Issued by Clearwisdom Net

Mr. Gao Hongfei, a Falun Gong practitioner from Fanshi County, Shanxi Province, was a former student at Jilin Industrial University. While illegally detained at Chaoyanggou Forced Labor Camp, he was subjected to numerous torture sessions and nearly died. When Mr. Gao returned to his hometown, he was again subjected to frequent threats and extortion by the local police. As a result, he became homeless and destitute. On August 9, 2006, Mr. Gao passed away at the age of only 30.

Mr. Gao Hongfei came from Fanshi County, Shanxi Province. In October 2000, while a student at Jilin Industrial University, he went to Beijing to peacefully appeal for Falun Gong several times. As a result, he was arrested by the local police from Changchun City, Jilin Province, and was secretly detained in the Tiehua Detention Center for 37 days. He was then sentenced to two years of imprisonment at the Fenjin Forced Labor Camp in Jilin Province. In March, 2001, Mr. Gao was transferred to Chaoyanggou Forced Labor Camp in Changchun City. While serving his term, he was subjected to inhuman treatment.

Due to the long hours of arduous labor at the forced labor camp, Gao Hongfei lost consciousness at the workplace. He was then sent to a hospital and was diagnosed with tuberculosis and abdominal fluid retention. His left lung was leaking air into his chest and became infected. Mr. Gao was close to death. To avoid taking responsibility for his death, Chaoyanggou Forced Labor Camp released him.

After Mr. Gao was released, with the help of local fellow practitioners, he was sent to a hospital for surgery. However, the post-operative wound did not fully heal. The tube that was inserted inside his chest could not be removed for a long time and he was told that he did not have long to live.

After returning home, however, Gao Hongfei's strong faith, constant reading of Falun Gong teachings and practicing of the Falun Gong exercises slowly brought him back on the road to recovery. After eight months in bed, he returned to normal. Quickly after that, the local police substation repeatedly came to harass and threaten Mr. Gao and his parents. The police confiscasted his Falun Gong books. Mr. Gao's father passed away because he could not withstand the duress and constant harassment from the authorities.

In March 2003 on his way home, Mr. Gao was arrested by officers from Yangqu County Police Department, and his motorcycle was confiscated. He was about to be sent to Xinghualing Police Substation in Taiyuan City and was in danger of being sent to a forced labor camp later on. However, since his health did not meet the requirements for prison admission, he was transferred to a local police department. The police not only took his computer, but also extorted 3,000 yuan from his family before they released him. (The bail money was returned before Mr. Gao died.)

To avoid being further harassed and monitored by the police, Mr. Gao became homeless and destitute for a long time. He suffered greatly both in body and mind, and eventually became emaciated. Mr. Gao Hongfei died on August 9, 2006, only 30 years old.

Chinese version available at http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2006/9/1/136867.html

Falun Gong practitioner Ms. Li Xuehua from Nancun Town, Zezhou County, Jincheng City, Shanxi Province passed away on April 7, 2006, after illegal arrest and long-term harassment by Chinese Communist Party officials.

Li Xuehua started practicing Falun Gong in 1998. All of her illnesses disappeared through practice. The CCP officials have been investigating, monitoring and following Li Xuehua and her family ever since "April 25", 1999. After July 20, 1999, the persecution escalated to the point that the police harassed Ms. Li and ransacked her home on a frequent basis.

Li Xuehua traveled to Beijing to appeal for justice for Falun Gong in 2000. The police intercepted her on her way and detained her for 15 days.

Li Xuehua’s husband, son and daughter were sentenced to prison in 2001 for practicing Falun Gong. She had since been living with her 80-year-old mother (also a Falun Gong practitioner).

Prior to the Sixteenth Party Congress in 2002, the police ransacked the family's home again and took Li Xuehua to a custody center. Her mother, who was left home alone, passed away one month later from starvation and illness.

A citywide arrest of Falun Gong practitioners in Jincheng began on March 2, 2006. About 20 police officers broke into Li Xuehua’s home and ransacked it. They took all Falun Gong materials and related equipment. They again arrested Li Xuehua’s daughter who had just been released from prison.

Long-term persecution and the sudden blow of the latest attack and her daughter's arrest devastated Li Xuehua. She collapsed and was unable to walk. Ms. Li passed away on April 7, 2006.

