Clearwisdom.net, Saturday, March 01, 2003

(Clearwisdom.net) Ms. Li Huiqi, born in 1967, worked at the Shijiazhuan Paint Factory in Hebei Province. On December 2, 2001, police from the Weiming Street Police Station in Shijiazhuang City seized her. On February 2, 2002, after being illegally detained at Shijiazhuang First Detention Center for two months, she was sent to the Second Squad, Fourth Brigade of the Shijiazhuang Forced Labor Camp for a one year term.

The "610 Office" in Hebei Province and the Shijiazhuang Forced Labor Camp tortured Li Huiqi until her life was in danger. She is suffering extreme hardship now and her pain is the evidence of the crimes committed by the Hebei "610 Office" and the forced labor camp. [The "610 Office" is a bureau specifically created by the Chinese government to persecute Falun Gong. It has absolute power over each level of administration in the Party, as well as over all political and judiciary branches]

During the time Li was illegally detained and tortured in the labor camp, her life was endangered many times. Her health deteriorated to the extent that all of her vital systems began to shut down, yet the labor camp refused to release her. Her family came to the camp many times and begged to be allowed to visit her. However, policewoman Qi Xiaoxia of the Second Squad, Fourth Brigade of the labor camp told them, "Falun Gong practitioners have no visitation dates. 'Visitation day' is not for Falun Gong!" The camp also demanded money from Li's family.

On April 8, 2002, due to the torture Li had endured, she was so critically ill that the labor camp sent her to the People's Hospital of Hebei Province to be resuscitated. Li was emaciated. All of her major organs were malfunctioning. Her blood pressure could not be detected, and she had to be put on a ventilator. The labor camp was afraid that the hospital would ask revealing questions. In order to cover up its crime of persecuting Falun Gong practitioners, the camp claimed that Li had received medical treatment in the camp. However, the so-called "treatment" could not fool the physicians. Seeing Li's critical condition, the disregard for human life was obvious to the doctors and on of them said, "Li Huiqi is too sick to eat anything. The fluids that she was given at the camp were not enough!"

Only after inhumanly torturing Li Huiqi to her last breath, did the labor camp inform her family that they could visit her in the hospital. The sudden shock of seeing the formerly healthy woman in critical condition traumatized her family.

However, Li's family could not know that this was just the beginning of their ordeal. Li Huiqi experienced unimaginable pain after arriving at the hospital.

During the emergency treatment, the doctors thought that her abdomen looked abnormal and so they operated on her extremely weak body. Upon opening her abdomen, the doctors did not find anything abnormal and sutured her up. However, the operation resulted in many complications including coma, high fever, and respiratory failure. Then, they performed a difficult lumbar puncture and a bronchoscopy to facilitate the insertion of a ventilator tube. She then developed severe pneumonia. On May 30, 2002, Li Huiqi was transferred to the Third Hospital of Hebei Province. Her bronchial tube was carelessly placed and her airway became blocked. She was found unconscious and it took 20 minutes for resuscitation and for her heartbeat to become regular. Because she was severely underweight, Li developed bedsores in the hospital--the largest was 3 cm x 4 cm. The doctors had never seen such serious bedsores before, one of which went down to her tailbone. Her life was in danger and she had to be resuscitated several times. Her family prepared for her funeral on at least in three occasions.

Although Li Huiqi was often unconscious and dangling on the edge of death, the labor camp never stopped persecuting her and her family. While she was in the hospital, she was monitored 24 hours a day by five police outside the building and three plainclothes police officers outside her room. The police also arrested practitioners who came to visit her. They used every way they could to prevent her persecution from being exposed. The police officers arbitrarily ate at the hospital and used the hospital supplies, which disgusted the hospital staff. The police officers started to receive retributions like sicknesses one after another and finally after over 20 days, in order to protect themselves, they found some excuse for not returning to the hospital.

Policeman Zhou Yilin from the labor camp twice delayed the hospital payments, so the hospital stopped Li's medication, which put her life at risk. In order to save her life, Li's family had to pay 1700 Yuan [Chinese currency, the monthly salary for an average Chinese urban worker is about 500 Yuan] for medication and for which they were not reimbursed. Shamelessly, Zhou Yilin viciously told the medical staff that they should not resuscitate Li if she lost consciousness again.

On the morning of December 12, 2002, Li Yong, a director from the labor camp and head of the fourth squad, and police officer Zhou Yilin went to the hospital. Using the excuse that Li Huiqi's sentence was ended they said that she could be released. They wanted to escape their responsibility for what happened to Li in the labor camp and for any further treatment in the hospital. They stopped Li's treatment in the hospital and pushed responsibility for the now paralyzed Li Wang on her family. The family tried to contact the head of the labor camp Zhao Jinlong but he would not take their phone calls. Finally, he said that Li was released and that the labor camp was no longer responsible for her care. Li's family took her home on December 13, 2002.

The whole tragedy only occurred in one year and 10 days, yet it seemed to last for a century. Someone that used to be a perfectly fine person, with big round eyes in a round face, tall, healthy and talented, is now paralyzed and often unconscious. She suffers with a urinary tract infection, severe pneumonia, and frequent muscle spasms. She cannot breathe without a ventilator. We have to ask: how has someone come to be paralyzed and ventilator-dependant in a labor camp? Aren't such miserable consequences the responsibility of the labor camp?

Even today, Li Huiqi still suffers severe pain, causing spasms in her body. The spasms have caused her to bite the inside of her mouth and four of her teeth have been broken, and her tongue has been damaged. Her lower lip has become deformed from the biting. She is suffering every minute: when being cared for by aspirating the mucus and applying medication to the site of her bronchoscopy, she tightly squeezes her fists and wrinkles her eyebrows. Her life is in danger all the time. The responsibility of taking care of her has fallen onto the shoulders of her oldest sister, who is always by her side and used to not sleeping for several days and nights. "The physical burden is nothing," said the open-minded sister who has been watching her younger sister suffering in tremendous pain. Another person might have collapsed from such a heavy burden. Watching Li strangling in terrible pain and on the verge of death, her kind husband cannot ease her pain. After taking care of her for 100 days in the hospital, he could not carry the huge pressure any longer and nearly collapsed, saying that he couldn't handle seeing Li Huiqi again.

We do not know what else Li Huiqi can feel besides the pain. Sometimes she cries. Seeing her oldest sister taking care of her day and night, she feels even more pain but cannot comfort her sister. Once, when she heard how her sister is unselfishly taking care of her, tears burst out of her eyes. Her silent endurance powerfully shocks the evil. A Dafa practitioner's unshakable mind is what enables her to endure the constant pain.

The Spring Festival is approaching; but since the Jiang regime started persecuting Falun Gong, Li's family has not spent a happy holiday together:

After Li Huiqi started practicing Falun Gong, her family became harmonious. Now, her family is broken. The evil people have not stopped their unacceptable conduct since she was taken home from the hospital. The police come to her home everyday.

Righteousness will be everlasting; Heaven's law and justice prevail; good is rewarded and evil is punished. We hope that Li Huiqi will recover soon so she can personally expose all the crimes against Dafa practitioners in the labor camp. We call upon all righteous people in the world and international human rights organizations to pay attention to her case, and for the international court to investigate the persecution of Li Huiqi by the "610 Office" of Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang City and the Shijiazhuang Forced Labor Camp, and to bring the evildoers to justice.

(Clearwisdom.net) Harbin City Female Rehabilitation Center had previously achieved "outstanding results" by deceiving Dafa practitioners and distorting Master's new articles to try to brainwash them. But with practitioners becoming clear-minded, these tricks no longer had any effect. This rehabilitation center thus started to use cruel tortures against Dafa practitioners.

If the practitioners did not sign the "statements" that slandered Dafa and Master, they would be tortured. Of the torture methods that we know of and have experienced, a few are mentioned below:

There were even more cruel torture methods that the rehabilitation center has tried to keep secret. We will use different ways to expose these torture methods.

One Dafa practitioner in Mudanjiang City was tortured for one month but still refused to sign any coerced statement. The police continually increased the tortures. Tang Zengye of Dalian City was tortured so badly that she lost a dangerous amount of weight in a short period of time. She is still shut up in a small cell to date. One Dafa practitioner in Jixi City was tortured to death.

