(Clearwisdom.net) Mr. Xiong Guoshou, in his 60's, was a retired teacher from the Shitan Elementary School in Banan District, Chongqing City.

Mr. Xiong started cultivating Falun Dafa at the end of 1998. The practice made him a healthy man, with a kind and optimistic nature.

After July 20 1999, Falun Gong was in the throes of persecution in China. Police from the Shitan Town Substation interrogated and threatened to stop paying Mr. Xiong's retirement benefits, or even send him to labor camp or prison to force him to give up the practice. The police went to his home to take away his books, CDs and other Falun Dafa materials. His whole family was supportive of his practice before the persecution, but later opposed him because of their fear of the violent oppression, and worried about the loss of their personal property. Therefore, he did the exercises and read the books secretly, when no one was at home.

As the persecution escalated, the pressure from the government grew heavier on the police, society, and his family. Mr. Xiong could not live in his home any longer. He made a tent from plastic film near the bridge close to his house. Still, the police would not leave him alone. They ransacked his tent and took away his only copy of Zhuan Falun. Police spread lies about him all over town saying, "Mr. Xiong is insane because he practices Falun Gong." Under such pressure, he collapsed, and his healthy body quickly deteriorated. His relatives said he died in the latter half of 2003. Thus, another kind and healthy senior citizen lost his life during this unjustified persecution.

Shitan Police Substation phone number: 86-23-66474399.