.3.10 Article 71: "When the public security organs arrest a person, the arrest warrant must be shown. After arresting, except in situations of hampering the detection or being unable to inform, the family or workplace of the arrested people should be informed about the reason for arrest or place of detention within 24 hours."
This article requires that the public security organs, when arresting a person, must show the arrest warrant, and must inform the family or workplace of the arrested people. When it is shown that he/she is not eligible to be arrested, he/she must be released immediately with the release documentation. The detention period after arresting is usually two months, and can be prolonged by one month. Under special circumstances, it can be prolonged by two months.
2.3.11 Article 75: "If the forced measures taken by the people's courts, the people's procuratorates or the public security organs surpass the prescription, the suspect or defendant and their legal agents or relatives or their lawyers and defenders have the right to require to terminate the forced measures. The people's courts, the people's procuratorates and the public security organs should release the suspect or defendant who undergoes extended forced measures, terminating them on bail or surveillance or changing the forced measures according to the law."
According to this article, the family and relatives of Falun Gong practitioners may submit and require termination of the forced measures, countering the extended detention by the units of public security, court, or procuratorate.
2.3.12 Article 91: "Interrogating the suspect must be performed by the detectives from the people's procuratorates or the public security organs. During the interrogation, there should be at least two detectives."
Article 92: " For the suspect not eligible to be detained or arrested, he/she may be interrogated at his/her residence or summoned to the appointed place for interrogation in the city or county where the suspect lives, but the people's procuratorate or the public security organs should show the testimonial. The longest time of submitting or detaining cannot surpass 12 hours. It is not allowed that the suspect be detained in the disguised form of summons."
In Mainland China, many public security organs and "610 Offices", in the form of summons and without any testimony, trick or abduct Falun Gong practitioners to the public security agencies, labor camps, or brainwashing classes for persecution.
2.3.13 Article 96: "From the day that the detection units interrogate the suspect or take forced measures, the suspect may entrust a lawyer to provide legal consultation and appeal or accuse for him/her. If the suspect is arrested, his/her lawyer can ask for release on bail for him/her until the trial. If the cases involve State's secrets, the lawyer entrusted by the suspect must be approved by the detection units."
This article definitely stipulates that any suspect has the right to entrust a lawyer. Falun Gong practitioners have the same right, and no units or individuals can deprive them of this right using any excuses.
2.3.14 Article 111: "While searching, the searchers must show the search warrant to the people being searched. While detaining or arresting, under critical situation, searching can be carried out without a search warrant."
Article 112: "While searching, the person being searched or his/her family or neighborhood or other people should be on the spot. Searching a woman's body should be performed by female personnel."
Article 113: "The results of the search should be recorded and signed or sealed by the searchers and the person being searched or his/her family or neighborhood or other witness. If the person being searched or his/her family has escaped or refuses to sign or seal, a note should be written and placed with the records."
The above three articles stipulate the legal regulations of searching actions: (1)The search warrant must be shown; (2) only under special situations may a search be conducted without a search warrant; (3) while searching, there should be a witness on the spot; (4) a woman's body should be searched by female personnel; (5) records are required. In Mainland China, there are many cases in which Falun Gong practitioners were searched without a search warrant, and there are many cases of practitioners being searched secretly without any records. All these are illegal acts.
2.3.15 Article 115: "Any confiscated articles or documents should be identified, numbered, and verified by the witness and the article holder on the spot, and the detailed list in duplicate is made and signed or sealed by the detectives, witness, and holder. One copy is kept with the holder and another copy kept for future reference."
In Mainland China, searching Falun Gong practitioners' homes has been a common occurrence, and many of the confiscated items or documents have not been recorded or made into a detailed list. All these are illegal acts.
2.3.16 Article 120: "After the expert witness performs the identification, he/she should write a statement of conclusion and sign it. A contentious medical identification of personal injury needs to be identified again. The identification of mental disease is performed in the hospital appointed by the provincial people's government. After the expert witness performs the identification, he/she should write a statement of conclusion and sign it using the seal of the hospital. If the expert witness intentionally makes false identification, he/she should bear the legal responsibility."