Chinese version available at http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2006/8/31/136764.html

Ms. Lin Yanmei, a practitioner from Shuidong Town, Dianbai County, Maoming City, Guangdong Province, was illegally arrested by Dianbai County Police Department 610 National Security Group. She has been in Guangdong Sanshui Women's Labor Camp for persecution for more than a year. The labor camp stealthily put unknown drugs in her food. At present, Ms. Lin's reactions are slow and she is depressed.

Among the local Falun Gong practitioners who have been released after being persecuted at Sanshui Labor Camp, some had symptoms of dizziness and headaches all day long, some gradually lost their eyesight, and some had severe pain over their entire bodies. Ms. Lin Yanmei's family members are extremely worried about her safety.

When Ms. Lin's father visited Sanshui Forced Labor Camp on June 28, 2006, he noticed that his daughter's reactions were slow and that she was depressed. She was not as open and alert as she was before. According to what his daughter told him, these are the initial effects of the unknown drugs that prison authorities have her injected with.

Ms. Lin Yanmei is in her 40's, and her parents in their 70's. She has a son aged 14 and a daughter aged 11. Her husband is involved with another woman and does not look after the household. Moreover, because he has been poisoned and deceived by CCP lies, he has even helped to persecute Falun Gong practitioners. Ms. Lin's young children are in the care of her elderly parents, who are physically weak.

Ms. Lin Yanmei has suffered persecution many times. She has been arrested and imprisoned, and her property confiscated. She has beaten and threatened mercilessly just for practicing Falun Gong and clarifying the truth. In January 2005, Ms. Lin was arrested the second time by the 610 Office of Dianbai County Police Department and sentenced to three years of forced labor. She has suffered multiple inhuman persecutions in the "Assault Squad" of the 3rd Group. She was not permitted to sleep, and cold water was poured on her when she did. She was not permitted to use the restroom or to take shower. She was not permitted to buy paper to write letters to her family members. By April 2006, Ms. Lin Yanmei had become emaciated and was in terrible shape.

Ms. Lin Yanmei's entire family entreats the people of the world to help rescue her from prison.

Chinese version available at http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2006/8/9/135193.html

Ms. Wen Aixia and her husband, Mr. Li Aige, from Wangcun Village, Xiongbei County, Hebei Province, suffered all kinds of persecution simply because they practice Falun Gong. During the last seven years of the persecution orchestrated by Jiang Zemin in collaboration with the Chinese Communist Party, the couple has been detained many times and separated from their child on various occasions. Ms. Wen's husband, Mr. Li Aige, was sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment for clarifying the truth of Falun Gong, and is now held at Baoding No. 1 Jail. Her father-in-law died as a result of harassment by the officials and missing his son. Ms. Wen had to carry her son while traveling from one place to another to avoid persecution.

1. A Miserable Childhood

Ms. Wen Aixia's childhood was full of misery. She was born in 1972. Since there were several sisters at home, her mother was worried that she might not be able raise Ms. Wen. Several times she planned to give her up for adoption. Ms. Wen stayed only because her father opposed the idea. However, when she was three years old, her father died of liver cancer. Ms. Wen grew up without a father's love. She felt very bad whenever she saw other kids call their fathers. She could not understand, "Why did my father leave and not take us with him?" In her dreams, she often saw her father take her on his back to go to visit her grandma. In reality she could see how hard it was for her mother to raise her and her five sisters. The young Aixia was weak and suffered from various illnesses, including meningitis and enteritis. When she was eight years old she still could not walk properly and often lost her balance. Therefore, she was quite a burden. Her mother said it would not be easy for Aixia to survive. Owing to the sufferings her family had to endure and the difficulties her mother experienced, Ms. Wen had no clue what happiness was like. She also did not know why she was so miserable.

2. Eliminating Illnesses

In 1993, Ms. Wen Aixia married Mr. Li Aige. Although her husband had a temper, he treated Ms. Wen very well. In early 1994, Aixia was pregnant, but she suffered a miscarriage as a result of working improperly. When her husband took her to the hospital, the doctor said she would have suffered a massive hemorrhage and died if her family had delayed a moment longer in bringing her in. Although she survived, her health deteriorated. She could not do heavy work. She went to see many doctors but with little effect. One of her husband's relatives was a gynecologist, and he told her that she could not have any children. Because the whole family was so worried about it, the atmosphere became very tense.

