FDI: Three Falun Gong Practitioners Die from Torture and Abuse in Police Custody

NEW YORK (FDI) -- Three Falun Gong practitioners' deaths have recently been reported by sources in China. Mr. Lan Hu (31), a civil servant in the Pricing Bureau of Lushan District, Jujiang City, Liangxi Province, Mrs. Zhao Baolan (63), wife of a Shengli Oil Field worker in Shandong Province, and Ms. Wang Hong (mid-30s) from Shenyang City, Liangning Province are the latest victims of Jiang Zemin's campaign of terror against Falun Gong (special report).

Healthy 31 Year-Old Man Who Had "written a letter accusing the top [officials]" Dies in Prison

The police in Luhan District began to monitor Mr. Lan Hu as early as June of 1999 and later detained him for 20 days after the persecution officially began in July of that year.

Police harassment of Mr. Hu was relentless as he endured both a 13-month and 100-day imprisonment over the next few years. Lushan District Police arrested him again in January 2002. He was interrogated in Jiangxi Hotel for 5 days and nights and beaten by policeman Tian Ruhong. Afterward, he was arbitrarily detained in Jiujiang City Detention Center for nearly a year. In December 2002, Lan Hu was slapped with a heavy 11-year sentence that was to be served at Nanchang City Prison.

Mr. Hu was taken directly to jail without any legal procedure, and his family and friends were not allowed to see him during the sentencing. During Mr. Hu's imprisonment at Nanchang City Prison, he was forced to work for 14-15 hours a day.

Informed of his death on February 9th, 2003, only 68 days after the original sentence, Lu's family came to the prison to find his body emaciated.

The prison claimed that he had died from failure of his circulatory and respiratory system due to being weakened from a hunger strike beginning on February 6th. However, Lan Hu's parents had visited him on January 9th and 23rd, and at that time had found him to be in very good health.

The prison mentioned to his mother that Mr. Hu had "written a letter accusing the top [officials]," however the police refused to allow her to examine the letter under the pretense of her also being a Falun Gong practitioner.

Woman Sent Home from Detention Center to Avoid Responsibility for Her Death

Mrs. Zhao Baolan went to Beijing in October of 2001 and was detained in Hekou District Detention Center in Dongying City for two months. During the cold winter days Mrs. Baolan did not have a winter jacket (in China, detainees are responsible for obtaining their own clothing), and her family was prevented from sending her any goods or visiting her, claiming that there was no such person at the detention center. The detention center released Mrs. Zhao Baolan when they saw that she was near death.

Just a few days after being released, Mrs. Zhao Baolan died at home.

Woman with Head and Feet Bound Together for Extended Period Dies

Wang Hong had been detained in the Longshan Labor Camp in Shenyang City, Liangning Province once before, where on two separate occasions she was beaten until she agreed to "transform."

During her second detention, she was repeatedly shocked with electric batons for approximately 5 hours. Because she refused to "transform," again, the camp bound her hands at the back of her body and tied her head and feet together.

She was left in this bound state for a long period of time, causing severe blocks in her circulation. Sources say her fact turn pale white with dark blue blotches.

Ms. Hong fell unconscious. After two day's infusion, she was still not able to urinate.

Ms. Hong was then transferred to the Dabei Jail Management Hospital and died 5 days later.

The exact dates of Ms. Hong's incarceration and subsequent death are under investigation.

NEWS - Mar. 6, 2003

Falun Dafa Information Center, www.faluninfo.net

Background

Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa (about), 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 (report), 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 588 deaths (reports / sources) 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, while expert sources estimate that figure to be much higher. Hundreds of thousands have been detained, with more than 100,000 being sentenced to forced labor camps, typically without trial.

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