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Calling for Help -- Rescue My Sister, Falun Gong Practitioner Zhou Meihua
By Zhou Jinhua, Falun Gong practitioner in Japan
(Clearwisdom.net) I am Zhou Jinhua, a Falun Gong practitioner who resides
in Japan. My sister Zhou Meihua lives in Dalian, Liaoning Province in mainland
China. In March 2007, she was arrested because she was distributing
truth-clarification materials about the persecution. She was
illegally imprisoned in a forced labor camp and has been tortured, including
being beaten by police. My mother took Meihua's 8-year-old daughter, Yu Jiahui, to the labor camp for
a visit. They witnessed the beatings of Falun Gong practitioners. The child was
shocked and hurt and she now worries daily about her mother's wellbeing. Every
time I call my mother, little Jiahui, who is now under my mother's care, cries
on the phone and begs me to help get her mother released from prison. In the
beginning of May, she asked someone to pass me a note: "Auntie, please help
rescue my mother." I am appealing to all kind people and governments to
uphold justice, and please help me fulfill the dream of an 8-year-old girl. Please find below all I could learn from my mother and other witnesses about
my sister's situation: On the morning of March 19, 2007, Ms. Zhou Meihua was reported by a janitor
when she was distributing truth-clarification materials. Gao Tiansheng, from the
Xiuyuejie Police Station of Zhongshan District, Dalian City and other police
illegally arrested her. This was the fourth time my sister was
arrested since July 20, 1999, when Jiang and his cohorts began the persecution
of Falun Gong. Gao Tiansheng robbed her of about 1,000 yuan while
searching her person, which included the money she needed for to pay for her
daughter's school lunches. Gao and other policemen beat Ms. Zhou because she
refused to admit that she had committed any crime. On March 20, Ms. Zhou was
taken to Yaojia Detention Center in Dalian, and detained in the Tenth Team,
Eighth Supervisory Area. My mother could not eat or sleep after she learned this. My father is in a
coma from a traffic accident. He needs 24-hour care. And Meihua's daughter needs
to be taken and picked up daily at school. My mother knows how terrible the
police, 610 Office, local residents' committee, the Judicial and
Public Security Department and its affiliated organization are. She knows how
they persecute Falun Gong practitioners and their families, from brainwashing to
torture, including levying illegal fines. My mother and my niece went to the Xiuyuejie Police Station and requested my
sister's release. A group of police surrounded them the minute they arrived. A
deputy director shouted at them, and three policemen dragged them down the
stairs from the 3rd floor. The security guard seemed to still have some goodness
in him. He explained that there was nothing he could do. He said he would lose
his job if he didn't obey orders and force them to leave. My mother also went to Yaojia Detention Center and requested to visit my
sister. Her request was denied without an explanation. She had to leave the
clothing, toothbrush, and 300 yuan in cash with the guards and asked them to
pass them to my sister. Instead, the guards kept all of these items for their
personal use. My mother went many times to the police station and requested my sister's
release. Gao Tiansheng tried to avoid her every time. They threatened her and
lied to her and made her go to the Public Security offices. My mother was told
by the security officers to leave without delay. They claimed that they were not
in charge of my sister's persecution. In fact, everyone participated in the
persecution. Around 10:00 a.m. on April 17, police from Xiuyuejie Police Station took Ms.
Zhou Meihua from the Yaojia Detention Center and put her in a cage where she
could not even stand straight. They took her to Masanjia Forced Labor camp,
without notifying her family and without any legal process. This was the second
time my sister was taken to a forced labor camp. She refused to sign any of the
documents. Gao Tiansheng needed the legal documents and tried to deceive my
mother into coming to the police station to sign on behalf of my sister. My
mother refused. On April 26, my mother went from Dalian to Shenyang to visit my sister in
Masanjia Labor Camp. The police told her that she could not see her because my
sister refused to be "transformed." My mother argued with them.
Eventually, 40 days after the initial arrest, my mother saw my sister. My sister
was detained in the Third Team, Firs Branch. We heard that the Third Team is for
detaining Falun Gong practitioners only. Within just a month, Meihua looked like a different person. She was very thin
and weak. Her hair was cut short and she was in camp uniform. Her face was
bathed in tears. Her hands were red and swollen and some of the skin had peeled
off. My mother suspected it was as a result of torture. When she asked what had
happened, the guard answered that my sister is "too stubborn." My
mother asked if she was forced to work, and the guard answered "no."
My sister kept repeating that she had a stomachache and she could not sleep. It is known that the staff at Masanjia Forced Labor Camp force prisoners to
work long hours, from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., making military uniforms and other
clothes. They also at times are forced to do heavy labor from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30
p.m. or even 11:00 p.m., and longer. But, the camp authorities tell inspectors
that the working hours are no longer than six hours daily. Masanjia also
persecutes prisoners economically. They charge prisoners more than double the
market price for daily necessities and even give them fake or stale products. In
order to "save energy resources," prisoners are allowed to take a warm
shower only once every two weeks and sometimes only once a month. They are
generally allowed to take cold showers only, even in winter. They are not given
safe drinking water. At least one meal per day is radish soup only, without any
oil and barely any radish in it. I'm very worried about my sister's health and
safety. My mother is more worried. On May 8th, she went with my sister's daughter and
three other friends to visit my sister. They could not see my sister. They
begged the guard. The guard answered that only "transformed"
practitioners could receive visitors. One friend went out and wrote on the
street, "Heaven will eliminate the CCP," and "Have a safe future
by quitting the CCP." She wanted to awaken the conscience of the police and
guards and tell them not to be buried along with the CCP (Chinese Communist
Party). She wanted to tell them not to lose their future. The police from
Masanjia saw this and several of them rushed out to beat her to the ground. Then
they dragged her by her hair and threw her into a car. They also arrested two
other friends. My sister's daughter witnessed this and cried loudly. The little
girl kept having nightmares afterwards. I beg the United Nations, all human rights groups and government officials
worldwide to help my sister. Please help rescue my sister and reunite her
family. Attached is an appeal letter from my sister's daughter, Jiahui: Dear Auntie and Uncle, How are you? I'm writing this letter to you today. Is everything going well? Are you busy
at work? I'm doing fine. I will do well in school, please don't worry about me.
I will show you good grades. Every day I draw pictures. I also study. Grandpa is
doing well these days, so is grandma. Auntie please find a way to help my
mother. Yu Jiahui May 5, 2007 Phone numbers of those committing crimes against Falun Gong practitioners: Xiuyuejie Police Station, Dalian City, Liaoning Province Other units and people who participated in the persecution: Zhongshan District Public Security Department Masanjia Forced Labor Camp: May 23, 2007 |