(Clearwisdom.net) Mr. Li Zhiyong, 26, has been abused and tortured to the brink of death at Jilin Prison. Since his family was advised on May 18, 2004 that his life was in danger, the prison staff used all means to deceive and lie to Li Zhiyong and his family, while continuing to mistreat him.
On August 16, 2004, Li Zhiyong's mother, Yuan Wenhui, went to visit him and found that his state of health had become more serious. Earlier she had asked the doctor of the prison hospital, who told her that the effect of treatment on Li Zhiyong had not been good, and that their job was simply to maintain his current state of health. He said that if the situation continued, his health would deteriorate.
Since June 8, the family members have been requesting that they be allowed to bail him out for medical treatment. Jilin Prison first told them to proceed with the paperwork, then claimed that the person in charge was unavailable. Further, they indicated that the medical treatment could not be arranged as they had differing opinions, but then they said the prosecutors did not approve. As of July 26, when Yuan Wenhui called the prison, Chief Wang of the Criminal Law Section told her that the bail for medical treatment could not be arranged, that both the prison and prosecutors agreed; Li Zhiyong's case was blocked by the provincial security bureau and the "610 Office" of the province.
As acknowledged by people who know the inside story, the guards said that Li Zhiyong was honest and humble, but they would not allow him to be bailed out unless he could write the "four statements" and pay money. The so-called "four statements" are declarations practitioners are forced to make vowing to give up the practice, to defame Falun Gong and to betray friends who practice Falun Gong.
Li Zhiyong's family has five members. In 1994 in Changchun City, his mother, Yuan Wenhui, attended the seventh class of Mr. Li Hongzhi, the founder of Falun Gong. In 1995 four other family members obtained the Fa and started to practice Falun Gong one after another. In particular, the oldest son, Li Zhibiao, who had problems with brain development and cerebella atrophy, became a healthy person after practice. Li Zhiyong's grandmother is now 86 years old. She has been healthy since she started the practice nine years ago. She had presbyopia in her 40s, but now she can read the newspaper and do her sewing at night. Therefore Li Zhiyong is very firm in practicing Falun Gong.
Arrested at his workplace, money and belongings sent by family members did not reach him.
Li Zhiyong was illegally arrested from his workplace by the police of Luyuan District of Changchun City. The police handcuffed him, kicked and beat him, and pushed him into a van. Later it was claimed by his colleague that the police were ruthless and cruel to Falun Dafa practitioners, and those who witnessed this all trembled with fear. The police then attempted to extort a confession from him with cruel torture methods, and tried to obtain evidence through violence. He was sent into Changchun City's Tiebei Detention Center on March 13.
During the 21 months in Tiebei Detention Center, the police did not allow his family members to visit or send any clothes or daily necessities. Sometimes, making deposits into his account was not allowed. Even after being allowed after a long period of time, not all the money was given to him. Later, after double checking, it was determined that his family made a total of 2,000 Yuan (1) in deposits for him, but he only got about 1,000 Yuan. The family has sent clothing several times that he did not receive.
One day in September 2003, Li's mother, Yuan Wenhui, received a phone call from a prisoner who was released and detained in the same cell of Li Zhiyong, "It has been almost a year, but your family did not deposit one cent for Li Zhiyong. He has been so thin with only skin and bones. Here the prisoners are not given enough food, and even without clothes for change, further without money, why don't you care about him?"
Before Yuan Wenhui could ask any questions, the caller hung up the phone in anger. This happened within a few days of Li's family depositing 200 Yuan for him. So we asked someone to deposit another 200 Yuan and sent some clothing.
The family did not get a chance to see him until December 25, 2003, as the result of a lot of effort in seeking help from others. By then the family learned that Li had been sentenced to four years for clarifying the truth and giving out flyers, and that he was sent into Jilin Prison on December 16 without the family being notified. The family asked for information everywhere, and did not hear accurate news until the ninth day. With help from a friend, they finally were able to see him once, but were not allowed to speak long. They also learned that Li Zhiyong received the change of clothes with the help of others after he was sent to prison, but he did not have any underwear. The family deposited money into his account and sent clothing and other things every month, but he did not receive them.
The second visit
On February 15, 2004, the visit date specified by the prison, Yuan Wenhui went to the prison the second time to see her son. In the reception area of the prison, the police behind the window said, "Li Zhiyong is not allowed to be visited. He refused to accept the re-education." Yuan Wenhui said, "He is very humble, and has never scolded anyone since childhood." The police said, "His attitude of acknowledging his crime is not good."