Some practitioners really could not withstand the pain and thus signed the statement to agree to be "transformed." In the end, they were badly beaten until they agreed to "take the initiative to be transformed." The rehabilitation police, however, told the family members of the Dafa practitioners who had inquired about them, "They are better off here than at home. They eat their fill of three meals everyday."

Telephone of Chief of Harbin City Female Rehabilitation Center Chen Guiqing: 86-451-2412172
Office: 86-451-2424014, 86-451-2424046

Yang Lidong and his wife are Falun Dafa practitioners from Ningjiang District of Songyuan City in Jilin Province. They were kidnapped just one day before the 2002 Chinese Spring Festival. They were sent to Jiutai Forced Labor Camp of Jilin Province on March 15, 2002, and on the same day assigned to the Education Team, also called the Heavy Discipline Team. Because Yang refused to write a letter denouncing Falun Gong, the lawless police instigated criminal offenders to torture him.

At that time the criminal offenders assigned to "monitor and protect" Yang Lidong were Zhang Laoqi (a nickname) from Qian'an County, Li Donghong from Siping City, Zhu Yonggang, and Wang Zhongkui. They cuffed both of Yang's hands to a metal bed and tied his feet with a rope. They swore at him while beating him. Several times during the ordeal, Yang's miserable screaming could be heard by other prisoners, along with that of other Dafa practitioners shouting for an end to the torture. However, no guards came to stop the torture. Sometimes seven or eight hoodlums covered Yang's mouth with cloth, then used various torture instruments such as boards, sticks, and a "little white dragon" [white plastic tubes used to whip victims] to beat him. Sometimes they held Yang's head tightly with their hands and then used a wooden board or toothbrush to rub his ribs. Before long many bloody black bumps would appear on his body. The meal given to him was just one steamed corn bread.

The vicious guards tied Yang onto the bed. They did not allow him to lie down or sit at will. Sometimes, he had to sit on the cold brick floor for a whole night. When he was forced to lie on the bed, he was not allowed to use the restroom, so his pants were often wet with urine. After fellow Falun Dafa practitioners changed Yang's bedding with their own, the thugs would deliberately make trouble for him, so his bedding would soon be wet again. Zhang Laoqi and Zhu Yonggang even shamelessly claimed that Yang Lidong had wet the bed on purpose.

In only half a month, Yang Lidong was partially paralyzed from the torture. He couldn't hold things with his hands. So guard Gao in the Education Team let the doctors give him an intravenous drip. When they saw no signs of improvement in his health, they sent him to Jiutai Hospital, where the doctors claimed that the examination showed that nothing was wrong. On their return, these guards went into a restaurant to eat and drink, but Yang was left in the vehicle without food. When Yang was taken back, he was again heavily tortured. The so-called medical treatment given to Yang was just some intravenous drip.

One day, guard Gao and Division Chief Gao went to the cells of the Heavy Discipline Team, where they saw Yang. Upon seeing them, Yang immediately shouted out, "Falun Dafa is good." The vicious guard Gao pulled out the needles for the intravenous drip and madly pricked Yang's body with them. Division Chief Gao kicked Yang to the floor and wildly battered him.

After about one month, Yang was transferred to a small warehouse. The guards asked the criminal offenders Zhang Laoqi and Li Donghong to "protect and monitor" him. These two found accomplices including Liu Wenli, Xie Yunpu from Yingcheng of Jiutai, Zhang Mancang from Yingcheng, and Zhao Xiaoli from Yingcheng. They claimed that Yang's muscles were atrophied and that he needed a "massage." Shortly after, Yang's miserable screaming could be heard by the entire Education Team. The guards' laughing and loud speaking could also be heard. When asked what happened, the guards paid no attention. This situation occurred many times. What had actually happened was that the guards pushed Yang into an empty wardrobe used by the inmates, closed the door, and then beat him with batons and sticks. Poor Yang Lidong was beaten so badly that he lost control of his bowels. The vicious hoodlums then dragged Yang to the bathroom, to give him a "bath," which was in fact another round of brutal beating. Every time Yang went to the restroom, they would not allow others to go in order to prevent Yang's wounds from being seen.

Seeing Yang's health deteriorate more and more, the guards took him to Changchun City, the capital of Jilin Province, for an examination. The doctor's advice, that Yang "needed hospitalization," was ignored by the guards. As usual, they left Yang in the vehicle without food while they enjoyed a fine restaurant meal. They again took Yang back to Jiutai Forced Labor Camp. So far, Yang has been tortured by the Education Team for one and one-half months.

The list of the criminal guards in the Education Team:
Lu Changtai, responsible for brainwashing
Division Leader Gao and Guard Gao (One of them is called Gao Ke)
Cadre Xie
Team Leader Lu

(Clearwisdom.net) Hundreds of Falun Gong practitioners are being illegally detained in the Shibalihe Women's Forced Labor Camp located in Zhengzhou, Henan Province. The persecution of Falun Gong practitioners is particularly severe in Squads No. 3 and No. 4. Squad No. 3 is brutal, where illegal brainwashing sessions are held continuously. They've tortured Falun Gong practitioners using sleep deprivation for days and detained them until they give up practicing Falun Gong. Various other tortures used by the police against Falun Gong practitioners include electric shock, Tiger Bench [Practitioners are forced to sit on a small iron bench that is approximately 20 cm (6 inches) tall with their knees tied together. see illustration on http://www.clearwisdom.net/emh/articles/2001/11/24/16156.html], Tying the Ropes [The police tie up the practitioner with a thin rope, circle the rope around his neck, and tie his hands behind his back], and shackling the hands or feet.

Falun Gong practitioner Zhao Xilian was originally detained in Squad No. 4 and later transferred to Squad No. 3. She is in her thirties and an assistant professor in Henan Agriculture Institute. Since she refused to cooperate with the police officers, they tied her up, and then put a bench on her body and sat on it to press down until she lost consciousness. Upon regaining consciousness she still did not cooperate, so the police asked two drug addicts to drag her back and forth on the floor like a mop. She was nearly tortured to death. Once, the police tied her up for five days. When she finally fainted from tremendous pain they untied the ropes, only to tie her up again when she regained consciousness. "Tying the ropes" is a very cruel torture. Soon after the torture is implemented, the victims are screaming and dripping with sweat.

Falun Gong practitioner Chen Yujing, about 30-years-old, was employed by the Nanyang Second Oil Machinery Factory. Because she refused to wear the prison uniform and spoke out against the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners, the squad leader Zhang Yin sealed her mouth and tied her with ropes for 12 hours. The constant torture caused her to suffer a mental collapse, and Zhang was later transferred to the Xinxiang Mental Hospital.

Falun Gong practitioner Zhang Hanwen, 53-years-old, was a doctor in the Zhengzhou Technology and Science Institute's infirmary. She is currently detained in Squad No. 4. She obtained Dafa in the U. S. and was arrested when she came back to China because she appealed for Falun Gong. Refusing the arrangements by the police officers, Zhang held hunger strikes to protest. The security guards dragged her by the hair back and forth on the ground until cuts and bruises covered her body. As a result, she suffered from incontinence, and for months the pain in her legs made it impossible for her to walk. When they tried to pry her mouth open and force-feed her, the police knocked out one of her teeth and loosened others.

(Clearwisdom.net) Toward the end of 2002, the government produced a movie full of lies against Falun Gong. It then launched a nation-wide showing of the movie and forced people to watch it.

The government fully understood that people would never spend their own money to go to a cinema to watch a bad film filled with lies. To find an audience, they used all sorts of means. They forced government agencies, employees in state-run enterprises, and pupils in primary and middle schools to watch the movie, and even mobilized the police to guard the entrances to prevent people from leaving in the middle of the show.

Jilin Chemical Industry Limited Inc. is a large state-run enterprise. At the end of 2002, to seek political advantages, the president of the company put a paragraph in his annual report defaming Falun Gong. The company forced the general secretary at each branch office to handle the movie as a political task that would be evaluated. Each branch office was assigned a specified number of people who had to attend the show. Nobody would be allowed to be absent, late, or leave early. Otherwise the branch office would receive a lower score in its assessment.