In Mainland China, many public security staff, judicial staff and medical staff are completely lacking in conscience and intentionally treat healthy Falun Gong practitioners as mental patients. They forcibly inject drugs that damage the central nervous system, or they put the drugs into food or drink and deceive Falun Gong practitioners into consuming them, or they forcibly hold Falun Gong practitioners in the mental hospital and perform so called "medical treatment". All the people participating in these procedures should bear the legal responsibility.
2.4 Violations of China's Administrative Regulations--Regulations Governing Punishments Administered in Public Security Bureaus
"Regulations Governing Punishments Administered in Public Security Bureau of the People's Republic of China" was issued and put into effect on January 1, 2000. It covers disturbing social order, impairing public security, infringing a citizen's right of personal freedom, and infringing public property. If an act is not eligible for criminal punishment, it should be addressed using Regulations Governing Punishments Administered in Public Security Bureaus.
2.4.1 Article 6: "There are three kinds of punishments with regard to violating public security:
(1) Warning
(2) Fine: over 1 yuan, under 200 yuan. (Yuan is the Chinese currency; 500 Yuan is equal to the average monthly income of an urban worker in China) Other rules in article 30, article 31, and article 32 should be in accordance with pertinent regulation.
(3) Detention: over 1 day, under 15 days."
The detention mentioned here is different from the forced measures in the Criminal Procedure Law--criminal detention. The detention mentioned in this article is a kind of administrative punishment, and it can be called administrative detention, with the longest term of 15 days. However the criminal detention is a kind of forced measure but not punishment, with the longest term of 30 days. The administrative punishment stipulated here is not more than 200 yuan. But in Mainland China, the fines imposed on Falun Gong practitioners often amount to thousands of yuan.
2.4.2 Article 33: "The punishments with regard to violating public security are adjudicated by the county or city public security bureau, public security sub-bureau or the public security organs equal to county level. Warnings or fines under 50 yuan may be adjudicated by the police stations; in the countryside, for places without a police station, the public security organs may entrust township governments to adjudicate it."
Article 34: "The adjudication should be made into a document and declared to the person concerned. The adjudication document is made in triplicate. One copy is kept with the adjudicator, one copy is kept at the adjudicator's workplace and one copy is submitted to the adjudicator's resident police station. The workplace and resident police station should assist to execute the adjudication."
Article 36: "After the public security organs or the public security personnel receive the fine, they should give a receipt to the person fined."
The above articles definitely stipulate the punishments for violating public security. But in Mainland China, many public security personnel fine Falun Gong practitioners without filling out adjudication documents and without issuing receipts. Excessive fines are often imposed, as high as three thousand to five thousand yuan.
2.4.3 Article 41: "When the public security personnel carry out this regulation, they should strictly uphold the law and discipline and justly execute the law. It is not allowed to beat, abuse, or insult the people violating public security. The public security personnel violating the regulation would be given administrative punishment; for the personnel whose actions constitute crimes, the legal responsibility should be pursued."
This article states the requirements for the public security personnel who execute this regulation; when violated, any person can accuse the pertinent public security personnel according to the law and bring them to justice.
