(Minghui.org) To rescue Ms. Ma Lina from further persecution at the Shandong No. 1 Women's Forced Labor Camp, Ms. Ma's family filed a lawsuit against the labor camp to demand her immediate release.
In January 2013, Ms. Ma's family visited the Shandong Province Higher Procuratortate and the Labor Bureau to appeal for Ms. Ma. The Labor Bureau accepted Ms. Ma's appeal. The Shandong Province Higher Procuratortate claimed that they did not accept cases involving Falun Gong practitioners. The Shandong No. 1 Women's Forced Labor Camp put pressure on the local police in an attempt to prevent Ms. Ma's family from filing a lawsuit.
Ms. Ma Lina is from Weihai, Shandong province. She was arrested in May 2012 and sentenced to forced labor in June. Ms. Ma was diagnosed to have a severe heart problem. It is unlawful for her to be sent a labor camp. Unconcerned with her health, the Labor Camp admitted her and forced her to do slave labor. As a result, Ms. Ma became numb all over her body. She could not move her limbs and her heart would beat irregularly whenever she heard a sound. The labor camp said that because she was unwilling to give up her belief in Falun Gong, she was forbidden family visits for six months.
Labor Camp Rejects Family Visits
On January 30, 2013, Ms. Ma's husband, Mr. Shen Songkun, went to the labor camp with his attorney to investigate and collect evidence for Ms. Ma's case. A male prison guard declared that only family members were allowed to visit Ms. Ma and these orders were from those in charge. The attorney did not meet with Ms. Ma. Mr. Shen explained that he came to the prison to take Ms. Ma to get a medical exam, but his request was denied.
Mr. Shen went to the Shandong Province Higher Procuratortate and the Labor Camp Bureau to file a lawsuit against the labor camp, as the labor camp had violated the law by refusing family members' attempts to see Ms. Ma and collect evidence.
Shandong Province Higher Procuratortate Passes Ms. Ma's Case to Anti-Corruption Bureau
Mr. Shen went with the attorney to the Shandong Province Higher Procuratortate to present their case. An employee with identification No. 28 received them. The employee then presented Mr. Shen's case to an official. The official said: “Ignore it! Why did you accept a Falun Gong case? Don't touch Falun Gong cases.” The attorney asked the official: “Why did you say that Falun Gong cases can be ignored?” The official denied saying that. Mr. Shen was told to present his case to the Anti-Corruption Bureau.
Anti-Corruption Bureau Rejects the Case
Upon arriving at the Anti-Corruption Bureau, Mr. Shen inquired about filing a lawsuit. The guard at the gate said: “We don't take this kind of case. Who told you to come here?” Mr. Shen said: “An employee with ID Number 28 at the Shandong Province Higher Procuratortate told us to come here.” The guard said: “Go back and talk to them and tell them I told you to do so. We don't accept these cases.”
Reeducation Through Labor Bureau Accepts Mr. Shen's Appeal
Mr. Shen, his relatives and the attorney then went to the Reeducation Through Labor Bureau. The last name of the person handling their complaint was Ning. Mr. Shen's relative asked: “Considering Ma Lina's physical condition, is it appropriate for her to still be at the labor camp?” Ning asked with caution: “Who are you? I don't know, you should ask the people who work in the labor camp.” The relative said: “She is very sick, and you don't know whether it is right or wrong for the labor camp to continue to hold her?” Ning said: “What do you want?” The relative said: “We want to take her home to get medical treatment.” Ning said: “Of course, you may write an appeal letter. Write a letter with your request and I will pass it to the labor camp and see what they say.”
Mr. Shen wrote an appeal letter that stated:
The attorney will be allowed to exercise the proper legal procedures so that he can visit, collect evidence, and file a lawsuit.
The labor camp is to give us the detailed records of Ms. Ma Lina's initial and current physical exams.
Ms. Ma Lina is to be released for medical attention without any predetermined conditions.
All responsible parties that took part in Ms. Ma's case shall be investigated.
Ms. Ma's Condition Deteriorating
The same day that they filed an appeal with the Reeducation through Labor Bureau, Mr. Shen and his attorney went to the labor camp at 4 p.m. to see Ms. Ma. The labor camp refused their requests. Only Mr. Shen and his daughter were allowed to see Ms. Ma. Before Mr. Shen was allowed to see his wife, the labor camp counselor warned them: “You are visiting as family members, so stick with family matters. Say what you need to say and don't say anything you shouldn't.” Mr. Shen said: “This labor camp is fundamentally illegal and will be abolished this year.”
The counselor asked Mr. Shen why he had come so late. Mr. Shen said: “You did not allow my attorney to see my wife to collect evidence to file a lawsuit, so I went to the Reeducation Through Labor Bureau first.” The counselor said: “Is it necessary to tell your wife about this?” Mr. Shen said: “Why not, everyone has the right to know the truth. I should tell her.”
Ms. Ma's health had noticeably declined since the last time he had seen her. She was afraid to raise her voice and she became agitated and afraid when she heard a loud noise. Her chin and hands trembled. She appeared weak and was unsteady while walking. Ms. Ma was a fast walker prior to being detained at the labor camp; however, she now walked as if she were seventy years old. Mr. Shen asked Ms. Ma if she had seen a doctor. Ms. Ma said: “I only had an EKG. They measured my blood pressure and it's a little high.”
Mr. Shen found out that after his visit, the labor camp had telephoned the local police in an attempt to prevent him from filing a lawsuit.
Related article:
Ms. Ma Lina from Shandong Province Severely Persecuted, Family Sues the Detention Center (http://en.minghui.org/html/articles/2013/2/14/137953.html)