To fulfill the task, many general secretaries in the branch offices did not dare to let their employees know the real subject of the movie. Since many branch offices had suffered severe losses, cinemas owned by the branch offices had been sold. Thus, the employees hadn't watched a company-sponsored movie for several years. Many employees thought that it must be an entertaining show. So when the movie was played, many employees, who found they were deceived, tried to walk out one after another. Those who made their way to the entrance found to their surprise that the door was shut. Security guards from the company guarded the door.

Nevertheless, some employees managed to leave. With the help of some police that saw no justification in these actions, they got out, using excuses such as smoking, etc. They told some Dafa practitioners about this situation later that night. Many employees were angry about this movie. When they learned that police blocked the exit, and that it was a political task, they were even angrier. One cadre who had worked many years as a Party propagandist told the people in his department after watching the beginning of the movie, "With one glance I knew it was being played by some hired actors. Their acting is really bad. Let's go home. You can do whatever you want to do!" He then left the cinema with some of his employees.

The following is a partial list of Falun Dafa practitioners from Harbin City, Mulan County and Shuangyashan City of Heilongjiang Province who have been illegally sentences to labor camps and prisons.

(Clearwisdom.net) A "solemn declaration" is a person's public statement declaring to the world that whatever he or she has done or said under duress or deception that was against Falun Dafa is null and void. Most of these statements have come from Falun Dafa practitioners in China who wished to express regret that, in the face of physical torture and brainwashing, they had signed documents renouncing Dafa and guaranteeing not to practice again. Also, as more and more people in China learn the truth about how they have been deceived and lied to by the Jiang regime, many non-practitioners are also submitting "solemn declarations."

When I heard that American citizen Charles Li was abducted in China while visiting family, my first thought was that the evil must be at its wits end, daring to arrest a foreign citizen. My second thought was that there wasn't much to worry about, because since Charles is a foreigner, it would not be a problem to have the evil release him in the end.

I felt instinctively that these two thoughts were problematic. I was thinking why would incidents in which foreigners are being abducted in China happen repeatedly? This time seemed to be even more special, because Charles is an American citizen. How could such an incident, which so openly flouts international rules, happen? Which one of our attachments has provided the evil with loopholes? My initial two thoughts helped me identify some long-term misunderstandings.

I had always thought that foreigners going to China for Fa-rectification would not be persecuted there like the Chinese are. Being foreigners, their foreign identities would protect them, and the evil in China would not dare to do the same to them that they do to Chinese. For a while, I even felt that this was unfair. The path of Fa-rectification for Falun Dafa practitioners in China is so hard and full of difficulties, that they are facing the danger of unemployment, arrest, brutal torture, and death, while foreign practitioners came to China, and went to Tiananmen Square without having to worry about these dangers. But today, unexpectedly, we are also facing these dangers.

Was it because many practitioners harbored similar thoughts to mine that the evil took advantage of our loophole to persecute us? Many fellow Chinese practitioners think that those of us with foreign passports will not have problems. Foreign practitioners think that since they are foreign citizens, they will have no problem going to China. We all think about this matter from a "human" point of view, neglecting that we are fundamentally Falun Dafa disciples doing Fa-rectification, and hence causing this incident.

If we were all to think that practitioners in China may be arrested, detained, and sentenced while foreign practitioners may not because of their foreign identities, then wouldn't we be accepting the old evil force's arrangement of "practitioners in China may be persecuted?" If we were to think that foreign disciples are safe because of their foreign identities, wouldn't we be putting our hopes on external factors instead of the bottom line of the Dafa disciples helping Master in Fa-rectification? The old forces detected this mentality and produced this incident.

So I concluded that we should not harbor illusions or take a human viewpoint about the evil, and assume that it will follow international rules. We should always look at issues from the viewpoint of the Fa. Falun Dafa practitioners all over the world are one body; we should all improve together and eliminate the evil thoroughly.

Why do these incidents happen repeatedly? The global 'Rescue Our Families Members' campaign is working hard to rescue illegally imprisoned family members and thus to negate the old force's arrangement. On the other hand, have we been deluded by one detail of this great drama, and forgotten that this is only one of our methods but not our purpose of being? If we fail to clearly recognize this point, when we get busy with a specific task that we do for the purpose of rescuing family members and then are overjoyed when the rescue is successful, then the old forces will make sure that this task keeps us busy all day. We should clearly realize that it is precisely because of old force's persecution that we have to clarify the truth. We would not need to do this if the persecution did not exist. After all, our fundamental purpose is to help Master in Fa-rectification, which is the main theme of this grand drama. We should not be overly distracted by anything else.

Following each of these incidents, I always felt that we were forced into a passive position, as if we were manipulated into mounting a busy rescue campaign by the old forces. How can we turn our passive role into an active one? How can we do better so that such incidents will not happen again? I think the only way is to follow what Master said and to study the Fa more, send forth righteous thoughts, and clarify the truth. We should look inwards, purify every thread of our thoughts and notions, and look at things from the viewpoint of Fa-rectification. This attitude will allow us to form a body of Dafa disciples made up of indestructible harmony, and we will be able to fundamentally break through the old evil force's arrangements and eliminate the evil thoroughly.

The above is my personal understanding, please point out anything inappropriate.

I'm sure you are very busy but please take a few moments to read about a matter that I feel is of urgent concern.

My friend, Falun Gong practitioner Lili Lin from Liverpool, is seeking asylum due to the persecution of Falun Gong taking place in China. When she reported to the Home Office as usual in Liverpool yesterday, she was aggressively handled by four male police officers and imprisoned. She was without food, water or contact with her husband until the early hours of today. She is still imprisoned in a detention centre in Manchester Airport at this moment. More details can be found at the attached press release.

For this kind lady to be treated in such a manner is wrong and should not happen in our free society. However, what is really worrying me is that the immigration authorities intend to deport Lili back to China. Lili is an active Falun gong practitioner who has been pictured on Falun Gong websites and regularly takes part in peaceful appeals against the persecution in front of Chinese Consulate in Manchester and the Chinese Embassy in London. Lili's husband is the main Falun Gong contact person in the Liverpool area and his name is on over 1 million leaflets that have been distributed. Therefore, it is almost inevitable that if Lili is deported back to China, she will be imprisoned and subjected to beatings, torture and possibly even worse. I am really very concerned. Over 1,600 Falun Gong practitioners have already been murdered at the hands of the Chinese authorities. Since visiting scholar Zheng Xujun returned to China from Liverpool University in 1999, he has been detained in a forced labour camp in Beijing. We cannot allow this to happen to another innocent person.

Please do anything you can to help Lili out of this situation. It would really be terrible for the British Government to send her back to suffer at the hands of the Chinese regime.

The telephone number of the detention centre in Manchester Airport is 0161 4895702.

Ms. Wenrong Lin, age 35, profession - musician, has lived in the German city of Duesseldorf since April 2002. She is studying German at a language school. In January of 2003 she flew to China to visit her family and celebrate the Chinese New Year. She was due back in Germany on February 17th, 2003. When she did not return that day, her housemates in Duesseldorf became concerned and investigated with her family in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei Province. Ms. Lin is being detained there under the jurisdiction of authorities from the "610 Office," because she practices Falun Gong.

It is unclear at the moment how the "610 Office" authorities are planning to deal with Ms. Lin. Various obstacles exist that prevent the free flow of information out of China to foreign countries regarding her case.

News from Wuhan tells of renewed rounds of arrests. Everyone who is practicing or had at one time practiced Falun Gong is supposedly required to write a statement of regret or will become subjected to "re-education". Eyewitness accounts relate that frequently participants in these "courses" are subjected to brainwashing and torture.

Practitioners in Germany have informed the World Organization to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (http://www/upholdjustice.org/Eng/index.htm) about Ms. Lin's situation, as well as of the renewed arrests of practitioners in Wuhan and asked them to thoroughly investigate. Friends of Ms. Lin have further contacted the German State Department, the German Legation in Beijing and the German Consulate in Shanghai, to work toward the immediate release and return of Ms. Lin.

According to comments from Ms. Jin Cong, Toronto, the global rescue effort is intensifying, partly due to the fact that Chinese Falun Gong practitioners living in Western countries are being acutely persecuted. One example is Nancy Chen, living in Australia, who was arrested in China on a visit on January 22, 2003 when she attempted to visit her family.

