Mr. Zu is reportedly very weak after a beating and subsequent hunger strike.

Mr. Zu Yu on Hunger Strike after Beating by Guard in the 2nd Forced Labor Camp of Shandong Province

Mr. Zu Yu, 42, is from Shuangquanyu Village, Mamuchi Township, Yinan County, Shandong Province. He was sentenced to three years of forced labor and is being detained at the 2nd Forced Labor Camp of Shandong Province. Wang Xinjiang, a guard from Group 7, knocked out his two bottom front teeth. Since then, Mr. Zu has been on a hunger strike for more than seven months to protest the brutal treatment he has received.

Practitioners who have recently been released from the labor camp talked about Mr. Zu's current situation. He is extremely weak and emaciated. He has dark circles underneath his sunken eyes and his voice is very weak. His life is in imminent danger. The officials at the labor camp, however, refuse to release Mr. Zu on medical bail.

On June 27, 2008, Ma Chenglong, Captain of the Domestic Security Team of Yinan County Police Department, and Officer Guo Jing from Mamuchi Township Police Station, illegally arrested Mr. Zu at home, using the excuse of security for the Olympic Games. They also ransacked his home and confiscated his computer, truth-clarification materials and other personal items. They later sentenced him to three years of forced labor and sent him to the 2nd Forced Labor Camp of Shandong Province.

The guards divided the practitioners into two lines at approximately noon on October 11, 2009. Guard Zhang Ruimin said, "Anyone who can complete the production task [should] stand in the west line and can go take a break. The rest who can't complete the task need to go to the workshop and continue working."

When Mr. Zu went to stand in the west line, Zhang Ruimin went over to him and asked, "Can you complete the task?"

Mr. Zu Yu looked at Zhang and asked a question in reply, "Can I stand on this side if I can't complete the task?"

Another guard, Wang Xinjiang, heard Mr. Zu's question and said, "Zu Yu, What kind of attitude is that?"

Mr. Zu held his head up and replied, "You are persecuting Falun Gong practitioners in the form of slave labor. We are innocent. We shouldn't be doing this work here."

Wang Jiangxin was dumbfounded by Mr. Zu's answer and tried changing the topic. He said, "Just look at yourself! Put down your hands! Don't put them behind your back!"

Mr. Zu Yu didn't follow his orders and continued to stand there. Wang Jiangxin then threatened him, "If you don't put down your hands, I will slap your face!"

Mr. Zu looked at him and said, "How dare you!"

Wang Jiangxin then pulled Mr. Zu's arms towards the office upstairs. He also said, "Come! Come! Go upstairs! I don't believe I can't handle you!"

Mr. Zu Yu didn't comply and shouted, "No! No! I don't want to go!"

While he was being pulled, Mr. Zu dropped his cup onto the ground. Wang Xinjiang then pulled Mr. Zu's coat over his head and forcefully pulled him to a small restroom on the second floor. He then handcuffed Mr. Zu to a radiator and started to beat him.

Wang Xijiang viciously punched Mr. Zu three times. As a result, Mr. Zu's two bottom, front teeth were knocked out and his lower lip bled. Mr. Zu spat out a mouthful of blood and some splashed onto Wang Jiangxin's sleeve. Wang then viciously kicked Mr. Zu. The beating lasted for more than 10 minutes. When Wang saw Mr. Zu's face swell up, he became afraid of being held responsible and stopped. After he left, another guard Cao Chengtao went inside the restroom and slapped Mr. Zu's face several times.

Information about Mr. Zu's beating was not released until several months later. A detainee who cleaned the restroom said that he saw a lot of blood on the floor of the restroom and was very scared. He said he didn't see Mr. Zu because the guards had already moved him to the library and kept him isolated from other detainees. The guards were afraid of their violence being exposed, so they blocked the truth and framed Mr. Zu, saying that he had attacked the guard.