2.5 Violations of Other Administrative Regulations---Procedures for Carrying out Re-education Through Labor
"Procedures for Carrying out Re-education Through Labor"(called "Procedures" for short) was issued and adopted on January 21,1982. Article 2 in Procedures stipulates: "Labor reeducation is an administrative measure to forcibly reform the people who are educated through hard labor and a method to deal with the internal conflicts between people." Because "Procedures" was drawn up earlier, it conflicts with the current legal system. (1) It not only violates the pertinent regulations of the Chinese Constitution, but also goes against other pertinent laws. For example: in the Legislative Laws of the Peoples' Republic of China, adopted on October 1,1996, article 8 stipulates: "the deprivation of people's political rights, the forced measures of infringing people's freedom and the matters of punishments must be made into laws." It is obvious that, because Procedures is violating the regulations of the Chinese Constitution and the law, it is no longer enforceable. In spite of this, it was never abolished and is still widely used under the state of conflicting with current law. (2) "Procedures" is incompatible with a fair and open society. In the aspects of depriving and infringing people's freedom, labor reeducation actually takes over some punishments. However, the people who are educated have no opportunity for defense and no chance to win a lawsuit over the labor reeducation adjudication. And it lacks the necessary supervising mechanism. (3) The adjudication of labor reeducation does not follow legal procedures or accord with the principles of justice. This adjudication is an administrative procedure rectified by the labor reeducation management committee, and it lacks justice. (4) The term for labor reeducation is too long, lasting from one to three years, and sometimes with an extension of one year.
In fact, it is no different from fixed-term imprisonment when it comes to depriving people of their freedom. Actually it is more severe than the surveillance or detention stipulated in Criminal Laws.
When the Jiang faction began to persecute Falun Gong, not only did they widely use this administrative regulation that should be abolished, but they also violated the "Procedures" themselves and brutally persecuted Falun Gong practitioners.
2.5.1 Article 10: "The following people are taken to labor reeducation:
(1) Minor criminals. Those being anti-revolutionary, anti-communist party, anti-socialist members whose crimes are not cause for criminal prosecution.
(2) Those involved in murdering, robbing, raping, or committing arson in groups, but whose crimes are not cause for criminal prosecution.
(3) Those who have committed crimes of immoral behavior, prostitution, stealing, or fraud that are not severe enough for criminal prosecution, and who did not correct themselves even after being persuaded many times.
(4) Those involved in fighting in groups, instigating violence, making trouble that disturbs the stability of society, but who's actions are not cause for criminal prosecution.
(5) Those who are employable but refuse to work for a long time, or damage the work rules and thus disturb production, work, education or scientific research, and do not listen to persuasion or cannot be stopped;
(6) Those who instigate others to break laws or commit crimes, but whose crimes are not serious enough for criminal prosecution."
The above six articles indicate that the Jiang faction's persecution of Falun Gong practitioners using labor reeducation is definitely violating "Procedures."
2.5.2 Article 19: " ...... permit them to put forward improved proposals to the management, education, production, life etc, and permit them to write to the government organs and leaders to appeal for themselves; permit them to make public others' illegal acts. The labor reeducation camp cannot check and withhold the letters of their appeal or accusation."
In Mainland China, the guards in the labor camps knowingly violate the law, strictly controlling Falun Gong practitioners, strictly forbidding them contact with the outside, willfully checking and withholding Falun Gong practitioners' letters, not allowing them to exercise their legal right entrusted by the law, suppressing their legal acts of appealing and accusing.
2.5.3 Article 32: "Education time not less than three hours, and labor time not more than six hours."
In Mainland China, the guards in the labor camp force Falun Gong practitioners to work overtime, sometimes as long as 15 or 16 hours a day, using them as slave labor.
2.5.4 Article 45: "the labor reeducation camp should pay the reeducated people according to their productive type, technical level, quantity, quality."
In Mainland China this article performs practically no function.
2.5.5 Article 47: " ...... within the regulated ranges, try to adjust and improve and guarantee their diet to meet the standard, providing warm and hygienic meals."
Article 48: "The dorms of the reeducated people should be bright and air-circulated. The space area for each person should be no less than 30 square meters. Establish a hygienic system, and periodically compare and assess. The reeducated people should periodically cut hair, take showers, do laundry, and periodically clean and sweep away all bugs and always keep the rooms neat. Pay attention to the renovation and environment of labor reeducation camp. Pay attention to the balance between work and rest and guarantee the reeducated people eight hours of sleep every day."