Thanks to efforts from the Australian government, Ms. Chen is now free once more.

This telefax explains my plea as a representative of the Office to Assist Foreign Nationals in Dusseldorf to please intervene with your government for Mrs. Wenrong Lin, a new Dusseldorf resident.

Mrs. Lin, born July 1968, came to Dusseldorf in 2002 to study German. On January 17, 2003, she flew to her hometown of Wuhan to celebrate Chinese New Year with her family there on February 1, 2003. She was subsequently arrested there as a practitioner of Falun Gong and has since been in detention. Since we in Germany hear more and more incidents of torture in Chinese police detention facilities, we are imploring you to please have this incident investigated specifically and intervene on our behalf, to affect the release of Mrs. Lin.

I wish to inform you that I will send a copy of this fax to Minister Joschka Fischer.

(Clearwisdom.net) On February 24, 2003, to rescue US citizen Charles Li and Atlanta resident Mr. Lu Zhaohui's wife, Ms. Xuefei Zhou, Amnesty International's Emory University Chapter conducted a signature drive calling upon the Governor of Georgia, Senators Saxby Chambliss and Zell Miller, as well as the House of Representatives in Georgia to urge the Chinese government to immediately release Falun Gong practitioners Charles Li and Xuefei Zhou.


President of the AI Emory University Chapter is interviewed by a reporter	The signature drive draws great attention from students

Member of Amnesty Emory introduces the persecution encountered by Charles Li and Zhou Xuefei	A student signed her name and wrote: "Let's work together to end the human rights persecution of Falun Gong!"

Beginning on February 14, Valentine's Day, the signature collection campaign has received warm responses from students and faculty at Emory University. Georgia Institute of Technology began the petition last Monday.

The petition received great support from the Emory Student Association, Dean of Studies of Emory University, Dean of the Chapel and Religious Life Ms. Susan Henry-Crowe, Student Association of the University of Georgia, Vice-president of the National Scientific Honor Association, and many others.

The president of Emory University's Amnesty International Chapter said, "Rescuing Charles Li and Xuefei Zhou is an activity to safeguard fundamental human rights, which is the tenet of Amnesty International and is bound with our community and public by common interests. If I practiced Falun Gong and I went to China to study, I would also be detained by the Chinese government. If I openly supported freedom of belief in China and safeguard Falun Gong practitioners' human rights, I would also face imprisonment and torture.... I hope more and more people will stand up and join us to uphold our common human rights."

President of the Emory University Student Association said, "Emory Student Association unanimously passed a resolution to rescue Falun Gong practitioner, Ms. Xuefei Zhou and urge the US Senators and US Ambassadors in China to help rescue Xuefei Zhou."

A student passing by signed the petition and said, "I hope that Charles and Li and Xuefei Zhou will gain their freedom as soon as possible."

During an interview, Atlanta resident Mr. Zhaohui Lu said, "The rescue campaign has gained warm support and help from people. Here I would like to express my appreciation to all kind-hearted American people and government officials. We will continue to work hard until Charles Li is freed and my wife reunites with me."

The Epoch Times newspaper and New Tang Dynasty TV came to do interviews and reported the event.

(Clearwisdom.net) At 11 a.m. on February 26, a North California organization, "Friends of Charles Li" held a news conference in front of the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco to urge the Chinese government to immediately release American Falun Gong practitioner Dr. Charles Li, who has been wrongfully detained in China. On January 22, Dr. Li was arrested at the Guangzhou Airport in China. His fiancée, Ms. Yeong Ching Foo, delivered a petition letter to the Chinese Consulate and was interviewed by the press.


Press conference	Rescue Charles Li Interstate Car Tour

Delivering the petition letter

On February 25, 2003, officers from the San Francisco Police Department phoned the Chinese Consulate to inform them that Falun Gong practitioners would hand in a petition letter. However, the Chinese Consulate appeared to be indifferent towards the practitioners' appeal. Their attitude was cold and detached. The staff in the Consulate did not open the door, nor did they come out to receive the letter. Under this circumstance, Ms. Yeong Ching Foo faced the gate of the Consulate and loudly read her petition letter.

In her letter, Ms. Foo requested to directly talk with Charles Li and to see her fiancée in person, because this is a most fundamental human right.

She said in her letter that the Chinese government unlawfully arrested her fiancée Xiangchu Li and attempted to use fabricated accusations to put him into jail under a heavy sentence. In fact, Charles Li was arrested simply because he practices Falun Gong. Hundreds of thousands of kind Falun Gong practitioners have been detained, violently beaten and cruelly tortured, some were even tortured to death. Ms. Foo said that in face of the nearly four years of brutal persecution, Falun Gong practitioners have used only peaceful ways to appeal for their fundamental right -- the freedom of belief, a right guaranteed by the Chinese constitution.

In an interview, Yeong Ching Foo said that her fiancée has been imprisoned for 34 days. The Chinese government has not provided any formal accusations and has not allowed any family members to visit Charles. Charles is only permitted to have 30 minutes every month to talk with an US diplomat in China. Other than that, he is completely separated from the outside world. She pointed out that the Chinese government routinely arrests people first and then makes accusations later. It isolates the detainees and then uses brainwashing and torture to coerce them to "confess" their so-called crimes. Such behavior is immoral and should not be tolerated.

The news conference marked the first stop of the "Rescue Charles Li Interstate Car Tour."

ABC TV, KQED radio station, the World Journal, Epoch Times, New Tang Dynasty TV and Voice of the Bay Area came to cover the event.

Right now a dear friend of mine, an American citizen, Dr. Charles Li, is imprisoned in a jail in Yangzhou, China, for no other reason than practicing a peaceful spiritual practice, Falun Gong. I cannot stop thinking what type of torture my friend may be subjected to right now. China's prisons have reinstated the tortures perpetrated on the citizenry during the Cultural Revolution. Falun Gong practitioners are exposed to unimaginable and inhuman terror. I have grave concerns for the safety of Dr. Li.

I befriended Dr. Charles Li at a Falun Gong cultivation experience sharing conference. He impressed me as a quiet, trustworthy, and honorable man. Yet, such a nice man as Dr. Li, was unlawfully arrested upon his arrival at the Guangzhou Airport.

Three years ago when the Jiang regime began to persecute Falun Gong, I visited the National Appeal Bureau to clarify the truth about Falun Gong. [The National Appeal Bureau is an autonomous government agency in China, which is independent from all executive and legislative agencies. It was established as an open public forum, where every Chinese citizen may seek justice against unfairness perpetrated by the existing executive or legislative administration.] Instead of finding redress of my grievances, I was arrested twice, just for exercising the right of a Chinese citizen to appeal to the National Appeal Bureau. During the detention I had to endure hunger and brutal interrogations, as well as constant violence and threats. It was also during the interrogations that I experienced for the first time that the Chinese policemen would not hesitate to tell vicious lies to change my thinking. I felt violated, as well as physically and mentally abused by the Chinese police. Many of my fellow practitioners from Beijing are now either locked up in concentration camps or forced to endure the most inhuman torture. Others are either destitute or homeless so they may escape the brutal persecution. As a Falun Gong practitioner who was fortunate enough to escape the persecution after having experienced first-hand brutality, I am certain that there are no laws or justice in China for Falun Gong practitioners.

Please understand the implication of Dr. Charles Li's arrest by the Chinese police on arrival at the Guangzhou Airport! It proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Chinese government has been collecting names of overseas Falun Gong practitioners, including western Falun Gong practitioners, through its embassies, consulates, and an enormous network of spies and special agents. I am speaking from experience, as I have been subjected to threats in a number of ways. My phone has been tapped and my conversations with fellow practitioners have been played back on my answering machine. My car had been smashed, and a giant rock was placed on top of my car as a threat. All of this has happened on US soil.

Keeping the appalling behaviors of the Chinese government's agents in mind, I believe that you would agree with me that Dr. Li's unlawful arrest, the arrest of an American citizen, could be seen as kidnapping by the members a gang. It is most horrifying to know that American citizens' rights were not protected on foreign soil, and American citizens are now subject to cruelty and blatant disregard for human rights in China.

