August 24, 2001

I am here today to call for all kind-hearted people to help rescue my beloved sister. My sister Jianhua Lu is one of the Falun Gong practitioners who are still being imprisoned and tortured at the notorious Masanjia Labor Camp in China, despite the fact that their jail terms have already expired. They shouldn't have been at the labor camp in the first place. I am urging the U.S. government, human rights organizations and the public to help win my sister's and the other Falun Gong practitioners' freedom.

My sister Jianhua started practicing Falun Dafa in 1996. Before then she had many health problems that even medicines couldn't cure. Shortly after she started the practice, her health condition was greatly improved.

When Falun Gong was banned in 1999, my sister was in the United States visiting families. She didn't think of seeking political asylum, as she felt that as a person cultivating Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance, she was apolitical and didn't need to be protected by political asylum. As a patriot of China, she couldn't believe the government would mistreat its own innocent people. With her trust in the Chinese government, she returned to China at the end of 1999. After she returned, she continued to practice Falun Gong, and tried to explain to the local police the truth about Falun Gong. However, they did not want to listen to her, and even confiscated her passport.

Under the "no one can be spared out" policy of the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners, my sister was illegally arrested on Oct 17, 2000 and was sent to the detention center of Tieling, Liaonin province. Because she refused to sign a repent letter, she was sent to the Masanjia Labor Camp, which is notorious for its torture and brutality. She has been illegally held there for more than 10 months.

My sister was supposed to be released in July this year. But our hope was broken. It is now almost September, and she's still imprisoned and tortured at the camp. Today, 130 Falun Gong practitioners at Masajia Labor Camp whose jail terms have expired have been on hunger strike for more than 20 days and are using their lives to protest the inhuman treatment towards Falun Gong practitioners. As a family member, I want to ask the San Francisco Chinese General Consul as well as Jiang Zemin regime, what crime did my sister commit? Is it a sin to cultivate Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance?

I hereby demand your immediate release of Jianhua, my sister, as well as all detained Falun Gong practitioners at Masajia Labor Camp!

I hereby also appeal to my sister's friends in the United States, and all kind-hearted people around the world, to help her go through this tribulation with your benevolent hearts and your righteous thoughts, and to help her regain the freedom that belongs to her.

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Stephanie Lu