In 1996, Ms. Wen Aixia and her husband began practicing Falun Gong at the same time. The practice changed them completely. After reading through the book Zhuan Falun, they understood why human beings suffered miseries and the real purpose for people coming to this world. Thereafter, they followed the path of Falun Gong practice, set the principle of "Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance" as their standard, strove to become good people who always put other people's interests before their own, and made concerted efforts to eliminate their own shortcomings. Mr. Li Aige had some bad habits such as fighting, drinking, and smoking. Shortly after he let go of all these bad things. Ms. Wen's health also improved gradually. All her illnesses disappeared before she realized it and she was able to do all kinds of work again.

In August 1998, Wen Aixia gave birth to a lovely son. Her parents-in-law were so happy that they smiled all the time. The whole family thanked the benevolence of Falun Gong, and their neighbors all said that Falun Dafa is good and praised Falun Gong. With the benefits bestowed on them by Falun Gong, Ms. Wen's family walked out of suffering and were bathed in happiness.

3. Officials Deceived Ms. Wen's Husband and Sent Him to a Forced Labor Camp

When the persecution of Falun Gong began on July 20, 1999, it seemed as if the sky had collapsed. There was only one voice which was slandering Falun Gong.

Shortly after the 2001 Chinese Lunar New Year, disaster struck Ms. Wen's family and it hasn't stopped since. On the evening of the eighth day of the first month of the Chinese Lunar calendar, a group of officials from the Daying Township Government and the local police substation forced their way into Ms. Wen's house. At the time, Ms. Wen was doing business away from home. Her husband was looking after their child, who was sound asleep. These officials lied to Mr. Li by saying they only needed to check a few questions with him back at the police sub-station and then he could return home. Without letting him say anything and ignoring the fact that the child would be left uncared for, they took Ms. Wen's husband. Only after he was taken away did the village leaders call the child's grandparents. At the time, the child was only two years old.

When Ms. Wen Aixia came home, she found her house in a big mess. Everything in the house was in disorder. Her parents-in-law were at a complete loss what to do. Her son was crying and wanted to find his father. Looking at the poor child, Ms. Wen shed tears. For the next few days her family members asked about Mr. Li's whereabouts. They finally found out that he had secretly been sent to Baoding Forced Labor Camp and given a three-year term of forced labor for practicing Falun Gong.

4. Anxiously Awaiting Her Husband's Return

After her husband was taken away, Ms. Wen's son cried out for his father even in his dreams. Her parents-in-law lost weight as they grieved for their missing son.

When Ms. Wen went to the forced labor camp to visit her husband, she brought her son with her for the first time. The two-year-old was very glad and repeatedly cried out for his father. He had never been as happy as that before. However, the visit was very short. When it was time to leave, the child was reluctant to go and asked his father to come home to or hold him in his arms. He just cried and cried for his father. All the on-lookers were in tears. The child's father also cried. However, Ms. Wen held back her tears and walked out of the forced labor camp with her son in her arms.

In October 2001 Mr. Li returned home, and the whole family finally had a breathing spell.

In order for the three members of the family to stay together and to clarify the truth more effectively, the couple left their home with their son.

Just as expected, Li Yanjun, Secretary of the Daying Township CCP Political and Judiciary Committee, came to Ms. Wen's home many times to harass the family. Since the couple had left, the official pressed Mr. Li's elderly parents to pay 800 yuan as a pledge, and he also told them to send in the money in one hour. Li Yanjun said the money was to protect their son. If they did not deliver the money he would asked the police department to arrest their son. The two elderly people were so scared that they borrowed 800 yuan. However, they did not get a receipt after handing over the money. Li Yunjun threatened the elderly couple, saying that people were coming in to report on their son.

5. Mr. Li Was Detained Once Again

After leaving home, Ms. Wen, Mr. Li, and their son moved from place to place. They only wanted to be good people, to speak the truth, and to live a peaceful life. However, they could not return home.

On August 27, 2002, disaster struck again. Mr. Li Aige was seized by police from Xushui County, Hebei Province while clarifying the truth with several other practitioners. They were taken to a detention center in Beixiaguan Township, Xushui County, where they suffered all kinds of brutal torture, including shocks with electric batons and being tied to an electric chair. Mr. Li was severely beaten until he lost consciousness. At the time his head was covered with bumps and bruises.

The family suffered from the separation, and the child had to get along without his father's love once again. Ms. Wen's heart bled when she saw her son's puzzled face. She dared not return home because she did not want her in-laws to know their son had been arrested again. Ms. Wen was afraid that the elderly couple could not withstand the strain if they learned of their son's arrest.