Li Zhiyong has lived in the inhumane Tiebei Detention Center for 21 months. It is a corrupt and ruthless detention center. Every day the detainees are only given two meals, which are congee and corn flour buns. Each detainee has less than one square foot in which to sleep. When he saw his mother for the first time, he said to her, "I've endured for 21 months, I'm able to endure in the future, so please do not worry about me mum, I know how to do things correctly." When he was sent to Jilin Prison, I saw him only once when I asked someone to bring him the luggage, and I was not able to say but a few words to him. But this time the effort to see him was in vain again.
In April, I again asked for help from friends, and was able to see him for a second time.
Family members were informed of illness growing serious, doctor says very dangerous
On May 18, 2004, Li Zhiyong's family members received a phone call from the prison asking them to come to the prison immediately. "He's seriously sick" they said. This was what the family had been worrying about for so long. On May 20, the family went to the Jilin Prison and visited Li Zhiyong, he was very weak and couldn't say more than a few words. Besides that, with several prison guards around him, he could not say anything. At that time the prison authorities agreed to send him to a civil hospital immediately.
On May 24, the family members went to the hospital where Li Zhiyong was taken, but the police guards wouldn't let them in. They finally found the doctor in charge and were told that Li Zhiyong had developed a serious nephrotic syndrome. According to the doctor, Li Zhiyong's heart, lungs, and abdominal cavity were full of fluid, and his whole body had developed a serious dropsy. He said that this type of disease was very hard to cure, and was very dangerous.
After returning from the hospital, the family members talked with other doctors and read some medical books. They learned that those who had never had nephritis before, the syndrome could only appear due to car accidents, suffering a shock, external injuries or extrusions, and so on. Therefore Li Zhiyong's mother wrote to the prison authorities and called afterwards, saying, "You have caused my son's serious illness, and did not allow us to see him. It is unreasonable and unlawful." When she called the second time, the prison authorities agreed to let her see her son at the hospital.
Layers and layers of difficulties to obtain the medical parole
On June 8, when Li Zhiyong's mother went to the Jilin Province's Railway Hospital to see her son, she requested Li Zhiyong's immediate medical parole and release. The four on-site police officers said that the application had already been submitted, but was stuck with the prison authorities. Li Zhiyong's mother obtained a certificate from the hospital, and wrote to Li Qing, the warden of the prison, as well as the Jilin Province Prison Administrative Bureau and the chief of Jilin Province's Department of Justice, and told them the situation. On June 17, the prison authorities informed the family members they could come process the medical parole procedures and bring a vehicle.
On June 18, the family members brought a vehicle to the prison and went to the Criminal Law Section. The Section Chief, Wang, said, "the person in charge is out." The family members questioned, "How come he told us to come, but he wouldn't wait for us here?" Wang said, "We cannot do anything about it, because we have so many things to take care of. But you're not wasting your time. Next Monday we will go to your county to save you a trip, and we'll settle all the paperwork, including the ones with the local police station." The family members believed him and left. So they went to the Railway Hospital to see Li Zhiyong.
They saw that the hospital had added a lot of patients, and had to move Li Zhiyong from the nephrosis section to the infection section. There were four patients sharing the room, some were wearing the foot shackles, and some were wearing handcuffs. Li Zhiyong's one hand was cuffed on the bed, and the other hand was connected to an IV. His state of mind appeared satisfactory, because the prison authorities had told him that the medical parole was being processed. He thought he would go home soon.
The family waited for 10 days but no one came from the prison. They called the prison, and the Criminal Law Section Chief Wang said, "Li Zhiyong's medical parole is undergoing a debate; it cannot be processed at this time." Li Zhiyong's mother wrote letters again to the warden of the prison, the Jilin Province Prison Administrative Bureau and the chief of Jilin Province's Department of Justice, and appealed at the Prison Administrative Bureau in person. The appealing office told her that, "the case has not arrived yet, you should still go ask the Criminal Law Section of the prison, but we may help you inquire about it."
Prison authorities: "We will stick with our policy. You can go talk to whoever you want to."
Fifteen days later, the family members called the prison authorities again, and the Criminal Law Section replied, "We will go to your place tomorrow." The next day, on July 14, two personnel came from the section, and called Li Zhiyong's family. Li Zhiyong's father went to meet them. They told him that because the whole family practiced Falun Gong, they were not qualified to fill out the form. Li's father had to tell them that he would not practice Falun Gong any more before they reluctantly allowed him to fill out the form of medical parole application.
