[Minghui Net]

I originally had a peaceful and happy family. My wife started practicing Falun Gong 4 years ago, and since then she has become more and more physically healthy, and her bad temperament has become more gentle and peaceful. In the past I also had a bad temperament, but my wife's ability to kindly and gently make her point has greatly changed me. Although I haven't practiced Falun Gong, I know that through practicing it my wife has become a better and better person. From her words and deeds I know that Falun Gong practitioners are learning and cultivating "Truthfulness, Benevolence, and Forbearance." They discipline themselves with these three words regardless of time or place. I always feel ashamed that my feelings and actions are not as noble as theirs.

Like a thunderstorm on a sunny day, Falun Gong has been persecuted since July of 1999. Many fabricated charges have been leveled at Falun Gong practitioners. My family was put in a state of unrest when the police frequently summoned my wife for interrogation. They said they wanted to "transform" her. The leader of her work unit also pressured her intensely to give up Falun Gong. I simply can't understand why they are doing this. Practitioners meditate and learn the Fa (Falun Dafa), and consequently their physical bodies become healthier and their morality improves greatly. With this improvement they are able to work for the country using all their hearts and all their might. What is bad about that? All the Falun Gong practitioners that I have known are kindhearted and sincere--only commenting on what they haven't done well and how to correct their shortcomings. Why do some people in the government treat them so unfairly? What sin is it to be a good person?

My wife was summoned many times for "thought-transformation," and these activities continue to this day. For example, she was subpoenaed on June 28th of last year and has not returned for many weeks. After inquiry, I learned that she was detained and treated as a criminal. Why did this happen? Did she commit any crime? She only wanted to go to Beijing! What is the crime of going to Beijing? What kind of crime could it be even if her trip was for petitioning in Beijing? Beijing is the nation's capital, the center of the people's government. Why would the government be afraid of its citizens' going there and appealing? The truth is that she just wanted to go; she never actually went or appealed. Yet, this was reason enough for detention. My goodness, why destroy my family and my happiness just because my wife wanted to be a good person?

On January 14th of this year, my wife was taking care of her extremely sick father in the hospital. Suddenly, dozens of policemen surrounded her and took her away without charging her with a criminal offense. They said that she disseminated Falun Dafa materials. Now, nobody is home to take my daughter to school, and I become absent-minded when driving. My heart is very sad and I always wonder how my wife is doing in prison. I called and told the police that my wife is innocent and asked them to return her. They told me that I was rude, but that my wife was very kind--even they had to admit that my wife's temperament is good. Later, the Political and Protective Bureau of the District Public Security told me they would like to arrest my wife. I absolutely refused to sign the documents and strongly demanded that they unconditionally release her with no charges.

Now my wife is in the detention center and I cannot get any information about her. I miss my wife. The mistreatment of Falun Gong practitioners is now more severe than the treatment of any other criminal inmates. Family members are not allowed to visit practitioners whatsoever. Why is such cruelty allowed?

I ask all kindhearted people to show concern and care for my family, and to show concern and care for the millions of Falun Gong practitioners and their family members.

I appeal to the International Human Rights Organizations: make independent investigations of the persecution of Falun Gong in China and give them justice! Restore Falun Gong's good reputation! Restore Mr. Li Hongzhi's good reputation!

A family member of a Falun Gong practitioner

April 13, 2001