However, the 610 Office and the Political and Judiciary Committee came to harass Ms. Wen's family every day in an attempt to take her. They went to search Ms. Wen's in-law's home, her elder brother's home, and three sisters' homes randomly without paying any attention to the pain the elderly couple suffered after their son had been arrested. The officials forced the old man and woman to take them to each of Ms. Wen' relatives' homes in order to track Ms. Wen down. Ms. Wen's father-in-law could not bear the pressure any longer and became very ill. He was bedridden. When Ms. Wen learned that the older man was ill, she was very worried and returned home with her child. It was the first time she had been home since March 2003. When he saw seeing his lovely grandson the old man was so happy that his health improved. Gradually he was able to get out of bed. The parents-in-law asked Ms. Wen not to leave home again. They said that the thugs had already arrested their son. Would they take away their daughter-in-law as well? What's more, the child was so young, wouldn't anyone have a bit of conscience?

Ms. Wen thought that what they said made sense, since everyone had parents and children. The purpose of practicing Falun Gong is to become a better person. She thought that, since she had never committed any crime, no one would try to arrest her.

6. Ms. Wen Aixia Was Arrested, Leaving Behind Two Elderly In-laws and a Child

On April 13, less than one month after her return, Ms. Wen went to buy some daily necessities for her son. On her way back she took a bus. Two cars swiftly approached the bus from behind and stopped it. Several plainclothes officials headed by Su Shiliang, head of the local National Security Group, dragged Ms. Wen Aixia from the bus and seized her.

She was taken to the local police department. It was dark by then. Police officer Wang said angrily, "Because of you, I had to put down my other work and come back." He ordered the two thugs to try to force Ms. Wen to her knees. She refused. Then they took her to Xiongzhou Guest House, saying that they would lock her up in a secret place so that no one would know her whereabouts. Li Chengqun from the 610 Office said, "Interrogate her in the evening!" In the evening Su Shiliang and others ordered Ms. Wen to "confess." Ms. Wen told them there was nothing to confess. Su Shiliang said, "Beat her!" Five to six thugs headed by Su Shiliang himself began to attack her. They held Ms. Wen down and forced her to her knees. Then they held her to the bed so that she could not raise her head. They then ruthlessly kicked and punched her until they became tired.

As a result, Ms. Wen was in pain all over. Her left cheek and left ear were swollen and her left eye was swollen shut. Blood flowed from her mouth. At that time only two policemen did not take part in the torture. One of them shed tears upon seeing Ms. Wen's face distorted from the beating.

Three days later, Ms. Wen was escorted to Xiongbei County Detention Center, which refused to take her because her left eye was swollen and bleeding so she was unable to see anything. Police officer Wang asked higher authorities for instructions. He just left, but before he left he gave 200 yuan to the detention center for her eye treatment.

However, with Falun Gong's wonderful effects in healing illness and keeping fit, Ms. Wen's left eye recovered without any medical treatment. The prison doctors, prison guards, and inmates all witnessed the miracle of Falun Gong.

In the detention center Ms. Wen missed her son badly day and night, missed her family members, and worried about her husband's safety. At the time, SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) was spreading around China, but Ms. Wen had no way of knowing the situation at home. She was locked up in the detention center for three months, during which time the police did not allow her family to visit her. Ms. Wen requested to see her son many times, but officer Su Shiliang rejected the request even though at that time he had just became a father himself. He inhumanly rejected a mother's request to see her child. Ms. Wen Aixia was illegally detained for two and a half years.

While in the detention center Ms. Wen Aixia had constant vertebra pain, and she was as thin as 50 kilos (110 lb.). Several months later she finally saw her son. Tears fell from her eyes. However, her child said, "Don't cry! I will be obedient. I will not cry."

Watching this scene would make anyone shed tears. During that time when this five-year-old child was unable to enjoy the love from either of his parents, he suffered pressures that a child should not have to suffer. Because he missed his parents, the child became agitated and would loose his temper very easily. One day he sat on the firewood outside the house holding his father's clothes and shoes. He refused to come inside until it was getting dark.

Ms. Wen's mother suffered a cerebral hemorrhage she she learned of her daughter's arrest. Ms. Wen's father-in-law also fell ill. When Ms. Wen was in the detention center her husband was sentenced to 15 years in jail. The authorities did not inform the family. In October 2003 Mr. Li was sent to Baoding No. 1 Jail. Only when family members looked around for him did they find him still alive. Currently Mr. Li Aige is being held at Baoding No. 1 Prison.