The family members inquired about Li Zhiyong's situation, and they were told, "Pretty serious. We will stick with our policy. You can go talk to whoever you want to."
Upon hearing this, Li Zhiyong's mother went to Jilin City on July 15, and went to the prison in the afternoon, where she called the authorities. The chief of the supervising area, Wang, said, "Since you're here already, who can stop you from seeing anyone?" But she waited for an hour and nobody came out to see her. She called again, but nobody picked up the phone. She had to return home.
At 7:15 a.m. on July 16, Li Zhiyong's mother went to the prison again and called. Still nobody answered. She went to the reception room where she was told, "Falun Gong is not allowed to be seen."
Li Zhiyong's mother said this situation was very special, because Li Zhiyong's illness was very serious, but they would not help her.
Being deceived again and again
She spent a lot of time visiting the Criminal Law Section, the Prison Administrative Section, and the Education Section. At 10:30 a.m., she was finally being acknowledged and saw her son. The chief of the third supervising area, Wang, said, "Stop writing letters to the prison administration bureau. The prison authorities agreed to give medical parole to Li Zhiyong, but it needs the approval from the prosecutor's office. We're not in the same department, so there are no shortcuts." He urged Li Zhiyong, "Tell your mom how we treat you?"
Li Zhiyong tried very hard to convince his mother and said, "The prison authorities have spent a lot of money on me and arranged personnel to take care of me, and have been working hard to process the medical parole for me. Among the prisoners, they treated me the best, but you still kept writing letters to complain about them."
He did not know that it wasn't until his mother had talked to so many people and written those letters that the situation had proceeded to the current state. The prison authorities had deceived him and evaded his family members all along.
After returning home, Li Zhiyong's mother called the prison a few times, but did not hear anything. On July 26, she called again, and the chief of the Criminal Law Section, Wang, said that Li Zhiyong's medical parole could not go any further, because even though the prison authorities and the prosecutor's office had agreed, the local National Security Brigade did not agree, and the National Security Brigade was under the National Public Security Bureau's administration, so therefore Li Zhiyong's case was stuck at the Provincial Public Security Bureau. In other words, the Provincial "610 Office."
At present, Li Zhiyong's situation is getting worse. The prison doctor said the effect of the treatment was not good, and they could only expect Li Zhiyong to live another three months. The prison authorities had said that they agreed to give him medical parole, but they didn't release him, and the family members were cheated again and again.
The above account includes the known situation regarding Li Zhiyong's persecution. Details of the persecution he suffered inside the prison is still unknown.
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Petition letter from the mother of Falun Dafa practitioner Li Zhiyong of Jilin Province who is under persecution
The People's Congress of Jilin Province, Chief Procurator of Jilin Provincial Procurator's Office:
I am the mother of Li Zhiyong, who is imprisoned in Jilin Prison. I am 57 years old and I am an employee of Town's Land-Administration Station in Yitong County.
Since our government wrote "protecting human rights" into the Constitution Of The People's Republic Of China in the beginning of this year, the judiciary system has started to vigorously straighten out the activities and practices that violate the law and regulations within the public security system, the procuratorial system, and the judiciary system, and have started special activities that last for one year to "seriously investigate and deal with the five types of cases that the personnel of the government functionalities abuse their authorities to infringe upon human rights" and have started serious implementations trying to improve the legal system and to guarantee human rights. As a citizen, it is my duty to report situations to the related government bodies. I am looking forward to the situations being resolved.
My son, Li Zhiyong, was illegally sentenced to four years of imprisonment because he practiced Falun Gong. He was sent to Changchun City's Tiebei Detention Center on March 13, 2002, and for 21 months the detention center has refused to allow the family to visit him. My family has sent money and clothing to the detention center but my son did not receive all of these items. The living conditions in the detention center were vicious and it finally reached the point that my son did not have any clothes to change into. My family was not informed of the situation. As of December 16, 2003, when my son was transferred to Jilin Prison, my family was still not informed that he needed luggage and clothing. By asking other people, we finally found out nine days afterwards that he had already been sent to the prison. By asking some people for help we were able to visit him once, but we were refused any future visits.