I am proud of America, a country that stands for liberty and human rights. Now, the Chinese government disregards these principles that are the cornerstones of America. It is unbelievable that a government that dares to terrorize its own people now also threatens American citizens. We have to break our silent acquiescence and uphold justice immediately.

Dr. Li's fiancée, Ms. Fu, is a very lovely but determined young woman, doing everything in her power to rescue Dr. Charles Li. I understand her pain and I am deeply moved by her determination and conviction.

I hope my voice of concern has touched your heart. I hope that you can find it in yourself to do whatever is in your power to help rescue Dr. Charles Li.

Please bring back Dr. Charles Li without delay. Please help us to end the brutal persecution of Falun Gong.

My most sincere thanks for everything you have done to uphold justice, peace, and order.

(Clearwisdom.net) Recently, college students throughout Taiwan jointly conducted a press conference, calling to rescue persecuted students of China's Tsinghua University. According to Mr. Dashan Chang, a graduate student from Taiwan Tsinghua university and the initiator of this event, this is the most severe and large-scale persecution of students in China since the June 4,1989 Tiananmen Square incident. The petition being circulated is the first that Taiwanese students and scholars have conducted to oppose the Party's vicious infringements of the rights of students, and to call on the Chinese government to immediately and unconditionally release the students and restore their human rights. More than 16,000 college students and scholars throughout Taiwan have signed the petition since February 17, and the number is increasing each day.

On February 26, a group of students gathered at the Taiwan University Alumni Association Hall to call on the public to pay attention to the facts of the Chinese government's persecution of students. Attendees included: Director of the Taiwan Peace-Promoting Association, Mr. Kan Xi, Professor Huang Mo from Dongwu University, Director of Taiwan Human Rights-Promoting Association, Mr. Lin Fengcheng, student representative of Taiwan Tsinghua University, Mr. Chen Junhong, student representative from Taiwan University, Mr. Chen Huanyu, President of Normal University, Mr. Jiang Zongxian, and student representative from Tsinchu Chiao Tong University, Mr. Li Jianghao.

Taiwan Tsinghua student representative, Mr. Chen Junhong said that the student association felt disappointed about what has happened in Beijing Tsinghua and hoped that it would not continue. Chen Huanyu from Taiwan University said that when someone encounters unjustifiable suppression, as a human being, as a student, everyone has the responsibility to oppose it. President of the Normal University Student Association Mr. Jiang Zongxian expressed his support of freedom of belief. He expressed Normal University students' support to the event. Mr. Li Jianhao, a student from Tsingchu Chiao Tong University said that upon learning the situation, the university's President Mr. Zhang signed the petition.

Mr. Zhao Ming, a student from Trinity College in Ireland, who graduated from Beijing Tsinghua, related the persecution he had suffered in a Chinese labor camp. Support and help from the Irish government and officials from Europe enabled him to leave that terrible environment. He said that at least 18 Tsinghua people have been imprisoned without trial simply because they practice Falun Gong.

Zhao Ming said that the students are innocent. They should have their right to think independently. Without this, other social activities would not be meaningful. It is ridiculous to ruin the students' lives. He said that Taiwan has democracy and freedom, and has the ability to help the Chinese people who are in tribulation. Voices of justice from Taiwan will make a difference. Therefore, he appealed to the Taiwan public to help rescue Falun Gong practitioners persecuted in China for their belief.

Director of Taiwan Human Rights-Promoting Association Mr. Lin Fengcheng said that the persecution of Falun Gong has affected all kinds of freedoms, and Taiwan should help. The Taiwanese people should send out a strong voice of justice to oppose the Chinese government's violation of human rights.

Professor Huang Mo from Dongwu University said that we should pay attention to these violations. If we believe that justice will bring us happiness, we should support the persecuted students. He said that Taiwan should utilize this event to carry out deep thinking so as to improve life for each of us.

The director of the Taiwan Peace-Promoting Association Mr. Jan said that Jiang persecutes Falun Gong because of his fear, since the one who uses violence is the weakest one. He gave examples including the civil rights movement in the United States, India's non-violent movement as well as the Taiwanese case of the Lin House to illustrate that the truth will ultimately prevail. China should rethink its attitude towards Falun Gong. In order to become a strong civilized country or to unite with Taiwan, China has to stand on the side of the truth rather than to use violence and dollar-diplomacy. Taiwan's people should support Falun Gong.

Two practitioners from Sweden read a statement in both English and Chinese to express thanks to the Taiwan public and hopes that the brilliance of "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance" will be spread to every corner in the world.

Approximately 37 universities and 27 university student association presidents, 45 professors and instructors including some presidents of universities signed the petition to support this event. The initiator of the event, Mr. Chang, said that the signatures will be sent to universities in Mainland China to express the strong voice of Taiwan's academic circles.

The petition event will continue until the Chinese government stops violating students' human rights.

RT Hon David Blunkett MP
Secretary of State for the Home Department
Home Office for the UK

Your Excellency,

Kindly read our highly urgent letter of appeal for Lili Lin, who is at this moment detained for deportation to China. Her life will be in danger the moment she steps on Chinese soil.

Lili Lin, 28, applied for asylum in Manchester in October 2001 on grounds of being a practitioner of Falun Gong. Then she moved from Manchester to Liverpool to live with her husband, Jinfei Zhang, a PhD student at Liverpool University.

She informed the Home Office of her change of address and has been reporting to the Home Office in Liverpool regularly.

At 3 pm, 26th February 2003, as usual, Lili reported at the Home Office in Liverpool. Without warning an immigration officer announced that she was to be deported immediately. She asked to see her husband, but was refused. Four policemen came up, pressed her down to the floor, and dragged her into a room, where she was locked until 8.30 pm. She was not given any food or water when she was locked in there. They then sent her to a deportation centre in Manchester.

There must be a misunderstanding somewhere. Lili is not a criminal. Neither is she attempting to hide herself from the immigration authorities.

We implore Your Excellency to look into the matter immediately. Sending Lili back to China would a deadly mistake.

Look at how Din Yan, 32, a Falun Gong practitioner and hairdresser from Shijiazhuang City in Hubei Province in central China was treated. She died in Chengde City Prison in September 2001. She was stripped naked and locked in an iron cage with spikes on all sides. The cage was submerged in dirty water up to her neck. There was no light in the cell. She was left to die in this way. This is just of out of many eyewitness reports on victims of the persecution.

Jiang and several of his officials were sued for genocide and torture while they were abroad. This situation for Falun Gong practitioners in China is extremely serious.

Many Falun Gong practitioners like Ding Yan have faced equally brutal ways of death. We beg you to use the authority of your office to save Lili Lin from the threat of a similar outcome.

(Clearwisdom.net) When California resident Dr. Charles Li went to China in January he found himself being held as a political prisoner for practicing a method of meditation that's common in many countries, including the United States.

Li, a U.S. citizen, was detained at the Guangzhou airport and later arrested. He was taken to the Yangzhou Detention Center where he faces up to 15 years in prison.

Three Houston residents were at San Marcos City Hall Thursday to raise awareness about Li's imprisonment and the thousands of Chinese citizens who are tortured in their country for practicing Falun Gong. Falun Gong was banned in China in 1999 by Chinese President Jiang Zemin.

"In China people are arrested for this and brutally tortured," said Jason Wang. Wang, along with Ming Zeng and Chung Lao have stopped in Round Rock, Temple, New Braunfels, San Marcos, Seguin and Austin this week.

"There is a nationwide campaign. We want the mayors of the cities to help us to raise awareness of the persecution that's going on," Wang said. "The dictator of China has become uncomfortable with the people practicing Falun Gong because they were outnumbering the Chinese Communist ideas."

The three travelers are also explaining the principles of Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa.

"Falun Gong is a peaceful exercise and meditation practice for improving the body," Wang said. Falun Gong is not associated with a particular religion and can be practiced by young and old, Wang said. It's teachings are based on the principles of truthfulness, compassion and tolerance.

Ming, a geophysical engineer, says her mother and sister in China have been subjected to torture and brainwashing sessions for practicing Falun Gong.

"My mom was very ill and when she started practicing Falun she became well and healthy," Ming said. "But now she's being persecuted and we are very worried."

