By a former prisoner in the Shayang Forced Labor Camp

(Clearwisdom.net)

I was a prisoner in the Shayang Forced Labor Camp, and I was released after serving my term. I was originally sent to the prison for stealing. During my time in the forced labor camp, I truly realized the meaning of one's life. I learned how to be a good person from the Falun Gong practitioners that the guards ordered me to monitor closely twenty-four hours a day. After being released, I have been praying day and night for the practitioners' safety in gratitude. I must tell people what I witnessed to let more people know the truth. Please forgive me for being afraid to reveal my real name, but I guarantee that what I am going to say is true.

In the Shayang Forced Labor Camp Third Team, a few prisoners and I were organized into groups to monitor Falun Gong practitioners twenty-four hours a day. Three prisoners formed a group and rotated throughout a day to monitor each practitioner. We were ordered to follow practitioners closely when they ate, slept, worked and even went to bathroom. They were not allowed to get in touch with anybody except the guards. They were restricted from reading books and having a pen or paper. They needed approval from the guards before writing letters to their families and were watched when they wrote letters. They were not even permitted to smile at each other. I witnessed two Falun Gong practitioners that talked briefly and how the prisoners monitoring them reported this to the head guard. These two practitioners were dragged outside at night to be slapped in their faces and shocked by electric batons. The guards promised the prisoners that they would be rewarded with early release if they reported any "violations" of the Falun Gong practitioners; otherwise, their sentences would be increased as punishment.

Prisoners could rest after finishing their day of hard labor. However, the Falun Gong practitioners were forced to receive additional "military training." In the hot weather, even the guards could not bear the heat, but they forced the practitioners to wear uniforms made from heavy cotton and stand under the burning sun for one or two hours or squat for half a day. The heavy clothes were covered with a layer of salt from sweat. These practitioners included an old man who was nearly sixty years old. Some practitioners fainted and fell down from fatigue. If they did not obey, they would be tortured, have their sleep time reduced, or be shocked by electric batons.

I remembered the Falun Gong practitioners whom I monitored. Simply speaking, they behaved courteously and worked diligently. They did not curse or fight for meals. They were reasonable and kind to others. I was sent to prison for stealing. They were there because they are good people, or because they told others to be good people. I do not understand why they were sent to the prison.

One day, many practitioners were led to the activity center, normally a forbidden place to the prisoners. This special setup was because the Hubei TV Station came there to film a program of Falun Gong practitioners receiving re-education. According to the officers' arrangements, the TV Station staff recorded the prisoners watching TV, playing table tennis and checkers, and also recorded the guards speaking kindly to the prisoners or walking with them. Unfortunately, the TV station staff did not stay long. Our "happy" time was over as soon as they left the camp.

I have been touched by the practitioners' indestructible belief in "Zhen-Shan-Ren"("Truthfulness, Benevolence, Forbearance"). In fact, they only need to give up practicing or write a report of remorse in order to be released or to have their sentences reduced and thus be free from torture. However, they said, "I will continue to practice for as long as I live!"

Posting date: 2/13/2002
Original article date: 2/4/2002
Category: Cultivation Experiences
Translated on 2/10/2002
Chinese version available at http://www.minghui.org/mh/articles/2002/2/4/24346.html

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