7/16/01 (Falun Dafa Information Center) According to reliable sources, the Shijiazhuang Labor Camp in Hebei Province has resorted to intensive violence against Falun Gong practitioners in recent months, which has led to many deaths by the end of June.

According to the torture victims, the labor camp officials claimed that they were "executing orders from the leadership." The goal is to obtain good evaluations from superiors for a "high reform rate [of Falun Gong practitioners]." While torturing the practitioners who refused to be brainwashed, some police even claimed, "You will be reformed regardless." "In order to transform you, I can steam you in a high pressure cooking pot or fry you in a frying pan."

According to information from reporters, labor camp wardens are using the following torture methods:

• Beating practitioners with electric batons and police clubs
• Rope Torture (a cruel torture; the rope will cut into the flesh in severe cases) until practitioners faint
• Hanging handcuffed practitioners for a long period of time (practitioners are hung on iron pipes after being handcuffed, with only the tips of their toes touching the ground. They are not allowed to sleep and are kept in this position at all times other than meal and toilet breaks. Sometimes this torture lasts for 20 days)
• Around the clock brainwashing activities.
• Inserting needles into practitioners' fingers
• Using hammers to smash fingers

The torture does not end until the practitioners are reformed. To date, a large number of practitioners have been tortured to death. The labor camp is concealing all information on death cases. Details about the number of deaths and names of victims are still in the process of being verified.

According to eyewitnesses, in the latter half of June, emergency ambulances were seen going in and out of the labor camp four to five times every day. This indicated that a serious crisis was taking place inside the camp.

According to family and medical staff, at least several people were tortured to death in that labor camp, but camp officials had blocked all related information. They did not inform the families and also would not allow the families to visit. Even people who had been brainwashed were not allowed to leave. Information sources also revealed that the Shijiazhuang Public Security Bureau had already ordered all major hospitals in Shijiazhuang not to reveal any information.

Reporters called several departments in the labor camp and got different responses from the camp staff. One said no Falun Gong practitioners had died since 1999. Another staff member first claimed that it was "a public phone" that the reporter had reached. After being pressed by the reporter, he admitted to being one of the supervisors in the camp and claimed that no Falun Gong practitioners had died. Other staff members hung up the phone as soon as they heard "Death cases of Falun Gong practitioners."

According to verified information, at least seven Falun Gong practitioners had been tortured to death in Shijiazhuang before this tragedy. The victims include Tao Hongsheng, Liu Xiurong, Liu Shusong, Zhao Fengnian, Ding Gangzi, etc. Their cases were reported by AP, Central News Agency, and CNN.

According to internal sources, the China Public Security Ministry recently issued a proclamation to the "610 Office" (nationwide secret government department established to specifically take actions beyond legal means to persecute Falun Gong practitioners). Meanwhile, it also issued an order to "completely eliminate Falun Gong" in the near future. According to Human Rights analysts, the history of China's communist regime strongly indicates a high possibility that they will intensify the persecution after China obtains international approval in its Olympic bid. This can only lead to more severe tragedies.