After hearing that Mr. Li had been handed a heavy sentence Ms. Wen withstood the pressure with her firm belief in Falun Gong. She said to herself that her child needed her and her in-laws needed her and she wanted to go back home. On November 26, 2004, Ms. Wen returned home. Her son rushed to her with excitement. It was already very late but he did not want to go to bed, but instead held his mother's hand for fear he might loose her again.

Officials still refused to leave her alone. They came to Ms. Wen's home many times to spy on her. Her in-laws were very frightened. Six months later, Ms. Wen's father-in-law died at the age of 58 as a result of repeated harassment and his longing for his son.

Three weeks after his death, the officials, including Cui Aiguo, head of the Daying Township Political and Judicial Committee, and the police from the 610 Office and Xiongbei County Police Department came to Ms. Wen's home again. Her mother-in-law was too scared to get out of bed. Ms. Wen's son was also very scared. She told them sternly, "My father-in-law was scared to death by you. Whenever you come, my mother-in-law and my son are very scared. I hope you will never come to my home again."

In order to be rid of the harassment, Ms. Wen Aixia took her son and left home once again to move from place to place in other parts of the country.

Main perpetrators:

Su Shiliang, head of the Xiongxian County National Security Group
LI Chengqun, director of the 610 Office
Li Yanjun, secretary of  Daying Township CCP Political and Judicial Committee

Chinese version available at http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2006/8/26/136464.html

1. Ms. Li Shuxia has been repeatedly arrested, detained, and fined

Ms. Li Shuxia is a practitioner from Dongchengfang Village, Dongchengfang Township in Zhuozhou City, Hebei Province. She began to practice Falun Gong in 1999. Not long afterwards, the pain she had suffered year in and year out disappeared.

After July 20, 1999, when Jiang Zemin and his followers launched the persecution of Falun Gong, Ms. Li began to clarify the truth of the persecution to let people know what Falun Gong was truly about.

One evening in August 2001, Ms. Li and a fellow practitioner, an older lady in her 60s, went to Beijing to hang Falun Gong banners. They were detained by the local security guards and badly beaten. The thugs shocked them both with electric batons, stomped on them, and slapped the older lady in the face more than 20 times.

That same night, they were transferred to Changgou Police Substation in the Fangshan District of Beijing City where they were handcuffed to the pipes of the central heating system all night. The following day they were escorted to Fangshan Detention Center. On the fourth day of their detention, Ms. Li Shuxia began a hunger strike and was force-fed by the police. She was detained for more than 20 days in Fangshan, during which time she was on a hunger strike for 16 days.

On September 20, the two practitioners were brought to the Zhuozhou City Detention Center, where Ms. Li Shuxia was brought in for interrogation every three to five days. On one occasion, she was shackled for eight consecutive days. She was "illegally detained" there for more than two months. It was common practice for practitioners to be beaten and verbally abused.

In December 2001, Ms. Li was taken away to the Nanma Brainwashing Center in Zhuozhou City. Every night, she was forced to go to bed in handcuffs. Even when she used the toilet, she was followed. At about 7:00 p.m. on December 23, the police ordered her into the interrogation room, where she was shocked with electric batons and beaten with rubber nightsticks. Finally, she was handcuffed to a pole in the courtyard and left there until 3:00 p.m. the next afternoon. Those responsible included police officer Du Yonglu and Director Zhu Jianhua.

Ms. Li Shuxia was finally released on January 8, 2002, after her husband begged for help and sent in gifts. During her four months of detention, her house was ransacked, the family’s factory was sealed up, and all their workers were dispersed. Ms. Li’s two children were ordered to leave school and her husband was hospitalized as a result of all the turmoil. During the Mid-Autumn Festival in 2001, Ms. Li’s aging father and her children cried on each other’s shoulders.

That year, Ms. Li’s family lost nearly 40,000 yuan, including fines levied by the village, the township, and the city as well as losses caused by the closing of their factory. Ever since then, the authorities have checked in on Ms. Li’s home on all the so-called "sensitive days," including the Chinese Lunar New Year and National Day.

On the morning of June 8, 2004, Ms. Li was at home when four or five police officers suddenly broke into the house and confiscated Falun Gong books, copies of Minghui Weekly, and cassette tapes. She was taken to Dongchengfang Police Substation and accused of having browsed the Internet. Police officers Song Xiaobin, the Head of the Substation, Li Yongsheng, and Cai Yuqiao attempted to extort a confession by using cruel torture, including shocking her toes with an electric baton, slapping her face until she lost consciousness, and sticking her with needles. The torture lasted the whole morning.