On April 16 of this year we asked someone for help and were able to see Li Zhiyong one time. On May 18, we suddenly received a notice from the prison informing us that my son was seriously ill, and asking the family members to go to the prison. We saw that Li Zhiyong's whole body had edemas, he was so weak that he could not lift his head, and he had no energy to talk. We also learned that he had a kidney problem. The prison authorities said that they would take him to outside hospitals for treatment. Through various sources we learned that only external injuries, extruding, automobile accidents, or shock can cause such serious nephritic syndrome in such a short period. For this reason, we requested that the prison let Li Zhiyong go home for medical treatment immediately, and we requested the prison pay for the medical treatment since Li Zhiyong's illness was caused by the prison. On May 21, Jilin Prison authorities sent Li Zhiyong to Jilin City Central Hospital to take a comprehensive medical examination. He was diagnosed with acute nephritic syndrome. The doctor said that his heart, lungs, and internal organs were soaked in fluid, and his situation was serious. We wanted to go to his cell in the hospital to see him, but the police officer who was watching him did not allow us to see him no matter what we had said. On June 8, we were allowed to see him in Jilin City Railway Hospital. His illness was very serious. We requested that he be released on bail for medical treatment. The police officer told us that this was in process, and that the diagnosis by the Central Hospital totally met the requirements for release on bail for medical treatment -- the Central Hospital is a special hospital used by Jilin City Judiciary system for medical appraisal. But my son release on bail for medical treatment is still not approved today. We have asked many times about the release on bail. At first we were told, "We have disagreements internally," then, "The prosecutor's office does not agree," and then, "Local government does not agree." All the police officers we contacted said, "Li Zhiyong's condition totally meets the requirement for release on bail for medical treatment." But they simply do not release him.
My son's situation completely meets the requirement for release on bail for medical treatment, but he is simply blocked from being released. Are those people really disregarding lives if they don't get the money they wanted?! We have heard that in the past this kind of situation did occur, and the person died in the hospital, thus we are very concerned. So as not to repeat past tragedies, we are asking the prosecutor's office to uphold justice!
We don't know what kind of torture Li Zhiyong has suffered because we were refused visitation for a long period of time. Even though we were able to visit him after he was ill, every time we saw him we were watched by several personnel, and we were allowed to talk for no more than a few sentences. Even under the circumstances that Jilin Prison has blocked the information, we still learned the following:
1) Li Zhiyong was deprived of visitation by the family members. 2) He has been physically punished over a long time period. 3) Li Zhiyong only wrote one letter to home and he said in the letter, "Work here is exhaustive, but it is not too bad that my term is short and I should be able to hold on." But as a matter of fact he was not able to hold on, he was caught with nephritic syndrome, which is a illness of the immune system and can not be healed for life. 4) One time we went to visit him in the hospital, and we saw that he had one hand cuffed to the steel bed and one hand taking intravenous drip (the prison guards all acknowledged that he is honest). 5) Last time when we went to see him on a regular visitation day, the guard at the window told us, "Falun Gong practitioners are not allowed to have visitation." We told him that it was a special situation, and that Li Zhiyong was seriously ill, but we were still refused the visit. We had contacted the prison before we went there, but we had to go to the criminal law section, the prison administrative section, and the education section. We ran around for over two hours before we were allowed to see him.
The above is the situation we have experienced. It is clear that the inmates were abused.
Although the prison is providing Li Zhiyong with medical treatment, even the doctor admitted that this treatment can hardly maintain his situation. In that kind of environment how can he recuperate? On August 16 we went to visit him, and brought him several small crab-apples. The police officer did not allow us to give them to him. Li Zhiyong still has 19 months of his term left. Under such harsh environment, with such a serious illness, if the prison authorities still refuse to release him, the consequences will be disastrous.
Based on the above facts, we request:
1. Release Li Zhiyong immediately;
2. Li Zhiyong's illness is serious and the medical treatment is expensive, we request that the prison authorities pay the expense of the treatment.
3.The prison authorities are responsible for the consequences if Li Zhiyong loses his ability to work.
This case has been dragged on for three months and it is a serious case that involves life and death. This case is also within the limits of your authority. We are writing this letter to you to reflect the situation and to file a petition. We hope that you can give us an answer as soon as possible and give this case a fair and just resolution.
Petitioner: Yuan Wenhui (Li Zhiyong's mother)
Note:
(1) Yuan is the Chinese currency. The average monthly salary of an urban worker in China is 500 Yuan.
August 24, 2004
