(Minghui.org) A Chifeng City, Inner Mongolia resident was incarcerated for seven years for refusing to renounce Falun Gong, a spiritual practice that is being persecuted by the Chinese communist regime.
Mr. Wang Zhidong, a Falun Gong practitioner, was only 21 when he was arrested in February 2003. While he suffered unimaginable torture in prison, he felt lucky to be alive by the time he was released.
Practitioners Killed in Prison for Practicing Falun Gong
Three of the four practitioners that were arrested at the same time as Mr. Wang were murdered while in prison.
Ms. Zheng Lanfeng was tortured to death in early March 2003, less than one month after her arrest.
Ms. Zhou Caixia was sentenced to an eight year term and tortured to death within one week after she was taken to the No. 4 Women's Prison in Inner Mongolia.
Ms. Tian Sufang, a retired teacher, was sentenced to five years in prison. She passed away in 2011, unable to recover from torture-induced damage to her health.
Ms. Duan Xueqin, who also survived, was once tortured until incapacitated and unable to take care of herself.
Six years after his release, Mr. Wang recounts the persecution he experienced in the prison. He hopes his ordeal will give readers a glimpse into what Falun Gong practitioners suffer, simply for exercising their constitutional right to freedom of belief.
Hongshan District Criminal Section: Beaten for Five Hours
At approximately 10:00 a.m. on February 24, 2003, four policemen from the Hongshan District Criminal Section, Chifeng City Police Bureau, arrested Mr. Wang Zhidong at his workplace.
They took him to the office building of the Hongshan District Criminal Section, where they tortured him for five consecutive hours.
Body Search
As soon as they arrived at their destination, they body searched him and confiscated all his money and other personal items.
One plainclothes police officer slapped his face three times. He could no longer hear anything and saw only the officer's mouth open and close as he was talking.
Hung up
After searching him, the officers tortured him during the interrogation.
They handcuffed his arms behind his back and hung him up by the handcuffs with his toes barely touching the ground. Two officers took turns slapping his face countless times while cursing.
Shocked with Electric Batons
Then, the officers shocked him with electric batons. They shocked the most sensitive parts of the human body: head, ears, chest, back and finger tips.
They took two broomsticks and beat him until they broke. Then, they beat his head with a rubber hose until he fainted.
After five hours of violent beating, they transferred him to the Hongshan District Detention Center.
Hongshan District Detention Center: Torture
Shocked with Electric Batons for Seven Consecutive Days
The officers who had interrogated Mr. Wang returned the next day. They threatened that they would continue with even worse torture.
They handcuffed him to a metal chair, and two officers took turns slapping his face and kicking him. This was followed with shocks from electric batons. They shocked his back, ears and head. One officer described it as drawing maps on his back.
The shocking with electric batons started at 9 a.m. The officers went out for lunch at 3 p.m. and shocked him again on their return. This torture lasted for seven days.
Forced Labor
Mr. Wang was later forced to sort beans for about 16 hours a day.
The food he was given consisted of rotten vegetable soup, with a layer of silt at the bowl bottom.
Sentenced to Seven Years
The Hongshan District Court of Chifeng City, Inner Mongolia held a trial in the detention center. Mr. Wang was sentenced to seven years in prison for practicing Falun Gong.
Ms. Zhou Caixia, Ms. Duan Xueqin and Ms. Tian Sufang were tried at the same time. They were too feeble to walk on their own. Each of them was supported by two inmates.
Mr. Wang was transferred to the Chifeng No. 4 Prison in Inner Mongolia after six months at the detention center.
Chifeng No. 4 Prison: Brainwashing and Torture
Spiritual Torture and Brainwashing
During the one month at the entry group, Mr. Wang suffered physical and mental torture. He was monitored by two inmates around the clock.
Liu Gang, a guard, maligned Falun Gong and its founder every day in front of Falun Gong practitioners. For “transforming” a practitioner, Liu was promised a large bonus. He was very cruel in his treatment of practitioners.
Liu brought a woman to the brainwashing session. While he cursed at Mr. Wang, she was asked to brainwash him. She distorted the Falun Gong teachings in hopes of confusing him.
Isolation Cell and Inhuman Living Conditions
When they could not force Mr. Wang to give up Falun Gong, he was taken to a dark isolation cell for one month. The room was about 40 square feet. The guards occasionally checked if he was still alive.
He was transferred to Group 5 after one month. There was no heat during the cold winter months. His bed was alongside a window that was frosted all the time. His quilt was damp and cold.
Forced Labor
Mr. Wang was ordered to perform forced labor for about 15 hours daily. While in the entry group, he sorted beans. At Group 5, he knitted carpets used for exports to Japan and another country. He was given a quota.
Anyone, except Falun Gong practitioners, who produced good products was given a reduced sentence.
Every time when the prison was inspected, the practitioners were taken to isolation cells.
Mr. Wang was released on 2010 Chinese New Year and returned home after seven years of imprisonment.
Related Reports:
The Persecution Suffered by Retired Teacher Ms. Tian Sufang Before She Died
