FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 5/1/2002[ http://www.faluninfo.net/ ]

NEW YORK, May 1st, 2002 (Falun Dafa Information Center) - On the afternoon of January 31, 2002, chaos gripped the Miyun Detention Center of the Beijing Public Security Bureau. On-duty prison guards killed a young woman who practices Falun Gong attempting to force her to reveal her identity.

Sources inside China report that two policemen, Yu and Wang, ordered prison inmates to beat the woman with big wooden boards. The beating went on for more than two hours.

The young woman was injured so severely that she couldn't stand up. She crawled back into her prison cell and was found dead 10 hours later. Detention Center Vice Director Li took charge of disposing of the evidence, leading some prisoners away with the body to cremate it secretly.

The death was confirmed by telephone with staff at the Beijing Miyun Police Bureau, National Security Department. When asked, "On January 31st, did a female Falun Gong practitioner die?" the person on duty, named Jiang, replied, "Yes," but would give no further information.

Since Jiang Zemin banned Falun Gong in China in July, 1999, Chinese citizens have continuously journeyed to Beijing to peacefully appeal for the right to practice Falun Gong freely. It has become common practice for those arrested to not reveal their personal identities, even in the face of severe beating or torture, because heavy punishment is often dealt out to local officials and relatives once Beijing officials ascertain their identities. This punishment ranges from fining local officials to detaining, or even torturing relatives.

The identity of the young woman remains unknown, and her friends and family must still be waiting for news of her.

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 in China, 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 over 400 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.