In Mainland China, the guards in the labor camps persecute Falun Gong practitioners by making them eat poor-quality food, do hard work, sometimes forcing them to sleep on the cold ground, and they deprive Falun Gong practitioners of sleep for long periods of time, using deprivation of sleep as a cruel physical torture.
2.5.6 Article 52: "Do not check the letters of the reeducated people. Do not audit while meeting with family. If the family cannot return home on the same day, board and lodging should be arranged. If permissible, a couple can live together."
Article 53: "The reeducated people's meeting and communication with a relative should be approved by the labor reeducation camp."
Article 54: "The clothes and food sent by the reeducated people's family shouldn't be withheld."
Many of the above democratic and basic rights that Falun Gong practitioners should enjoy have been deprived by the guards in the labor camps. Their letters are withheld. Their meetings with family are audited. Falun Gong practitioners are not allowed to expose the torture situations happening in the labor camp. Most of the clothes and food sent by their families are withheld by the guards in the labor camps.
(Clearwisdom.net)
1. [Harbin City, Heilongjiang Province] Wanjia Forced Labor Camp Brutally Tortures Dafa Practitioners
On May 12, 2004, more than ten Dafa practitioners included Li Hongmei, Hao Peijie, and Xiao Renping were tortured with "big hang up" and electric batons. The perpetrators were Zhao Yuqing, Yao Fuchang, Piao Xiaojie and Wu Hongxun.
In March 2004, Practitioner Ji Fengqin was sent to Wanjia Forced Labor Camp. She was hung to the bed continuously for 5 to 6 days, and then she was tortured with "big hang up" and electric batons. Her face and neck are badly injured, her hands are still numb and incapable, she can hardly move.
On July 10, 2004, Ms. Ma Guiyun was sent to Wanjia Forced Labor Camp. She was handcuffed and hung up. Yao Fuchang and Zhao Yuqing tortured her with a new, high voltage electric baton and caused her to somersault with every shock. The evildoers even clamored viciously, "I am the demon, I want to persecute you."
2. [Panjin City, Liaoning Province] 70-year-old Xie Zhaoqi is on the 8th Day of a Hunger Strike to Protest the Illegal Detention
Ms. Xie Zhaoqi, a 70 year old Practitioner from Panjin City, Liaoning Province, has been on hunger strike for 8 days to protest the illegal detention. Her blood pressure became elevated and she felt dizzy. The police officer intimidated and threatened her during interrogation, and pinched her armpit and thigh until they became purple.
On the night of September 7, 2004, elderly Xie Zhaoqi and Liu Shaoman were arrested by policemen of Chuangxin Local Police Station in Xinglongtai District, Panjin City, when they were posting Dafa truth-clarification materials such as a sign that said "Falun Dafa is great." On the same night, Xinglongtai District Public Security Sub-bureau sent them to Panjin City Administrative Detention Centre.
Panjin City Xinglongtai District Public Security Sub-bureau
Brigade leader Zhang Runqiu: 86-427-2683315 (Office), 86-13842713579 (Cell)
Vice Brigade leader Liu Jingyu: 86-427-2683326, 2683316 (Office),
86-13604277518 (Cell)
3. [Fengcheng City, Liaoning Province] A Falun Dafa Practitioner was Taken to Beishan Detention Centre for Clarifying the Truth
On September 11, 2004, Practitioner Da Lizi (alias) of Fengcheng City, Liaoning Province was arrested by the police of Bianmen Town Local Police Station while telling people the truth in Bianmen Town, Fengcheng City. Da Lizi is now being held in Beishan Detention Centre, and is on the 7th day of a hunger strike to resist the illegal arrest and detention.
4. [Jiangsu Province] Urgent Rescue: Practitioner Sun Yingchun is in the Appeal Period
Mr. Sun Yingchun from Lianshui County, Huaian City, Jiangsu Province was arrested in August. The police acted on hearsay evidence. They had no evidence but arrested Sun without a warrant. After Sun Yingchun had been held in the detention centre of Liaoshui County Public Security Bureau for many days, he was sentenced to one year of forced labor. The police plann to send him to Nanjing City. At the moment, he has half a month to appeal.
