NEWS -- Jun. 11, 2003 Falun Dafa Information Center, www.faluninfo.net

NEW YORK (FDI) -- Five more innocent Falun Gong practitioners have been confirmed to have died as a result of the ongoing persecution in China. The confirmed death toll currently stands at 720, though the strict media blockade in China has undoubtedly prevented more cases from being exposed.

• Ms. Sui Songjiao, 57-year-old lady whose head was thrown against the wall repeatedly
• Ms. Ke Ling, assaulted by 8-9 police and released in critical condition
• Xuan Qinlun, 70-year-old retiree harassed by police until his death
• Niu Lixin, 37-year-old teacher leaves behind 1-year-old
• Mr. Su, health deteriorated under constant police harassment

Ms. Sui, 57, was a farmer from Shanlijia Village in Shandong Province. At the end of 2002, Ms. Sui was arrested and sent to the Linglong Brainwashing Center in attempts to have her renounce her faith in Falun Dafa. Yet she remained determined in her belief, so perpetrators Lin Tao, Song Shuqin, and Liu Yujiu threatened to send her to a labor camp and to punish her family members.

Ms. Sui was locked in a bathroom without warm clothing for 20 days, and exposed to sub-zero temperatures. Police officials Liu Yujiu, Liu Jincai, Liu Cuihua, Lin Shuxi, Yu Yingbin, and Sun Yanqin took turns monitoring her day and night. They would beat her whenever she tried to go to sleep, repeatedly grabbing her hair and throwing her head against the wall. The authorities also constantly harassed her family and extorted huge amounts of money from them on her account. Having endured relentless torture and immense mental pressure, Ms. Sui passed away.

Persons Responsible in the Zhaoyuan City "610 Office":

• Qin Yuxian, director, h: 86-535-8211818, o: 86-535-8258610, m: 86-13906458585
• Jiang Weihua, vice director, h: 86-535-8221659, o: 86-535-8252610, m: 86-13805456026
• Feng Shugui, vice director, h: 86-535-8215200, o: 86-535-8253610, m: 86-13853581989
• Liu Qinwu, vice director, h: 86-535-8229225, o: 86-535-8213509, m: 86-1300160992
• Zhang Guifen, vice mayor, 86-535-8216006
• Lin Tao, special task team leader, 86-13953500555

Ms. Ke Ling was a practitioner from Henan Province. Because she went to appeal for Falun Gong, she was taken into custody by the local police. She was assaulted by 8 to 9 policemen simultaneously, day and night. With her hands cuffed behind her back, the policemen took turns beating her, with another policeman stomping on her legs. She was then illegally sentenced to two years of forced labor and sent to Shibalihe Female Labor Camp in Zhengzhou City, Henan Province. Several days later, a medical check-up at the labor camp revealed that Ms. Ke was suffering from severe blood poisoning and was sent home hastily without any medical care. Ms. Ke passed away shortly after.

Mr. Xuan Qinlun, 70, was a retired official from Liangyuan District in Henan Province. Looking forward to a leisurely retirement, Mr. Xuan was instead subjected to continuous hounding from the police. The authorities constantly came to Mr. and Mrs. Xuan's home to extort money and interrogate them. Mr. Xuan's retirement had in fact become a nightmare. After several years of living in terror and in constant threat of harassment, Mr. Xuan passed away in May 2002.

Mr. Niu Lixin was a teacher in Liangyuan District in Henan Province. After going to appeal for Falun Gong in late April 1999, the local police harassed Mr. Niu and his family to the point where his wife and 1-year-old child had to move away. Watched by the police 24 hours a day, Mr. Niu was a prisoner in his own home. Trying to leave the building in August 1999, Mr. Niu fell to his death.

Mr. Su was from the city of Shangqiu in Henan Province. Starting in 2001, the police constantly came to Mr. Su's home to intimidate and harass him. Once the police knocked on his door and demanded a 5,000 Yuan fine, equivalent to 10 months of salary for an average urban worker. After an entire year of constant police harassment, Mr. Su's health could no longer bear it, and he passed away in 2002.

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NEWS -- Jun. 11, 2003

Falun Dafa Information Center, www.faluninfo.net

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 724 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.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT THE FALUN DAFA INFORMATION CENTER -- Gail Rachlin 917-501-4441, Levi Browde 914-720-0963, Erping Zhang 646-533-6147, or Feng Yuan 917-941-1097. Email: faluninfoctr@nycmail.com, Website: http://www.faluninfo.net/