The police also called her husband and children to the police substation for questioning. They demanded to know who had helped her browse the Internet. They also threatened to forbid Ms. Li’s daughter from teaching at a certain school and her son from studying at a key university. Her husband was forced to beg for help and send gifts to the officials involved before she was released. The authorities also extorted 4,000 yuan from the family.

2. Mr. Guo Wang was persecuted to death

Mr. Guo Wang was a practitioner from Yaoshang Village, Dongchengfang Township, Zhuozhou City. He began to practice Falun Gong on January 31, 1998. Not long afterwards, his health improved, his temper changed for the better, and his family life became more harmonious.

One day he went to buy a lunch box. On his way back, he was hit by a car. His lunch box was crushed, but nothing happened to him. When he stood up, he told the driver that he could go. The onlookers asked, "Why did you let him go?" He replied, "I am a Falun Gong practitioner."

Since July 20, 1999, the local authorities of the Dongchengfang Township in Zhuozhou City have closely followed former Party leader Jiang Zemin in persecuting practitioners. They ran a two-week-long brainwashing session, and Mr. Guo Wang was fined 170 yuan.

At around 8:00 p.m. on the evening of December 13, 2004, Song Xiaobin, the Secretary of the Dongchengfang Township Political and Judiciary Committee; Cai Yuqiao from the 610 Office; Zhu Chunshui, the Head of the local police substation; as well as some others, arrived at Mr. Guo’s home in four or five cars. They forced their way into the house and ransacked it, confiscating cassette tapes of Master Li’s lectures and a cassette recorder. They then took Mr. Guo to Dongchengfang Police Substation for questioning. There, Zhu Chunshui grabbed Mr. Guo’s hat and slapped him in the face with it a dozen times. Mr. Guo told him that there was nothing wrong with being a good person. Hearing that, Zhu slapped him vehemently another dozen times. When Mr. Guo grabbed his hat back, Zhu flew into a rage and dragged him from the chair, pushed him to the ground, and twisted his arms behind his back. Zhu told others to drag him to another room. Afterwards, police officers forced him to write a guarantee statement and extorted 2,000 yuan from him before he was released.

On April 28, 2005, police officers again forced their way into Mr. Guo’s house. His daughter-in-law was so scared by the barbaric actions of the police that she could not eat for two days. Mr. Guo also suffered from the mental shock. After the incident, his mind became unclear. He could not even remember the exercise movements. He passed away on May 3, 2005, at the age of 63.

3. Ms. Meng Qinglan was illegally detained and had money extorted from her

Ms. Meng Qinglan, 60 years old, is from Sipingzhuang Village, Diaowo Township in Zhuozhou City. She used to suffer from severe bronchitis. To help her sleep and ease her breathing, she took drugs twice a night. In January 1997, after she learned to practice Falun Gong, all her illnesses disappeared.

In November 1999, Ms. Meng went to Beijing to clarify the truth and was arrested by policemen in Tiananmen Square. Later, she was transferred to the Zhuozhou City Police Department. During the interrogation, the head of the Diaowo Township Police Substation slapped her in the face. In the evening, about seven people from the Justice Department circled her and punched and kicked her for more than an hour. Finally, the Diaowo Township Justice Department extorted 4,500 yuan from her before she was released.

4. Ms. Jing Shumei was arrested and had large sums of money extorted from her; her husband died before he could be cleared of false charges

Practitioner Ms. Jing Shumei was an employee of the Zhuozhou Geophysical Exploration Bureau. On April 26, 1999, officials from the Security Department and the 610 Office of her workplace, as well as from the 610 Office of Zhuozhou City, began to persecute Falun Gong practitioners. They established a coalition investigation team and conducted interrogations right at her workplace. She was first put under surveillance and then driven out of her job. She was sent to another work unit to be "reformed through labor."

At about 11:00 p.m. on July 22, 1999, the police illegally arrested Ms. Jing from her home. Xie Yubao, the policeman in charge of persecuting Falun Gong, interrogated her right away and tried to force her to hand over all of her contact information and other related information.

Because she did not cooperate with the police, they locked her up in the detention center at about 10:00 p.m. on July 23. The police extorted 3,000 yuan from her without going through any legal formalities or giving her a receipt. Afterwards, the police constantly harassed her as well as her husband at his workplace. As a result, her husband contracted a severe illness in 2000.