Please help rescue Sun Yingchun.
Liaoshui County Public Security Bureau: 86-517-2321027, 86-517-2321324
The office of director general: 86-517-2321325
Liancheng Local Police Station: 86-517-2321035
5. [Bin County, Heilongjiang Province] Binzhou Town Practitioner Sun Xiangjie is Arrested
Practitioner Mr. Sun Xiangjie is an employee of Heilongjiang Bin County Bookshop. On September 15, 2004, he was asked by the bookshop owner to deliver some books to the country. On the way, the police followed, stopped and illegally searched him, and arrested him using the excuse of hiding Falun Dafa truth-clarification flyers. Upon hearing that, the bookshop owner was very angry. He negotiated with the police, and claimed he would appeal the police' violation of citizen's legal rights.
According to speculation, the Political Protection Section of Bin County Public Security Bureau and "610 Office" are the main responsible units.
6. [Panjin City, Liaoning Province] Practitioner Wang Xiuli is Arrested While Distribution Dafa Truth-clarification Materials
About 5 a.m. on September 13, 2004, Practitioner Wang Xiuli was distributing Dafa truth-clarification materials in Xinglongtai District ecology garden area. She was reported by the security guard of the area, and arrested by the National Security Brigade of Panjin City. The details are unknown.
7. [Liaoning Province] Suizhong County Officials Wantonly Arrest People in Order to Find the Source of Falun Dafa Materials
Since August 2004, unlawful officials and police of Suizhong County have been looking for the sources of Falun Gong truth-clarification materials, but found no clue. Around September 13, 2004, they took away Falun Dafa practitioner Mr. Shi Lianli of Dawangmiao Village without cause, and detained him in Suizhong County Detention Centre.
Some relevant telephone numbers:
Suizhong County Political and Judiciary Committee assistant secretary and "610 Office" chief: Shang Ergui, 86-429-6131710 (Office), 86-429-6125558 (Home)
Political and Judiciary Committee secretary: Shi Minxin 86-429-6123401 (Office)
Suizhong County Public Security Bureau deputy director general: Wang Limin 86-429-
6127518 (Office), 86-429-6128682 (Home)
Political Protection Section Chief: Li Changhua 86-13700196626 (Cell), 86-429-6122876 (Office)
Suizhong County Public Security Bureau director general: Zhang Heping 86-429-6124999 (Office), 86-429-3160820 (Home)
Suizhong County Public Security Bureau Commissar: Chen Guochao 86-429-6128320(Office), 86-429-2950819 (Home)
8. [Fushun City, Liaoning Province] Shuncheng District Illegally Holds Brainwashing Session
In September, a brainwashing centre that persecutes Dafa practitioners was established in Shuncheng District, Fushun City. Around September 10, Shuncheng District Dafa practitioners Wang Lili, Li Shuxi, Li Shaohua, Qin Qingfang and others were arrested.
9. [Shenyang City, Liaoning Province] Practitioner Jing Suo is Arrested by Tiexi National Security Brigade
Mr. Jing Suo is a 29 year old Practitioner from Xinmin City, Liaoning Province. He was arrested by Tiexi National Security Brigade of Shenyang City in July 2004. There has been no news of him for more than 3 months now. It is known that he is being held in Tiexi Detention Centre.
10. [Tangshan City, Hebei Province] Practitioner Li Qiang Went to Beijing to Appeal in 2000, His Whereabouts is Still Unknown
Mr. Li Qiang was born on October 6, 1965, in Kangliu Village, Yangezhuang Town, Leting County, Tangshan City, Hebei Province. He went to Beijing to appeal for Falun Gong on October 20, 2000. He has not returned since then, and his whereabouts isunknown.