While Beijing has arrested and imprisoned hundreds of Falun Gong members since the movement was outlawed, followers continue to protest around the world and in Hong Kong where the [group] is still a legally registered [group]. It is estimated that about 100 million people practice Falun Gong in China.

Jason Wang and Ming Zeng say thousands are being persecuted in China for their practice of Falun Gong. For information, log on to www.falundafa.org

Two Texans with relatives who remain in China came to New Braunfels Tuesday to raise awareness of persecution of practitioners of Falun Gong.

Jason Wang and Ming Zeng made a plea Tuesday for help for family members and thousands of others they said are victims of oppression, torture and consignment to prisons, forced labor camps and insane asylums.

Falun Gong, also called Falun Dafa, is an ancient practice of meditation and exercise banned in 1999 by the government of the People's Republic of China.

The practice dates back thousands of years, but was made public in 1992 by Li Hongzhi.

"It's not a religion. It's a body and mind meditation like Yoga but more complete [...]," Wang said.

Falun Gong, based on the "universal principles of truthfulness, compassion and tolerance," has spread throughout China and proponents say is now practiced by 100 million people in China and by others in more than 50 countries.

"This has become a most important issue," said Wang, whose mother, Han Jizhen, has been locked in an insane asylum and is now under house arrest.

An American citizen, Dr. Charles Li of Menlo Park, Calif., Wang said, was imprisoned on Jan. 22, 2003, when he arrived at Guangzhou Airport, charged with sabotaging television or radio equipment.

Wang said the imprisonment is for promoting and practicing Falun Gong, which was outlawed by the Chinese dictator Jiang Zemin in July 1999.

"The reason the government is upset is the dictatorship never allows anyone freedom of thought," Wang said. "He wants everyone to think the same as him. If not, he believes they're against the country."

Zeng said her mother found the benefits of Falun Gong rejuvenating when she took up the practice at age 70 in the mid-1990s.

"She suffered many kinds of sickness and illness. She always took medicines and stayed at the hospital. I asked her to practice Falun Gong in 1996, and just a few months after she started her illnesses disappeared," Zeng said.

The problem came when Zeng's sister, Zeng Qing, showed her neighbors and friends what had changed her life.

Wang said 100,000 practitioners have been locked up and at least 560 -- and probably many more -- killed by the government or its minions.

Now, Wang said, he and Zeng are part of a worldwide effort to counter propaganda and misinformation spread about Falun Gong by the communist Chinese government, which he said staged a fake self-immolation in 2001 to frighten and mislead people.

"They have tried for the last four years to use the state-controlled media to slander Falun Gong 24 hours a day. Many people in China are afraid of persecution. If you practice Falun Gong, you can lose your job, your house and be arrested," Wang said.

(Clearwisdom.net) "Safeguard human rights and freedom, and oppose Article 23 legislation; oppose creating terror and damaging freedom of speech." 1500 Hong Kong citizens opposing Article 23 legislation of the Basic Law, held candles in their hands or waved their arms to shout aloud their voices from the depth of their hearts. The Legislative Council will hold first reading on Article 23 legislation on February 25. The Civil Human Rights Front, representing 43 groups, held a candlelight vigil against Article 23 legislation of the Basic Law in Chater Gardens on the night of February 24. The group pointed out that Article 23 legislation would introduce the misdeeds of the Mainland authorities, the oppression of all opposing voices, and suppress citizens with the excuse of "maintaining national security." The group strongly requested the government to withdraw the Blue Bill of Article 23 legislation.

The participants were very emotional. People from all walks of life were invited to make speeches. Cham Hok Man, student-coordinator of a High School Joint Declaration Opposing Article 23, expressed that after the enactment of Article 23 legislation, teachers would need to examine their speech in fear of violation of Article 23 if they were to say something inappropriate. Textbooks would be transferred to Hong Kong from the Mainland without changing a word. This would suffocate the freedom of thought. Hong Kong students hope that Hong Kong's education system will not follow such a direction. Article 23 protects the security of the Party regime, but not national security. His speech won a warm round of applause.

Hong Kong Falun Gong spokesperson Kan Hung-cheung expressed that a couple of persons in Hong Kong who dare to speak out have been called "the Conscience of Hong Kong," but the number is far from enough. Hong Kong has 6,000,000 people, so there should be six million consciences. He called for Hong Kong citizens to unite to oppose Article 23 and create a beautiful future for Hong Kong.

A Hong Kong Journalists Association that rarely participated in civil gatherings joined the Civil Human Rights Front for opposing Article 23 legislation. Chairperson Mak Yin Ting thought that the biggest problem of Article 23 is Hong Kong citizens' free speech would be encroached upon and that it may be unable to be recovered.

Mak Yin Ting expressed hopes that Hong Kong citizens will persist until the end during the entire process of the enactment of Article 23, making it clear to the government that citizens will not stop expressing their opinions, even though the government ignores them. Ultimately, this can lead to the continued existence of or even expansion of free speech in Hong Kong.

The group pointed out that Article 23 legislation would introduce the evildoing of Mainland authorities, oppressing all dissenting voices, and suppressing the public with the excuse of "maintaining national security." They strongly requested the government to withdraw the Blue Bill of Article 23 legislation.

(Clearwisdom.net) In the morning of February 25, 2003, Dafa disciples in Gothenburg and surrounding cities came to the Chinese Consulate in Gothenburg to protest against Hong Kong's proposed Article 23, which disregards the democracy and freedom of Hong Kong's people. Because the Chinese Consulate is in the industrial area, many people driving by and saw the event.

When they passed us, many drivers showed their support by giving us a thumbs-up, waving and honking their horns.

The "National Security Statute Draft" for the legislation of Article 23 of the "Basic Law" was submitted this afternoon to the Legislative Council for first and second readings, and has already passed. A statute draft council will be established to discuss the details. More than 20 council members from the Democratic Party, the Civil Human Rights Front, and the Employee Union left the meeting before the first reading to show their opposition. They burned a mockup of the Blue Bill (the current stage in the legislative process for Article 23) in the parking lot outside the Legislative Council building.

The legislative council members who left the meeting hall told reporters that they would vote against the legislation. They also called upon the public to cooperate with the democratic groups and urge the government to abolish the draft, or at least remove unreasonable items.

During the first reading, five members from "Four-Five Action" including "Long Hair" Leong Guoxiong who sat at the public seat in the legislative council hall, shouted loudly to oppose the enactment of Article 23 and requested to immediately withdraw the Blue Bill. Their protest interrupted the meeting for a while. Security guards forcibly removed the five of them, and each paid 500 Hong Kong dollars in bail to allow them to be free until a court hearing scheduled for two months from now.

Before Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, secretary of the Hong Kong Security Bureau submitted the draft to the legislative council for first and second readings, more than 20 council members from democratic groups held up a banner requesting an immediate withdrawal of the Blue Bill for Article 23 and left the meeting hall as a group. At the same time, five members of "Four-Five Action" sitting at the public seat also shouted loudly "Oppose the legislation of Article 23!" and "Withdraw the Blue Bill!" They also threw flyers and torn paper from the public viewing area on the 3^rd floor into the meeting hall downstairs. A large group of security guards instantly went up to stop them and dragged two people away.

"Long Hair" Leong Guoxiong loudly protested the legislation of Article 23 and spread flyers and torn paper to protest the government's submission of the National Security Statute Draft. Security guards dragged him away.

President of the Hong Kong Bar Association, Mr. Chen Jingsheng, said that while the legislation proceeds, the Bar Association will continue to study each item and submit their opinions to the legislative council and the government. However, he did not consider it an easy prospect to convince the legislative council to modify the Blue Bill. He felt that if the Blue Bill is passed by the legislative council, citizens have to live by it. However, it will damage Hong Kong's image and its democracy and freedom.

The hearts of all Austrian Falun Dafa Practitioners are very close to their Romanian fellow practitioners. We are very pleased to know that you are overcoming all obstacles and we are also very thankful to Master. The Austrian Falun Dafa Association wants to congratulate the founding of the Romanian Falun Dafa Association and we wish you all best in further validating the Fa!

(Clearwisdom.net) On February 24, 2003, the first Colorado "Falun Dafa Month" celebration was held in Denver's Central Park, in front of the State Capitol building.

