FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - September 24, 2002 [ http://www.faluninfo.net/
]
NEW YORK, September 24, 2002 (Falun Dafa Information Center) - After last week's highly publicized show trial in Changchun sentenced 15 people to terms of up to 20 years in prison (see Mockery of Justice) for overriding cable TV broadcasts, another one of the possibly hundreds of Falun Gong practitioners involved in these cable TV broadcasts was tortured to death and then hastily cremated to hide the evidence.
Ms. Zhang Li (an alias) was responsible for organizing local efforts to temporarily override state-run cable television feeds in order to broadcast Falun Gong programs countering the regime's propaganda over the cable TV network of Anshan City, Liaoning Province, earlier this year.
She had been forced to leave her home to avoid arrest, as have thousands of others since the persecution began in 1999.
Police kidnapped Ms. Li on March 19, 2002, along with five other Falun Gong practitioners. According to sources familiar with this case, Ms. Li was severely tortured, her face beaten almost beyond recognition. Finally, to appeal for her right to freedom of belief and protest the torture she received, Ms. Li went on a hunger strike.
Her condition rapidly declining, eyewitnesses say Ms. Li was finally sent to the hospital where she was force-fed in the lobby while still handcuffed and shackled.
Her serious condition captured the attention of many people.
One eyewitness stated, "She is dying yet still handcuffed. She must be on death row." A policeman responded, "She is a Falun Gong practitioner. We will not try to save her." The attending physician refused the police demand to sign for her release, so the police had no choice but to leave her in the hospital's care.
Despite the hospital's efforts, Ms. Li passed away August 27, 2002.
The police acted quickly to restrict the flow of information about Ms. Li's death, as is often the case when Falun Gong practitioners die from police brutality. Her family was forbidden to talk to hospital eyewitnesses, and her body was secretly taken away for immediate cremation before friends and family were notified of her death.
Additional deaths reported in the last few days and confirmed by Falun Dafa Information Center sources in China include:
Zhao Yuezhen, a 48 year-old woman from Zhaojiadian Village, Jiaoxi District, Qingdao City, Shandong Province, was tortured to death at 6 pm on June 12th, 2002 by a group of police and representatives of the nationwide agency established with the sole mandate of persecuting Falun Gong, the "610 Office." She had been repeatedly arrested and her family threatened. She was forced to attend brainwashing sessions, and in the end, was killed for her refusal to relinquish her belief.
Dong Jinlan from Wuwei in Gansu Province was tortured to death on September 10, 2002, eight days after police discovered the location of a Falun Gong materials site she often visited.
Chen Jianling from Wuling county, Jiangxi province was arrested on July 28 and beaten to death that same afternoon. 64-year old Chen Xunan was beaten to death in Shuangkou Labor Camp, Beichen District of Tianjin City on August 15th 2002. County police beat Xun Ruilin, from Handan City, to death after illegally arresting him on August 31, 2002.
Liu Jiming, a practitioner in her early sixties from
Qingdao City, was tortured to death on August 25, 2002 by officials of the local
"610 Office." Further details of these cases are under investigation.
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Background
Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a practice of meditation and exercises with teachings based on the universal principle of "Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance." It is a practice that was taught in private for thousands of years before being made public in 1992 by Mr. Li Hongzhi. Falun Gong has roots in traditional Chinese culture, but it is distinct and separate from other practices such as the religions of Buddhism and Taoism. Since its introduction in 1992, it quickly spread by word of mouth throughout China, and is now practiced in over 50 countries.
With government estimates of as many as 100 million practicing Falun Gong, China's President Jiang Zemin outlawed the peaceful practice in July 1999, fearful of anything touching the hearts and minds of more citizens than the Communist Party. Unable to crush the spirit of millions who had experienced improved health and positive life changes from Falun Gong, Jiang's regime has intensified its propaganda campaign to turn public opinion against the practice while quietly imprisoning, torturing and even murdering those who practice it.
The Falun Dafa Information Center has verified details of 485 deaths since
the persecution of Falun Gong in China began in 1999. Government officials
inside China, however, report that the actual death toll is well over 1,600.
Over 100,000 have been detained, with more than 20,000 being sentenced to forced
labor camps without trial.
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