One evening in September 2004, Ms. Jing and her husband went out to clarify the truth. They were followed and arrested by the police, who were keeping surveillance outside their home. Only when her husband showed proof that he was suffering from pancreatic cancer did the police leave him alone. However, officer Zhang Weiqiang did not stop there. With another four or five officers, he threatened Ms. Jing’s husband, ransacked their house, and tapped their telephone.

After Ms. Jing was taken to the police station, officers Zhang Weiqiang, Yang Yugang and Li Baoping tortured her with electric batons, trying to force her to tell them where she got her truth-clarification materials. She refused to cooperate with the police and could not keep count of how many times Zhang Weiqiang slapped her in the face.

During Ms. Jing's detention, her husband was found to have blood in his stool and suffered from a severe medical condition. The police extorted 20,000 yuan from Ms. Jing before releasing her to take care of her husband. Her husband’s condition deteriorated and he died at the end of the year.

5. Mr. Wang Chunpu was arrested and had money extorted from him

Practitioner Mr. Wang Chunpu, 61 years old, was a resident of Xindian Village, Songlindian Township. In June of 2000, six people, including Guo Zhixin from the Village Party Committee and Xie Yubao from the National Security Group, ransacked Mr. Wang’s house without showing any identification. They confiscated Falun Gong books and truth-clarification materials. Then they took Mr. Wang to the Nanma Brainwashing Center, where he was handcuffed to a big tree for eight hours. A thug named He slapped Mr. Wang in the face.

After being detained for more than 20 days, Mr. Wang was taken to the Nanma No. 3 Police Administrative District, where police officers Li Fumin and Xu Dongsheng beat him on the back with bamboo sticks. They also kicked and punched him for more than two hours. He was covered with black and blue marks and was unable to sleep on his back. For a week, he was unable to sleep in a bed at all.

Zhu Jianhua from the brainwashing center extorted 3,300 yuan from Mr. Wang’s family before releasing him. All together, Mr. Wang was detained for 32 days.

In the summer of 2001, Zhang Zhili and Zhang Guangdong from the Xindian Village Party Committee again arrested Mr. Wang and other practitioners in the same village and took them to the Nanma Brainwashing Center. They were only released after being forced to write guarantee statements.

6. Police arrested Ms. Zhao Chunhua and extorted a huge amount of money from her

Practitioner Ms. Zhao Chunhua, 52 years old, is from Dongchengfang Village, Dongchengfang Township. In August 2002, a group of people from Zhuozhou City, the township government and the local political and judicial office surrounded the village and set up sentries on all surrounding roads. Someone informed Ms. Zhao, so she managed to leave home in time. Five or six big men forced their way into her house and confiscated Falun Gong books, truth-clarification materials, and a cassette recorder.

When she returned home about six days later, Ms. Zhao found that her house was sealed off. The village leaders extorted money from her, saying that if she refused to pay them, they would send her to the Nanma Brainwashing Center again. Her family pooled together 8,000 yuan, but the thugs requested another 3,000 before her family members were allowed to reopen their business.

At the end of autumn of that year, the police broke into her house once again. They ransacked the place and threatened to take her to Zhuozhou Detention Center. Their purpose was to extort money from her family. However, her husband told the thugs that he did not have any money for them. By the end of day, the police had no choice but to release her.

Chinese version available at http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2006/8/13/135434.html

My name is Zhao Xingwei. I’m from Jiamusi City, Heilongjiang Province. I’ve been harassed and persecuted by the officers of public safety, the judicial police, and the national security many times because I practice Falun Gong and refuse to give up my belief in "Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance." The following is a description of a mere fraction of the brutal torture I have had to endure.

In March 2000, police officers from Yong’an Police Station and Qianjin Police Station in the Qianjin District of Jiamusi City arrested my mother, Ms. Song Yuzhi, on false charges. They asked my mother if she practiced Falun Gong, and she admitted that she did. The police took my mother to a detention center. Later the criminals came to our home. They took Falun Gong books, videos, tapes, and pictures. My father and I went to Qianjin Police Station to get my mother out. The police demanded 3000 yuan before they would release her. Other family members gave officer Yang a box of cigarettes that cost 150 yuan and 1000 yuan in cash. My mother was released after 34 days of imprisonment. This was the beginning of the Chinese Communist Party's persecution of my family. From then on the police from Yong’an Police Station harassed my family.

