33 Year-old Falun Gong Woman Tortured to Death

Ms. Tang Fafen was beaten and tortured to death because of her practice of Falun Gong.

NEW YORK (FDI) -- In April, Ms. Tang Fafen died from injuries sustained while beaten and tortured in a Chinese labor camp.

Ms. Tang was a practitioner of Falun Gong (about) and lived in Group Four, Village Three in Mengyang Town, Pengzhou City, Sichuan Province. In February 2002, she was kidnapped and illegally detained for more than four months by the Mengyang Town government, during which time sources in China say she suffered brutal beatings. After escaping from detention, her name was added to the "wanted list" of the Pengzhou City National Security Division. Thus, Ms. Tang was forced to flee her home to avoid further persecution, leaving behind her 9 year-old son with her elderly parents.

On October 7th, 2002, Ms. Tang was arrested again while distributing flyers with information about the persecution of Falun Gong in Zhongjiang County and returned to Mengyang Town government where sources say she was brutally tortured.

Covered in cuts and bruises, she was transferred to Pengzhou City Brainwashing Center.

On March 3rd, 2003, Ms. Tang was sentenced to two years of forced labor and sent to Nanmusi Female Labor Camp in Zizhong County, where she was tortured until on the verge of death.

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Due to her serious condition, the labor camp attempted to return Ms. Tang to the local government on two separate occasions, but she was refused and her family was finally contacted to bring her home.

Within two days of returning home, at approximately 5:00 p.m. on April 12th, 2003, Tang Fafen passed away.

Her family requested that her husband be released from Pengzhou City Detention Center Brainwashing Center -- where he is being held because he practices Falun Gong -- to make funeral arrangements, but their request was denied.

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Related responsible government departments and personnel

Nanmusi Female Labor Camp in Zizhong County:
Head of the Education Division: Li Zhiqiang
Chief of Brigade Seven: Li Qi
Chief of Brigade Eight: Zhang Xiaofang
Mengyang Town Government office: 86-28-3829145 (government office), 86-28-3829146 (Party Committee office)

Members from the 6-10 Office in Mengyang Town: Zhen Guihua (also the township head), Bai Meichun, Huang Rensong, Cai Yunlong, Tan Yanbai, Liu Zhengfang, Qiao Lijun, Zhou Pingkuan, Zhang Zongjun, Luo Xiuyou, and Zhen Hongming

Members from the 6-10 Office of Pengzhou City: Qiao Lijun, Yang Jianhua, Wang Dong, Luo Ke, and Yang Jianxin

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NEWS - Jul. 18, 2003
Falun Dafa Information Center, www.faluninfo.net

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Background

Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa (about), is a practice of meditation and exercises with teachings based on the universal principle of "Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance." It is a practice that was taught in private for thousands of years before being made public in 1992 by Mr. Li Hongzhi. Falun Gong has roots in traditional Chinese culture, but it is distinct and separate from other practices such as the religions of Buddhism and Taoism. Since its introduction in 1992, it quickly spread by word of mouth throughout China, and is now practiced in over 50 countries.

With government estimates of as many as 100 million practicing Falun Gong, China's President Jiang Zemin outlawed the peaceful practice in July 1999 (report), fearful of anything touching the hearts and minds of more citizens than the Communist Party. Unable to crush the spirit of millions who had experienced improved health and positive life changes from Falun Gong, Jiang's regime has intensified its propaganda campaign to turn public opinion against the practice while quietly imprisoning, torturing and even murdering those who practice it.

The Falun Dafa Information Center has verified details of 756 deaths (reports / sources) since the persecution of Falun Gong in China began in 1999. Government officials inside China, however, report that the actual death toll is well over 1,600, while expert sources estimate that figure to be much higher. Hundreds of thousands have been detained, with more than 100,000 being sentenced to forced labor camps, typically without trial.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT THE FALUN DAFA INFORMATION CENTER
Contacts: Gail Rachlin ([phone]), Levi Browde ([phone]), Erping Zhang ([phone]), or Feng Yuan ([phone]).
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