[Minghui Net] Over the past year, Macheng City Cotton Product Company has carried out a series of brutal persecutions against the Falun Gong practitioners that work in the company. On February 22, 2000, the company management called upon all employees who practiced Falun Gong to attend a meeting. At the end of this meeting, they forcefully detained 17 practitioners and made them attend a "Falun Gong Transformation Class." This so-called "class" turned out to be an illegal prison. The company management sealed all of the windows with thick plywood and installed two steel gates at the entrance. They also assigned over 20 people to guard the building. During the detention, practitioners were forced to perform hard labor. They were watched constantly, no matter where they went and what they were doing, including using bathroom and even sleeping. Talking between practitioners was prohibited. Every day, the practitioners would work for half of the day and then they would have to spend the rest of the day studying anti-Falun Gong material and writing reports. If someone refused to turn in their report, they would be punished and tortured. The most common torture included deprivation of sleep, extended standing facing a wall and physical abuse. If someone dared to write anything positive about Falun Gong, the guards would handcuff the person and lock him/her in the cold hallway where the temperature was below freezing. Even the senior citizens that were nearly 60 years old were not spared. This harsh treatment caused great suffering for many people. From February 22 through to early June of 2000, practitioners were illegally detained and forced to join the "class" for over 100 days. For fear of exposure of the persecution, the company limited family members' visit during the detention. Once, a family member was harshly beaten when attempting to visit a practitioner. At the end of the detention, each family was forced to write a guarantee letter [not to allow their family members who are Dafa practitioners to appeal or to practice] and pay 500 Yuan as bail in order to have the practitioners released. Following the principles of Zhen-Shan-Ren [Truthfulness-Benevolence-Forbearance], Falun Gong practitioners have been able to display incomparable altruism. Even when facing such injustice, they have still treated their abusers with kindness. On the other hand, some guards have not been appreciative for this. Besides the unbridled torture, they have also taken advantage of the situation by making illegal profit for themselves, using the money to gamble and even to pay for prostitutes. On December 4, 2000, the company tricked five female practitioners into having to stay for a second term of isolated "class." On December 9, the guards began to physically torture these women on a daily bases. Their abuses included hitting, kicking, hanging and handcuffing. These women's bodies were covered all over with bruises and other injuries; some could not walk for days. Even today, the scars are still visible. Under the winter cold weather with the below-zero temperature, they stripped these women of their clothes, tied their arms behind their backs and lifted up their arms. They were forced to stand in cold water in a bowing position while they poured cold water onto them. The practitioners received no food, sleep or bathroom visits. The torture went on continuously for six days and six nights. The company personnel knew that what they did was wicked and disgraceful. Some of them didn't even dare to answer the telephone or receive visitors. We appeal to all kind-hearted people, please make a clear distinction between right and wrong and protect practitioners according to the law. Many of them are your relatives and friends. The persecution is not only illegal, but is also inhumane. Virtuous deeds will be rewarded with good and vicious acts will bring harsh penalties. P.S. Abusers' Names: Le Xinmin, deputy head of security unit Xia Lixuan, security personnel Chen Huanwen, Company Executive Officer Xiao Ying, Company Executive Officer, in charge of Falun Gong Persecution Xu Shenqing, Company Executive Officer Company address: Macheng Cotton Product Group company, Ltd. #6 Lingyuan Street, Macheng City, Hubei Province 431600 Falun Gong practitioners in China February 2001

Category: Accounts of Persecution