In May 2000, my mother and I went to a neighbor’s house. Officer Li Yanwei from the Qianjin District Yong’an Police Station saw us and followed. Li beat on the door after we went into the house. My neighbor was very frightened and wouldn’t open the door. Li realized that he couldn’t open the door, so he borrowed a ladder and got into the house from the second floor balcony.

My mother and I were so shocked to see a policeman display such horrifying behavior. In order to keep our neighbor from getting into trouble, my mother and I left the house with the policeman. Li took us to the police station and separated us. The police threatened me, "I don’t care if you commit murder or arson, but you can’t practice Falun Gong. I have to take care of you!"

The police kept us there for five hours. They confiscated my identification so I couldn’t find a job, and I had no freedom. I couldn’t go anywhere without my ID. I was 17 at the time.

On June 5, 2000, three practitioners and I went to Beijing to appeal to the government. There were no legal channels through which we could appeal, so we went to Tiananmen Square to hold up banners. Immediately, several plainclothes police officers besieged us and took away our banners. The police took us by force to the Tiananmen District Public Safety Bureau, where we were subjected to illegal interrogations. We were there for six hours. There were dozens of practitioners from all over the country detained there, and one of them was only 12 years old.

At 4 p.m. on June 5, my mother and I were transferred to the Jiamusi Office in Beijing and then to the Jiamusi Qianjin Public Safety Bureau. Officer Li Yanwei from the Qianjin District Yong’an Police Station demanded 800 yuan but we couldn’t afford it, so we were sent to a detention center.

I had just turned 17 and finished school. I arrived at the detention center terrified and in despair. I refused to give up the practice of Falun Gong and was illegally sentenced to 15 days of "administrative detention." Dozens of people were cramped into a 140 square-foot house. It was summertime, and the house was damp and dark. Many people were infected with scabies. Practitioner Mr. Huo Jinping went on a hunger strike to protest the illegal imprisonment. The police put a 48-pound chain on Mr. Huo and force-fed him twice a day for about two weeks.

On June 27 my family took me home. I was infected with scabies from the detention center and spread it to my entire family. It took us 18 months to cure it. My family became even poorer after that. Fortunately, other practitioners helped us through the crisis.

On the afternoon of April 8, 2002, the authorities in Jiamusi City began a large-scale arrest of practitioners. The director of the Qianjin District Yong’an Police Station came knocking on our door with several police officers, but they left when no one answered. My mother and I left home soon after. I came back the next day and the police found me and took me to the police station. They again sentenced me 15 days of administrative detention. At that time they told me that they would release me if I gave up Falun Gong. I refused. Fourteen days later I was sentenced to two years of forced labor and sent to a forced labor camp.

On April 23 the forced labor camp started "strict management." We had to sit in a confined position all day long. At night the temperature dropped to just a few degrees above 0 °C (32 °F). The doors and windows were cracked open and the icy wind blew in. Everyone was about to freeze in the metal beds. Since everyone had been abducted by the police before being sent to the forced labor camp and hadn’t had time to pack, everyone was wearing only thin clothes for several cold nights. Later, the guards in the camp gave us some musty comforters. We ate spoiled, dark rice cakes with mold and drank vegetable broth with just a few cabbage leaves. We lived in these conditions for a month before I was transferred to the brainwashing center.

I was forced to watch videos that slandered Falun Gong and Master Li and had to keep a journal of my thoughts. Every time I watched the videos I had to write down what I thought about them. It caused me great mental anguish every time until I became numb to it. My mind was trembling under the intense pressure, and I had to pretend I was happy to avoid more persecution.

In November 2002, we moved into a new building that was built specifically for persecuting Falun Gong practitioners. There were about 100 male practitioners and 100 female practitioners. We were forced to pick more than 100 pounds of beans, one by one, from sunrise until sunset.

My family took me home on August 21, 2003. My numb heart came back to life and I was happy again.

In April 2005, I received a call at work telling me that I couldn’t go home because there was a policeman waiting for me at home. After I got off work I saw about five police officers drag my mother out of the house and manhandle her into a police car. The Songjiang Police Station arrested my mother and took more than 1000 yuan in cash, a stereo, a DVD player, two paper cutters, and several Falun Gong books. My mother was detained. Twenty days later officer Chen Wanyou from the Jiamusi City Police Station took my mother to a forced labor camp to continue persecuting her. Three months later my mother’s life was in danger and they sent her home.

Chinese version available at http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2006/8/24/136331.html