(Minghui.org) Since July 1999, many residents of Jilin Province have been sentenced to Gongzhuling Prison for refusing to renounce their belief in Falun Gong, a spiritual practice persecuted by the Chinese Communist regime.
It's been difficult for the outside world to find out about the real conditions inside the prison, and some practitioners have been isolated from the rest of the prison population.
The following is what we were able to gather from practitioners who were imprisoned there, as well as their families. This is only a glimpse of the full scope of persecution taking place in the prison.
When Mr. Liu Quanwu was first taken to the prison on September 10, 2016, he was forced to stand for long periods of time every day for two months and was given a near-starvation diet. Guard Sun Changlong boasted, “Don’t try to reason with me here. I’m a hooligan. I’m a thug.”
For two months beginning in May 2018, Mr. Liu was assigned to the education section for refusing to cooperate with prison officials. He was only given a half bowl of porridge and a few strands of pickled vegetable for each meal. As a result of the mistreatment, Mr. Liu developed high blood pressure.
The education section is where most Falun Gong practitioners have been subjected to brainwashing. When a practitioner is assigned to the unit, he is forced to watch propaganda videos that defame Falun Gong and its founder. He is also required to write a “thought report” every month. In addition, he is made to do 10 hours of forced labor every day.
Whoever refuses to cooperate is physically abused by being forced to stand for long periods of time, deprived of food, slapped in the face, shocked with electric batons, tied up, put on a “death bed,” and so on (see illustrations). They may not be allowed family visits or to purchase daily necessities.
Torture illustration: Tied up
Torture illustration: Death bed
Practitioners who were shocked with electric batons include Mr. Wu Yajun (now released), Mr. Liang Baofan, Mr. Qiao Renxi (released), Mr. Shi Lianru (released), Mr. Yang Guoshu, Mr. Chi Minxiang, and Mr. Li Yuzhang.
Some practitioners developed severe health problems in prison. Mr. Su Yashan from Hongmei Township had a tumor in his abdomen. Mr. Zhang Jinghe became paralyzed on one side of his body. Mr. Zhang Shiyou suffered a stroke.