11. [Wuhan City, Hubei Province] Jiangan District Brainwashing Centre is Detaining Dafa Practitioners
On September 7, Li Yingjie from Jiangan District "610 Office" instigated Gao Zian, the armed force minister of Xincun Street Jiangan District and accomplice of "610 Office," to lead a group of people to rush into Practitioner Li Xiaojian's home. They took Li Xiaojian to Jiangan District Brainwashing Centre. Meanwhile, they also took away practitioner Guo Ruihong of the Navigational Fairs Community.
On September 8, 2004, Li Yingjie again instigated the security department of Jiangan Vehicle Factory to arrest Dafa practitioners Zou Changqing, He Xiuhong and Wu Dandan who were working, and sent them to Jiangan District Brainwashing Centre.
Telephone numbers of directly responsible personnel:
Wuhan City Jiangan District "610 Office": Li Yingjie, 86-13517248291 (Cell), 86-27-82832008 extension 2714 (Office)
12. [Qixian County, Henan Province] Practitioner Wang Zanmei is Seized When Submitting an Appeal
Ms. Wang Zanmei, a Falun Dafa practitioner from Qixian County, Henan Province, tried to hand in an appeal about the persecution she suffered to upper level department of Kaifeng Political and Judiciary Committee at 2 p.m. on September 13, 2004. Kaifeng Political and Judiciary Committee personnel tore up her appeal on the spot and cuffed her in the office. Later Qixian County Political and Judiciary Committee "610 Office" took her away and angrily threatened: "We must sentence you."
Wang Zanmei is being held in Qixian County Detention Centre. Her family members are not allowed to visit her or send clothes to her. Thus it can be seen that when the China Supreme People's Procuratorate says it is carrying out the so-called uncovering and renovating the unlawful activities and violations of human rights by the law enforcement departments it is simply deceiving people.
Main people in charge of this matter in Qixian County Public Security Bureau are:
Deputy director general: Li Dong, 86-13803782056 (Cell), 86-378-8991044 (Home)
Deputy director general: Chen Xiuzhong, 86-13937853999 (Cell), 86-378-8991758 (Home)
National Protection Section chief: Liu Hongtao, 86-13703783939 (Cell),
86-378-8997859 (Home)
Qixian County Detention Centre manager: Wang Weimin, 86-13839953697 (Cell),
86-378-8994485 (Home)
13. [Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province] Practitioner Wang Qingmei is Deceived by Neighborhood Committee and Arrested
At noon on September 6, 2004, Guangzhou City Falun Dafa practitioner Wang Qingmei was deceived by the Neighborhood Committee personnel. They asked him to come fill out a form at the office. She was abducted when she arrived at the office. Her whereabouts is unknown.
14. [Jilin Province] Baihe Forestry Bureau Arrested Two Practitioners
Today's just arrived news: Two Falun Dafa practitioners from Baihe Forestry Bureau (Ms. Wang, over 60, known as Auntie Wei and Ms. Yang, around 50) were abducted when they were clarifying the truth about Falun Gong in a remote mountain area. The relevant information is under investigation.
Telephone numbers of some of the responsible units and personnel:
Baihe Forestry Bureau Political and Judiciary Committee: 86-433-5718344,5717344
Baihe Forestry Bureau Political and Judiciary Committee chief: Zhang Zhongyou,
86-433-5718345 (Home), 86-13904464839 (Cell)
Baihe Forestry Public Security Bureau deputy director general in charge of Falun Gong: Liu Maowei, 86-13196205377 (Cell)
Baihe Forestry Public Security Bureau Political Protection Section: 86-433-5717695
Baihe Forestry Public Security Bureau Detention Centre:
Manager's office 86-433-5717525, office on duty 86-433-5717439
(Clearwisdom.net) A "solemn declaration" is a person's public statement declaring to the world that whatever he or she has done or said under duress or deception that was against Falun Dafa is null and void. Most of these statements have come from Falun Dafa practitioners in China who wished to express regret that, in the face of physical torture and brainwashing, they had signed documents renouncing Dafa and guaranteeing not to practice again. Also, as more and more people in China learn the truth about how they have been deceived and lied to by the Jiang regime, many non-practitioners are also submitting "solemn declarations."