Colorado Falun Gong practitioner Jim pointed out in his opening speech that Falun Gong and its principle of "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance" have a positive influence on society. The Jiang regime's recent escalation of persecution against Falun Gong practitioners should raise concern in every citizen with a sense of justice. He also said that the United States is a country that respects individual freedom and freedom of belief. The earliest immigrants decided to come to America because they wanted to escape persecution on account of their beliefs. Freedom of belief has become an inalienable right of everyone in America. However, freedom of belief should not only belong to people in the Western world. Everyone in the world should enjoy the freedom of belief, including the Chinese people.

"New Tang Dynasty" TV Station interviewed city council member after the celebration. Mr. Ed Thomas said that in a short period of ten years, over 100 million people have come to practice Falun Gong, and practitioners benefit both physically and mentally. American people from all walks of life have begun understanding Falun Gong positively and recognizing Falun Gong and its benefits to society. He emphasized that more similar activities would enable more people to learn the facts about Falun Gong.

Dr. Xia from the nearby city of Boulder, as a friend of Falun Gong practitioner Charles Li who was recently arrested in China, gave a speech. He called for American people from all walks of life to extend their help to rescue Charles Li.

President of "Friends of Falun Gong" at Denver University also gave a speech. He pointed out that "Friends of Falun Gong" would not stop its appeals and protests so long as the brutal persecution of Falun Gong practitioners continues.

With the help of "Friends of Falun Gong," the Falun Dafa photo exhibition "A Peaceful Journey" was held at Denver University from February 24 to 27. Colorado Falun Gong practitioners planned several free sessions to introduce Falun Dafa to the public in many surrounding cities as part of the first "Falun Dafa Month" celebrations.

On February 22, 2003, Hong Kong Falun Gong practitioners successfully held the 2003 Falun Dafa Experience Sharing Conference. Over 700 Falun Gong practitioners from 20 countries attended the conference.

The conference was held in the auditorium of a social service organization. Among over 700 in attendance, more than 500 were from 19 countries, including Taiwan, the US, Canada, Australia, Singapore, Indonesia, Korea, Japan, Macao and some European countries. Due to a limited number of seats, the hall was filled to capacity, and over a hundred were not able to enter the conference hall. The atmosphere of Fa conference was solemn and harmonious. A dozen practitioners from different areas shared their cultivation experiences. Congratulatory messages from overseas were also read at the conference.

Some 80 practitioners from Taiwan and other countries were refused entry to Hong Kong in the two days prior to the conference. Some of them received violent treatment.

On the morning of February 23, over 800 Falun Gong practitioners separated into two groups. One formed Chinese characters and the other performed the exercises.

At 8:00 a.m., about 450 practitioners in their bright yellow exercises suits gathered at Tsim Sha Tsui Seashore Park. They formed four huge Chinese characters meaning, "Righteous Thoughts and Righteous Actions." This scene attracted many tourists passing by, and some of them asked to learn the Falun Dafa exercises.

Over 800 practitioners practiced the exercises in front of Wan Chai Immigration Tower. After a press conference, they marched to Hong Kong headquarters to deliver a petition letter opposing Article 23 legislation and protesting the SAR government's denial of entry to over 80 Falun Gong practitioners from abroad.

One week before the conference, a hotel suddenly cancelled the booking of the conference venue. Three months ago, this five-star hotel agreed to rent a site for Falun Gong practitioners, and signed the lease and accepted a deposit. However, on February 14, after Falun Gong practitioners informed the police about their plan for the conference, that very afternoon the practitioners received notice of the cancelled booking. The practitioners pointed out that Hong Kong is to a large degree an unfair environment for Falun Gong, but that they were even more disappointed by the sudden change in the hotel's position, making them suspect that the hotel was pressured to cancel the lease by the government.

Since the middle of 2000, Hong Kong government has refused over 70 applications in total from Falun Gong practitioners for renting a site to hold activities. Since private organizations have also received undue pressure, it has become very difficult for Falun Gong practitioners to rent a site from hotels.

On the afternoon of February 23, over 800 Falun Gong practitioners held a parade protesting against Article 23 legislation's suppression of human rights, and protesting the government for refusing entry to Falun Gong practitioners abroad.

Nine flags of different colors bearing words, "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance" and "Falun Dafa" interwoven in the procession were very eye-catching. There were also many banners of different sizes, bearing messages introducing Falun Dafa, opposing Article 23 legislation, and calling for an end to persecution and for urgent rescue. Some practitioners held display boards in their hands. The long procession set out from Wan Chai Immigration Tower heading to the government headquarters.

The procession marched peacefully and in good order along the street. Practitioners in the procession handed out flyers to passersby and smiled and waved to vehicles passing by, attracting many people's attention and kind responses. It is the first time that the Hong Kong government approved a Falun Gong march on a major street.

Before the parade, the practitioners held a press conference, protesting the Hong Kong government's denying entry to over 80 practitioners from abroad. A Hong Kong Falun Gong spokesperson expressed that they could absolutely not accept the SAR government's denial of entry to Falun Gong practitioners. This matter should not have happened in a peaceful and open society.

Jiang's persecution of Falun Gong has violated not only China's constitution and law, but also related international human rights agreements and laws. Practitioners from abroad recounted the persecution they suffered in China and the lawsuit against Jiang overseas.

When the procession marched to the headquarters, practitioners delivered a statement of global Falun Gong practitioners opposing Article 23 legislation, and an appeal letter concerning the denial of entry.

Falun Gong Practitioners Successfully Hold a Public Forum "Against Evil Article 23." Multiple Renowned People Invited to BE Present

Hong Kong Falun Gong practitioners held for the first time a public forum against Article 23 legislation. The invited speakers included renowned people from different social strata and Falun Gong practitioners overseas. Most speakers mentioned in their speeches that in the course of opposing the evil law, as long as we persevere, victory would ultimately belong to the righteous side.

The speakers included Legislative Councillors LAU Wai-hing and Leung Yeuk-jung, Director of Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor Law Yuk-kai, Rev. Fung Chi-wood, Civil Human Rights Front member Chaai Yeuk-chong and Hong Kong Alliance In Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China member Tou Kwan-hing. They called for everyone to be determined and not be afraid of Article 23.

Falun Gong practitioners overseas recounted their personal suffering from the persecution, and hoped that the Hong Kong citizens will see clearly the severe consequences Article 23 will bring to them.

(Clearwisdom.net) Many Falun Dafa practitioners from Taiwan went to Hong Kong several days ago to attend a Falun Dafa experience sharing conference, but 80 of them were denied entry into Hong Kong. Hong Kong customs officers used violence, even forcefully bundling some practitioners up in anti-riot blankets, and carrying them onto aircraft bound for Taiwan. Some of the women sustained many bruises on their bodies. In order to express support for the deported practitioners and to publicly condemn the Hong Kong government's violent deeds, Falun Gong practitioners in San Diego, California held a group practice and sent forth righteous thoughts last weekend.


Practitioners doing the exercises and sending forth righteous thoughts	Holding a banner to protest the Hong Kong government's violent deeds

Falun Gong practitioners believe in "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance." Practicing Falun Gong makes us understand how to become better people, and healthier both physically and mentally. It is beneficial to all countries and nationalities. However, at present, regardless of the fact that Falun Gong flourishes in over 50 countries around the world, improving practitioners' physical and mental well being and bringing stability and harmony to society, the Hong Kong government deprived the practitioners of the basic freedom of assembly. Doesn't this blatantly violate Hong Kong's promise to the world, "One country, two systems?"

The practitioners expressed their sincere appeal: So that all in the world may enjoy a bright future, we hope all kind-hearted people will show concern over the unfair treatment Falun Gong practitioners are suffering.

The practitioners also called for the Hong Kong government to reconsider, and not to yield to China's autocratic rule and ruin the human rights and freedom of Hong Kong.

After my daughter was born, my mother-in-law came to Beijing to help look after the baby. We studied Falun Dafa together, lived together, and improved together. I was dismissed from my job after July 20, 1999. My father was so angry that he became ill. My mother-in-law was the one calmed him down. My father came to a better understanding upon hearing her words and used his savings to help us with our financial difficulties. In March 2000, I had to leave home in order to avoid illegal arrest. Most of the Dafa work I had been doing was now taken over by my mother-in-law. She would send Master's lectures and Clearwisdom articles to fellow practitioners while caring for my baby.

