On the Evening of June 19, 2000, Zhao Xin (female, 32), a lecturer of Beijing Industry and Commerce University was illegally arrested by the Haidian Police Sub-station, when she practiced Falun Gong in Zizhuyuan Park. In the detention center, Ms. Zhao started to fast. Several days later, Ms. Zhao's parents received a "critically ill notice" about their daughter. The vertebra at the fourth, fifth and sixth joints of her neck were fractured, and she also had minor injuries to her head. Her left eye was bruised and swollen and she had problems breathing. She is fed intravenously and can breathe only with the aid of a respirator. She is currently in Haidian Hospital. The doctors said, "She is still in critical condition and is fighting for survival. If she survives, there may be irreparable damage to some parts of the body necessitating amputations and/or leaving her paralyzed. We will try our best, but it is all up to her luck."
According to the Haidian Police Sub-station: Ms. Zhao refused to take food and she banged her own head against a wall, which led to the fracture. They implied that Ms. Zhao Xin's wounds were self-inflicted and had nothing to do with the police.
However, this is far from the truth. Who would believe such a ridiculous excuse?
Please think about it. If a person bangs her head against a wall, how can she seriously injure the vertebrae on the back of her neck? How could a person bang her head backward against a wall with her head bent down? If she really had banged against a wall, she probably would have fractured her skull. However, Ms. Zhao's skull is only slightly bruised. When Ms. Zhao was admitted to the hospital, many doctors and patients saw that she was still wearing handcuffs and shackles. Shackles are usually reserved for use on dangerous criminals. Is it necessary for a weak woman? Moreover, isn't it very easy to stop a shackled woman from bumping into a wall (there were many witnesses when Ms. Zhao was force-fed)? Please note that her wound is a localized blunt fracture, which can only be caused by a strong external force. Even a person who jumped out of a building with their head facing down would not necessarily have been wounded to such a serious extent.
Another strange thing is that after Haidian Police Sub-station took the seriously injured Zhao Xin to Haidian Hospital, they decided on Ms. Zhao's operation without notifying her work place or family. At that time Ms. Zhao was conscious and could talk normally. She had told them how to contact her work place and family. Why didn't the hospital inform the patient's family or work place before they carried out the difficult operation to repair the vertebrae? The operation has to be authorized by a member of her immediate family before it is begun. When Ms. Zhao Xin lost consciousness and could not talk and the bill for the operation could not be paid, Ms. Zhao's work place was then told to provide a check for the medical costs. Ms. Zhao's work place and her family expressed deep concerns over such an action. Now Zhao's family can't visit her and they do not even have the rights to see her through a window, not to mention to look at her medical records. How could such basic rights of citizens be deprived to such an extent? Why is this officially claimed self-inflicted event worth such close attention and watch? Everything related to Zhaos case is under surveillance all the time.
Ms. Zhao Xin is a university lecturer who was educated by the State. She is very diligent, conscientious in her work, warm-hearted and kind to other people. Just because of practicing Falun Gong in a park, she has been tortured to such an extent. Where on earth is the law? Where on earth are the human rights?
We strongly appeal to all kind-hearted people that the assailants be punished, the truth of this case be revealed, and justice be served on behalf of Ms. Zhao Xin. We hope such a tragedy will not occur again in the future.
We also hold that Ms. Zhao Xin has done nothing wrong. It is the heavenly endowed human rights for people to do exercises outdoors, which is something open and aboveboard that does not violate any laws.
We once again hope that the authorities will clearly distinguish right from wrong, enforce laws justly, and return innocence to good people.