Here are some examples of the Solemn Declarations:
Please click here for more Solemn Declarations.
(Clearwisdom.net)
News from USA
On September 25, the California Institute of Technology introduced new students to various aspects of the school. Many school organizations set up booths to hand out information and to introduce themselves to the students. The Falun Gong booth had truth clarification VCD's, flyers, and materials. Many students, professors, staff and family members stopped by and asked questions. At 6:30 p.m., while many were still present, practitioners demonstrated the Falun Gong exercises at people's request.
Facts of the Persecution
1) My mother is Wang Ping. She lived in Yueyang County, Hunan Province. Because she practices Falun Gong, she was illegally detained numerous times after July 20, 1999. Later she was sent to the Baimalong Forced Labor Camp in Zhuzhou City for two years where the perpetrators tortured her. In order to resist and protest the persecution, my mother held an 89-day hunger strike. She was skin and bones and on the brink of death. After she returned home, the perpetrators often arrested and tormented her. On May 10, 2004, my mother was abducted. Four months have passed and I still don't know my mother's whereabouts.
2) Dafa practitioner Tan Xiangyu in Changsha City, Hunan Province, was abducted on August 22, 2003. In June 2004 she was illegally sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison. On June 25, 2004, Tan Xiangyu appealed to the Changsha City Intermediate People's Court. Three months later the court held a second trial but reached no verdict. Tan Xiangyu is still being held at Changsha City's Detention Center. Tan Xiangyu was also tortured and has shown symptoms of illnesses.
3) On September 9, 2004, Zhang Yuanfu, secretary of the Laoxialu Street Committee in the Dongsheng Residential Office, and three perpetrators from the Laoxialu Police Department including Li broke into the home of Falun Gong practitioner Ma Wen. Ma Wen is a retired worker from Dongfang Iron and Steel Co. They tried to drag him into a car. Mr. Wen protested and said, "You are using violence on an old man without following any legal procedure! You are damaging the reputation of government officials because you treat a good person like a thug." They could not take Ma Wen away, so Zhang Yuanfu removed the picture of Mr. Li Hongzhi, the founder of Falun Gong, from the top of Ma Wen's bureau.
4) Song Junlin, secretary of the Xinbin County Political and Judiciary Committee in Liaoning Province, follows Jiang's regime to persecute Falun Gong. Song Junlin issued numerous orders to arrest practitioners in the county. He gave orders to have them abducted and sent to prisons, labor camps, and brainwashing classes; to have them fired, detained long-term, and tortured; and to have their homes ransacked. Practitioners Zou Guirong and Tang Tierong were tortured to death. Practitioner Sun Changli was disabled from torture. Practitioner Jiang Zhihui had a nervous breakdown from torture, and practitioners Wang Zhongsheng, Shang Yong and Shi Dawei were fired. Thirteen practitioners were illegally sentenced to prison. More than 300 practitioners were illegally sent to forced labor camps, and more than 400 practitioners were illegally detained. Many practitioners went into exile to avoid further persecution, and many families were broken up. Perpetrator Song Junlin also extorted money from these practitioners' families. According to incomplete estimates, the perpetrators in Xinbin County extorted nearly two million yuan from practitioners.
5) My name is Dai Xicui and I am 40 years old. I live in Guchengzhuang Village in the Kaifa District of Binhelu in Laixi City, Shandong Province. On October 1, 2000, I went to Tiananmen Square to appeal on behalf of Falun Gong. I was arrested and held for two days and two nights. On October 22, 2000, I went to Tiananmen Square again to unfurl banners and was illegally held for 15 days. On June 26, 2001, officers from the Binhelu Police Department arrested me while I was distributing Falun Dafa truth clarification materials in Shuiji, Liaxi City. In the evening, the police ransacked my home and then detained me for 15 days and extorted 195 yuan from me.