(Minghui.org) Yan Shupeng in Heilongjiang Province had a second mental breakdown on the night of March 30, 2013. He ran outside, looking and calling for his mother and chasing after people. The police locked him up in his home, securing him with three chains. Cold and lonely, he spent the night at home alone again. He managed to get out of the chains the next day and ran outside again.
Yan Shupeng (before his mental breakdown)
In the house where Shupeng lives by himself, the walls, ceilings, doors, and family photos are covered with words spelling out his longing: “I miss Dad,” “I want to see my mom,” “A family of three” “Never separate again.” Seeing these sad, touching words can easily move one to tears.
What drove him to mental collapse?
Dad Died as a Result of Persecution
Shupeng lives in Zhengde Village, Dancheng Town, Shuangcheng City, Heilongjiang Province. His father Mr. Yan Shanzhu and mother Ms. Chen Xiumei both took up the practice of Falun Gong. Shupeng used to have a happy childhood. For him, a happy life meant family members living and laughing together. Whether they were rich or poor was not important.
Mr. Shan and Ms. Chen (the words on the photo were written by Shupeng and say he misses his parents)
After Jiang Zemin and the communist regime began to persecute Falun Gong in 1999, however, the family began a long and difficult journey, just like millions of other families who practice Falun Gong.
When Mr. Yan and Ms. Chen went to Beijing in January 2000 to appeal for Falun Gong, both were illegally arrested and detained in the Shuangcheng Second Detention Center for 15 days. They were later had 6,000 yuan extorted from them before returning home. Shupeng was 7 years old at the time.
When Mr. Yan set out for Beijing again a year later, Dancheng Police Station officers stopped him on the way and held him again at the Shuangcheng Second Detention Center. He was then transferred to the notorious Changlinzi Forced Labor Camp in Harbin and held for three years. Guards often tortured him because he refused to give up his belief. They once confined him in a solitary cell, and labor camp head Shi Changjing shocked his face with an electric baton. When Mr. Yan went on a hunger strike to protest the mistreatment, the guards force-fed him. As a result of the mistreatment, he developed severe tuberculosis.
When Mr. Yan was released in 2003, he was extremely weak, but to support his family, he had to go out to work. He died on October 3, 2004, at the age of 36. Shupeng was 11 at that time.
Mother Detained and Beaten
Ms. Chen was also persecuted many times. She looked after her mother, who could not take care of herself. In December 2000, six Dancheng Town officials (including Chen Fubin and Fan Zilin) broke in and arrested her. Her mother, ill in bed, asked, “Why are you arresting my daughter? What did she do wrong?” Officials said that, since the communist regime does not allow anyone to practice Falun Gong, anyone who does is committing a crime. They took Ms. Chen away without even letting her put on a coat and then beat her in a township conference room.
Ten days later, officer Chen Shaowu ordered Ms. Chen to renounce Falun Gong. Ms. Chen Xiuhua said, "I will practice as long as I am alive." The officer went berserk. He took off his coat, rolled up his sleeves, and screamed, "I don't care about the consequences. I am going to beat you to death today." He slapped her face non-stop until he was completely worn out and then started again after taking a break. He beat her to the ground and kicked and stomped on her. An elderly factory worker who could not bear it anymore came and helped Ms. Chen Xiuhua of the room.
Surrounded by Terror
The death of his dad left Shupeng grief-stricken. He could only bury his feelings deep inside, since there was no place to express them. He knew that his parents were good people and hadn't committed any crimes. But why would someone wrongly persecute them and break apart the family?
Afraid of losing his mother, the mental pressure that Shupeng faced kept increasing. At the age of 14, unable to withstand the stress and the uncertainty of these tragedies anymore, he had a mental breakdown. His condition improved when he stayed with his mother. But to make a living for the family, Ms. Chen had to travel to other cities to work and leave Shupeng at home.
When Ms. Chen put up truth-clarification materials near her workplace on May 16, 2012, someone reported her to the police. Agents took her to the Xiangfang District Domestic Security Division in Harbin City and then to the Qianjin Forced Labor Camp in Harbin City for 18 months.
Relatives and neighbors didn't dare tell Shupeng about this, fearing that he would have another breakdown. But he was already grieving for his dad and had not seen his mom for a long time. He wrote his feelings on the walls, ceiling, doors, and photos: “I miss Dad,” “I want to see my mom,” “I almost froze to death yesterday.”
Shupeng's overwhelming depression and despair led to another mental breakdown on March 30, 2013.
Relatives and Neighbors Request Ms. Chen’s Release
When Mr. Yan’s relatives sought help on April 5, 2013, many people came forward. One village official and his relatives went to the Qianjin Labor Camp on April 8 to request Ms. Chen's release.
Zhang Bo, Managing Office supervisor at the labor camp, said they would not release Ms. Chen without approval from the Shuangcheng City 610 Office.
When Shupeng’s relatives went to the Shuangcheng 610 Office the next day, they were told to obtain certain documents from the labor camp. They went to the labor camp with newly obtained materials to get approval from the township office and the county 610 Office. One of the township officers was very sympathetic and said, “You have all the documents ready now. Please go to the labor camp and pick up Ms. Chen.”
To help the family, the village office and hundreds of residents signed their names with their fingerprints to request Ms. Chen's release.
When the relatives went to the Qianjin Labor Camp on April 12, Zhang Bo looked at the documents and asked for proof of a mental disorder provided by a physician. The relatives said his father was dead and his mother was in the labor camp, so there was no one to pay for such an exam. Shupeng’s aunt was very nervous and started to cry. Zhang then told them to contact the Domestic Security Division who arrested Ms. Chen. He said Ms. Chen would be released if the labor camp detention was canceled.
The relatives went the Xiangfang District Domestic Security Division on April 15 to meet with Mao Linchang, who was responsible for the case. Mao refused to meet them face-to-face but over the phone denied his involvement.
The relatives could not do anything. They went to the labor camp a fourth time. Zhang insisted on a medical exam to prove Shupeng’s mental disorder. Shupeng’s aunt cried and begged him, saying it was unlawful for the labor camp not to release her this since all the documents were ready. Zhang said, “If you keep crying like this, that is considered interfering with law enforcement here. You will be arrested.” The labor camp head surnamed Hao said, “I cannot release Ms. Chen, because I want to keep my job.”
Faced with all these difficulties, the relatives gave up hope of securing Ms. Chen’s release. They were very sad, but there was nothing they could do. Meanwhile, Shupeng had no idea that his relatives were trying to get his mother released, and on April 16 he once again broke out of his relative’s home. Now the grieving and depressed young man has been sent to a mental hospital.
This is only one example among millions of cases in which Falun Gong practitioners were mistreated and persecuted for their belief. Many families were broken apart and parents were separated from their children.
Related article: “Yan Shanzhu, 36, Dies as a Result of Persecution”
