(Clearwisdom.net) Mr. Chen Hanchang, 54, was a Falun Gong practitioner from Qidong City, Jiangsu Province. He was illegally detained at Qidong Detention Center, Fangqiang Labor Camp and various brainwashing classes for a long time. Because he refused to give up his belief, he was transferred to other areas to suffer further persecution after serving his detention in the local area. When he was released on November 20, 2003, he was in an extremely weak condition and lost consciousness. He passed away three days later, on November 23, 2003.

Chen Hanchang started practicing Falun Gong in 1997. After the persecution began in 1999, he went to Beijing several times to appeal. As a result, he was arrested and detained many times at the Qidong Detention Center. His home was searched many times and he suffered both physical persecution and financial extortion. Later, when he held an experience sharing conference at his home, he was arrested and sent to the Fangqiang Labor Camp, Yancheng City, Jiangsu Province for "disturbing the social order." His term was one year. After his term finished, the labor camp extended it by four months because he refused to give up practicing Falun Gong.

While in detention, he suffered from inhumane torture and was forced to do long-term, intense physical labor. He used to be a strong, healthy man, yet he was reduced to skin and bones. Mr. Chen was force-fed because he started a hunger strike to protest the persecution. He was then sent to a hospital. After his one year and four months' term finished, the 610 Office in Qidong City sent him to Yujiao Brainwashing Class. There, he was persecuted mentally and physically for more than two weeks. In November 2002, 610 Office officials rushed into his home and wanted to take Mr. Chen to Yujiao Brainwashing Class again, but he did not cooperate. Later they called for more than twenty policemen and beat him. Finally, they dragged him downstairs and took him to the brainwashing class.

Mr. Chen suffered inhuman beatings because of his determination to cultivate. During the day, the police would draw curtains to hide the tortures, yet many of the farmers who lived in the area heard his cries from the beatings.

When the 610 Office people saw that his belief could not be moved, they sent him to Nantong Brainwashing Center, where he was persecuted for more than a month. On November 20, 2003, when the Qidong 610 Office people saw that Mr. Chen was unconscious and not able to talk, they finally informed his family. Mr. Chen's family was asked to sign a statement guaranteeing that he would not contact other Falun Gong practitioners. Mr. Chen's family could hardly recognize him when he was sent home. On November 23, 2003, Chen Hanchang passed away.

From the time he started to practice Falun Gong up until he was persecuted to death, Chen Hanchang never did or said anything to bring shame upon himself or Falun Gong. He steadfastly persevered in his belief until the end.

Related article:http://www.clearwisdom.net/emh/articles/2004/3/10/45918.html

July 22, 2007