Practitioners from Shenzhou, in Hebei province, have been continuously appealing to the government in Beijing by going to Badaling and Tiananmen Square to practice, validate Dafa, and clarify the truth about Falun Gong. Last December, these practitioners, along with others whom the government classified as "obstinate," were detained at the Shenzhou Detention Center.
In all, more than 70 practitioners were detained. Cells No. 2 and No. 6 were used for female practitioners, while most males were put into cell No.8. Six others were transferred to a detention house in Yaoyang County. In the beginning, both the officials and the other prisoners in the detention center were very rude and belligerent toward Dafa practitioners. Displaying a total lack of understanding about Falun Gong, they claimed that Master Li preached "the end of the world." When a practitioner politely explained to them that Master Li never said that, he was immediately beaten and abused with instruments of torture.
Many others were treated the same way if they practiced the exercise movements. Often they would handcuff two prisoners together, shackle their legs, then attach the handcuffs to the shackles, making standing and walking impossible. Bound up this way, people cannot move around or go to the bathroom except with great difficulty. This form of torture is not even used on criminals waiting for execution, yet it is being used on Dafa practitioners for as long as three months at a time. Using this procedure, they try to force practitioners to swear they will discontinue practicing Falun Gong. Also, in order to change practitioners' beliefs, they threaten to expel them from the Party, expel them from school, fire them (and/or their family members) etc. They even threaten to harm their families and relatives. If practitioners' friends and families want to visit them, they have to bribe the guards. From teenagers to seniors of more than 60, all practitioners have to sleep on the ice-cold cement floor, drink cold water and eat cold corn bread, in which sand and rat droppings are frequently found. Practitioners' sentences are illegally extended, and they are not allowed to appeal.
Under these conditions, Dafa practitioners have been rock-solid in their beliefs. With no discontent or hatred, they take hardship as joy. They continuously spread Dafa to the officers and the other prisoners. Little by little the guards and the other prisoners started to understand the practitioners. Upon realizing that they were good people, their attitude changed. They also removed the instruments of torture from practitioners' bodies.
However, during this period of time, Shi Congjun and Zhang Ruifeng were sentenced to 3 years and 3.5 years in prison, respectively. Since these two practitioners denied that they were criminals, and thus resisted being handcuffed in court, they were beaten. The only charge against them was "appealing in Beijing". Another female practitioner was sentenced to 3 years in a labor camp, and sent to Shijiazhuang. Appealing to the government is one of the constitutional rights of all citizens, yet practitioners are detained and even sentenced to years in prison for exercising this right.
Some local officials expressed their sympathy and understanding. They said that the orders were given from above, so they had little choice in the matter. Later on, an official from The Commission Of Politics And Law came and had a very harmonious conversation with the practitioners. As a result, some were finally released, although they would still have to go through "study sessions" for "deep and thorough transformation." Two practitioners (Wang Yunzhe and Xu Yanxiang) were left behind in the detention house, since they were considered "very obstinate." As of now they have been detained for more than eight months.
In the "study session," the situation is much the same as in the detention house. The practitioners' location changed from the prison cell to the yard, and they were placed under the supervision of "Organization 610," which oversees Falun Gong issues for the whole city. They forced family members and relatives to put pressure on the practitioners to sign a pledge renouncing Falun Gong. Those who signed the notice could then be released if they submitted the "management fee" of 200 to 1000 Yuan (Chinese dollars, the monthly salary of an averaged worker in cities of China is about 500 yuan). In addition, they initiated a policy whereby five related households had to co-sign for the bail. After that, if this practitioner would once again go to Beijing to appeal, then all 5 households would be punished financially. As of now there are still seven practitioners in the "study session"-- Liu Fuce, Zhang Suqing, Li Shaozhong, Xiang Jinhuan, Sun Yanen, Yang Kuizhe, Dong Zhanying.
Beginning October 1, Jiang Zemin initiated a new wave of policies for persecuting Falun Gong. According to a local government official, the "education and transformation" phase is over. Now, the authorities will detain or send people to labor camps even if they are only found to possess books or fliers. Practitioners will have only two choices: either write and sign the guarantee not to practice or appeal, or go to the detention house.
For the sake of the country, the people, and for each individual, we call on all people of goodwill to pay attention to the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners.
Dafa practitioners in Shenzhou, Hebei.
Nov. 3rd, 2000
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