Zhang Wannian, 71, was the head of the Yungang Food Distribution Center in Yandu County, Jiangsu Province. Before he began to practice Falun Gong, he suffered from 11 different diseases. His body had become deformed from these diseases, and it was difficult for him to move around. He started to practice Falun Gong in 1994, and one year later he no longer suffered from any of these ailments without the benefit of any medical intervention. He was an outgoing person, eager to help people in need. He also volunteered as a deputy assistant leader at the local Falun Gong Volunteer Center. He went to Beijing in February to make an appeal on behalf of Falun Gong, where he was arrested and sent back. He was detained at the Yandu County Food Bureau Hotel, where he was forced to undergo "transformation." The guards took turns watching him and forced him to remain standing at all times. His determination in practicing Falun Gong remained unchanged, and he endured the inhumane treatment for 13 days. He was forced to pay 7500 Yuan (Chinese dollars, about fifteen month salary of an averaged worker in cities of China) of "case fee" and was then moved to the Nanyang Detention Center. After a month at the detention center, he was sent to the Yungang Mental Hospital, where he was abused and tortured for another 45 days. He was then sentenced to one year at the labor camps. Around mid-September Mr. Zhang began a hunger strike in protest and became very weak a week later. The prison guards were afraid of being blamed for his death, so they carried him to his home. Mr. Zhang passed away one day later.

Practitioners in China

Nov. 30, 2000