The Central News Agency reported that the Hong Kong Falun Dafa spokesperson commented on February 23^rd, that the government of Hong Kong SAR mistreated Taiwanese Falun Dafa practitioners who had come for the Falun Dafa experience sharing conference. About 450 Taiwan Falun Dafa practitioners flew to Hong Kong last week, and a parade was scheduled for February 23^rd. However, 80 of the practitioners were deported. Falun Dafa practitioners requested that the Hong Kong government apologize for their conduct and treat the Falun Dafa practitioners fairly.

The Baimalong Women's Forced Labor Camp in Zhuzhou City, Hunan Province has implemented a variety of brutal means of torture. Policemen used Falun Dafa practitioners as punching bags. They torture Falun Dafa practitioners by forcing them to stand or sit on small stools for long periods of time, handcuffing and hanging them up in mid-air, using electric batons to shock the sensitive parts of the body, forcing them to do hard labor in the mountains, locking them up in isolation, force-feeding them, forced brainwashing, and so on. Some practitioners have passed away from being force-fed and suffocated, while some practitioners have been disabled by the cruel torture.

1. When I arrived at my hometown in Northeast China, my cousin said, "There are many posters with the sentence 'Falun Dafa is good' everywhere in a city building and some other villages. The educational TV station also revealed to the public that Falun Dafa is good." The young people in the village all like to access Internet. The Dafa practitioners sent the information about the truth-clarification website to these young people to let them understand the facts. My cousin also said, "Many people received phone calls from Dafa practitioners overseas. Falun Gong is splendid. In such suppression, they still dare to clarify the truth about Falun Gong. People really admire Falun Gong."

2. A Dafa practitioner talked about Falun Gong with her younger sister. The sister said that Jiang arrested good people instead of corrupt ones. One female Dafa practitioner was arrested, and when her family members went to the jail to ask her to abandon her belief, she said, "A poor person received help from a kind person while he was very poor in life and was thus able to make a living. Later the kind person suffered persecution. How could this person keep silent while his benefactor suffered persecution?" The practitioner's sister said that Falun Gong is wonderful and she admires Falun Gong.

The sister also said, "The 'Falun Dafa is good' banners can be seen everywhere. The words continued to show up even after they were erased." She said that the officials in charge of TV stations were very afraid of the TV program about the truth of self-immolation. When the public finds out about the truth, they won't be able to deceive the general public anymore.

3. A Dafa practitioner distributed truth-clarification pamphlets in his native village. He found that some people were eager to receive the truth-clarification materials. Sometimes, a pamphlet was shared by many people. The Dafa practitioner made a New Year's call to one of his classmates. His classmate's elder sister said, "The Dafa practitioners are all very wonderful."

My mother and I have been practicing Falun Dafa cultivation since 1996. On my first trip to Beijing to appeal for Falun Dafa, I was arrested. At that time my mother and younger sister transferred all of Teacher's books and photos from my home to my younger sister's home and hid all of them. The second time, I was taken away by police right from my home. My mother asked my elder sister to hide all of Teacher's books and other Falun Gong literature at her home, but my elder sister was so badly frightened that she did not dare to take them. My mother instead delivered all the literature to my younger sister's home again, and she immediately received and hid the literature.

My younger sister and her husband were very happy to have a son when they were both over 40 years old. However when the child was one year old, several hospitals consistently gave the diagnosis that their son had congenital heart disease, and he would need an operation when he was around 3 years old. The hospitalization expenses could cost from 50,000 to 90,000 Yuan [about US$5,900 to $10,000, which is over 10 years average income for an urban worker in China], which created huge psychological pressure on the couple. In October of 2002, when the child was 3 years old, the couple prepared the money and brought the child to a provincial hospital to have the operation to cure the disease. However, when the child was re-examined before the surgery, the doctor discovered that his heart disease had miraculously disappeared. The couple went to the hospital with tears, yet returned home happily.

My mother joyfully told my younger sister, "This was because you have helped your elder sister to protect the books of Falun Gong and you have accumulated a lot of virtue."

Name	Sex	Age	Home Address	Work Unit	Time of Arrest	Detention Place	Notes
Sun Shujie	F	48	Residential building in Mine Bureau of Shuangyashan City	Director of Forest Protection Section of Mine Bureau	Kidnapped at home on April 23, 2002	Jiamusi City Labor Camp	She was illegally sentenced to forced labor education twice: the first time for 1 year and the second time for 3 years. After July 20, 1999, she was illegally detained four times. Because she firmly practiced Dafa, she was dismissed from the party, and removed from her position. She was forced to write guarantee(s) promising to give up her belief in Dafa. Her body became been very weak. She is now in grave danger.
Liu Guoliang	M	51	Daowai District of Harbin City	A teacher at the 31^st Middle School in Harbin City	July 9, 2002	Daowai Branch of the Police Department	He went to Beijing twice to appeal and was illegally sentenced to forced labor education. After he was released, he was kidnapped again on July 9, 2002 while working at school, and he was sentenced to five years in prison.
Sun Lizhi	F	41	Mulan County	Former employee of Mulan County Post Office, but dismissed from work after the persecution began.	Arrested at home on January 14, 2001	Brigade 7 in Wanjia Labor Camp, Harbin City	She went to Beijing to appeal three times. She was sentenced to two years of forced labor education for two years.
Qi Jingfang	F	53	Mulan County		Arrested at home on April 13, 2002	Brigade 12 in Wanjia Labor Camp, Harbin City	She went to Beijing to appeal once; she was sentenced to two years of forced labor education
Tian Ying	F	42	Mulan County	County Hospital	Arrested at home on April 22, 2002	Brigade 7 in Wanjia Labor Camp, Harbin City	She went to Beijing to appeal once; she was sentenced twice to one year of forced labor education
Yu You	M	45	Mulan County	Self-employed	Arrested at home on May 16, 2002	Team 4 of Brigade 13 of Lianjiangkou Prison in Tangyuan County	He was illegally sentenced to 10 years of prison.
Lin Yurong (Yu You's wife)	F	45	Mulan County	Self-employed	Arrested at home on May 16, 2002	Harbin Women's Prison	She was illegally sentenced to 10 years of prison.
Yang Yuqin	F	66	Mulan County		Arrested at home on April 22, 2002	Brigade 12 in Wanjia Labor Camp, Harbin City	She was illegally sentenced to 2 years of forced labor education.
Shang Guimin	M	39	Gui Village, Jixing Township, Mulan County	Farmer	Arrested on April 26, 2002 in Mulan County	Brigade 2 in Prison Area 4 of Lianhuakou Prison in Jiamusi City	He was illegally sentenced to 14 years of prison.
Liu Bo	M	36	Mulan County	Self-employed	Arrested at home on April 22, 2002	Changlinzi Labor Camp in Harbin City
Li Weijun	M	62	Mulan County		Arrested at home on February 13, 2002	Changlinzi Labor Camp in Harbin City	He was illegally sentenced to 1 year of forced labor education.
Mei Guangli	F	40	Mulan County		Arrested at home on April 22, 2002	Wanjia Labor Camp, Harbin City	She was illegally sentenced to 2 years of forced labor education.
Li Yanli	F	38	Liuhe Town, Mulan County	Farmer	Arrested at home on March 5, 2002	Wanjia Labor Camp, Harbin City	She was illegally sentenced to 2 years of forced labor education.
Wang Jialing	F	47	Liuhe Town, Mulan County	Farmer	Arrested at home on March 5, 2002	Wanjia Labor Camp, Harbin City	She was illegally sentenced to 2 years of forced labor education.
Jiang Peng	M	27	Daoli District of Harbin City		January 28, 2002	Changlinzi Labor Camp in Harbin City	He was illegally kidnapped at Harbin City Industrial University.
Li Kaozhong	M	58	Liuhe Town, Mulan County	Farmer	Arrested at home on March 5, 2002	He is now monitored at home.	He was illegally sentenced to 7 years of prison and asked to serve his sentence at home.

Real Format Low Resolution	Watch Online (00:24:56)	Download (6.2 MB)
Real Format High Resolution	Watch Online (00:24:56)	Download (40.5MB)