NEW YORK (FDI) -- The deaths of six Falun Gong practitioners from Huludao City, Liaoning Province have recently been confirmed. All six died from abuse and torture suffered in various labor camps and detention centers in Liaoning Province, home of the notorious Masanjia Forced Labor Camp, where dozens of Falun Gong practitioners have lost their lives.

Due to the Chinese government information blockade, news of these deaths was severely delayed, and transmitted out of China at great risk to Falun Gong practitioners working to expose human rights abuses.

Former Communist Party Secretary Dies in May 2000

Fifty-seven year-old Mr. Liu Hongxue, a former resident of Gangyaoling, Huludao City, was the former Party Secretary of Nanpaio Sanitation Bureau. Doctors had diagnosed him as terminally ill, but he completely recovered in l996 shortly after taking up the practice of Falun Gong. He often said to relatives and colleagues, "Falun Dafa gave me a new life."

After the onset of the persecution, Mr. Liu was frequently harassed. He was detained in Nanpiao District Detention Center for more than 20 days in October 1999 and was brainwashed for over two months.

Under intense and ongoing psychological torture, Mr. Liu's physical condition began to decline rapidly. Guards saw him quickly approaching death and released him in an attempt to escape responsibility. Liu Hongxue passed away in May 2000.

Two Huludao City Women Die in Masanjia Forced Labor Camp

Ms. Cao Fengqiu, a 48-year old resident of Fuyou Village, and Ms. Li Baoxia, a resident of Nanxin Township both suffered from terminal breast cancer. Doctors had even told Li to prepare for her funeral, but after learning Falun Gong, both women's symptoms of cancer disappeared.

Ms. Cao was detained twice at Gangtun Detention Center - once for 30 days and again at a later date (specific information unavailable) for 20 days. Mrs. Cao had also been arrested twice in Beijing for appealing for justice for Falun Gong, detained at one time for a total of 60 days, and subjected to severe torture.

Ms. Cao received a three-year sentence in Masanjia Forced Labor where she endured extreme psychological and mental torture. Her health began to deteriorate, causing her breast cancer to reappear. Officials at Masanjia released Ms. Cao to avoid responsibility for her condition, sending her to a hospital for medical treatment. She passed away in the hospital in the autumn of 2000.

Ms. Li Baoxia was arrested in January 2000 and sentenced to three years in Masanjia Forced Labor Camp, where she endured extreme torture and suffered from rapidly declining health. Under these conditions her breast cancer resurfaced and officials at the labor camp released her to avoid responsibility. Ms. Li Baoxia died in June of 2000.

Two School Teachers Die after Torture in Huludao City Detention Center

Ms. Peng Fengmei was a retired teacher and resident of the Yangjiazhangzi Development District in Huludao City. On December 19, 2000 Ms. Peng was illegally detained in a Beijing detention center. She was transferred several days later to the Huludao City Detention Center where she was beaten brutally and deprived of water and restroom privileges. She began to experience difficulty breathing and her body was bruised and swollen from the torture. Guards determined that she was on the brink of death and extorted 5,000 Yuan in "bail" to release Ms. Peng to her family (An average urban worker in China earns 500 Yuan per month). Peng Fengmei passed away in February 2001 in her home.

Mr. Wu Guoliang, a 35 year-old school teacher from Gangtun Town was detained on the third floor of the Gangtun Town Government building on October 20, 1999. He was handcuffed, beaten and kicked, deprived of sleep and forced to do hard manual labor.

On October 24, 1999 Wu was sent to Huludao City Detention Center where he was stripped naked and beaten all over his body with a pipe, leaving him black and blue.

Mr. Wu's health deteriorated quickly, yet he was subjected to ongoing torture. To evade responsibility, guards bailed him out to his family for medical treatment. When Mr. Wu's family came to pick him up, they found that he was only skin and bones. Wu Guoliang passed away 12 days later.

Entire Family Arrested, Father Dies after Brainwashing

Fifty year-old Mr. Ma Naixue of Maxiangtun Village in Huludao City went to Beijing to appeal for justice for Falun Gong in December of 2000 together with his wife and daughter. The entire family was arrested. Mr. Ma was sent to Huludao City Detention Center while his wife and daughter were sent to Masanjia Forced Labor Camp.

After suffering brainwashing torture in the detention center, Ma developed a large tumor on the back of his neck. Police later arrested him again for further attempts at brainwashing in August 2002. The psychological torture aggravated Mr. Ma's tumor and he subsequently died in September 2002.

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NEWS -- Mar. 18, 2003

Falun Dafa Information Center, www.faluninfo.net

Background

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 630 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/

Category: Reports of Death Cases