(Clearwisdom.net) Mr. Li Yinjie is a prison officer stationed in the Tongliao City Prison in Inner Mongolia. He is still being illegally detained at the Tongliao City Hexi Detention Center. Since fellow practitioners have exposed the persecution against Li Yinjie on Minghui.net, the local authorities detaining him dare not persecute him openly. The local television network, however, fabricated a case against Li Yinjie. Li Yinjie's 16 year old daughter, Li Chaojun, recently spoke out to appeal on behalf of her father. The following is Li Chaojun's open letter to residents of Tongliao City.

Open Letter to Residents of Tongliao -- by Li Chaojun, daughter of Li Yinjie

Dear residents of Tongliao,

My father's name is Li Yinjie. He is a policeman working at Tongliao City Prison. My father suffered from Hepatitis B since he was 20 years of age. Even with this illness, however, he continued to smoke and drink alcohol, and he played mah jong [chinese gambling game] all night long at his work place. When I was one year old, my dad was hospitalized for the third time due to relapses of his illness. Later, he was transferred to the Beijing Hepatitis Research Institute because local hospitals were overwhelmed in handling local epidemics. In autumn, the doctor told my mother, "Give it up and take your husband home." My mother begged the doctor to help my dad as she could not watch him die. The doctor said, "We do have treatments that you can try, but they cost tens of thousands of Yuan (1)." My parents went home disappointed. My father did not want to cause trouble for us, so he told my mother, "If my illness can be treated, then I can repay the debts. But if I die then what are you going to do? I will be guilty and not be able to rest well even after I die."

A few months later, my mother lost weight, and looked very pale. After being examined, she was diagnosed with Hepatitis B as well. I also suffered from severe headaches, and the doctor could not detect the cause of it. My parents could only watch me cry, and cry with me. My father's health worsened due to mental pressure, and my mother almost could not stand the pressure either. Soon, my mother also suffered from anaemia. She felt cold all year round. Even in summer time she had to rely on electric blankets to keep warm.

Our whole family suffered from poverty and lack of spiritual support, and we had to fight diseases all year round. People called us "the family plagued by the demon of sickness."

In March 1998, our family started to practice Falun Dafa, and through cultivation, we recovered from our illnesses. At the same time, we tried to follow the principles of Falun Gong and to become good people. Take my dad for example. He stopped smoking and drinking all at once, and he also stopped beating up prisoners on the job, and worked very hard. Moreover, he gained weight and strength, and was very energetic. Whoever saw my father would say that it was Falun Gong that changed him. That was how Falun Gong saved our entire family.

One day, the situation suddenly turned evil. On the night of the March 16, 2004, a group of policemen came to my home and claimed that we stored Falun Gong flyers at home. Then they ransacked our home. They broke all our furniture and found six flyers. They then arrested and detained me and my dad. The police were so brutal that they lacerated my wrist, and the scar is still visible today. I struggled and questioned them, "Under what law are you locking us up? What crimes have we committed?" The policemen did not answer, and forcibly took us to the police station, where we were told, "Practicing Falun Gong is committing a crime." I asked, "Which article of the constitution did I offend? Show me the crimes!" They couldn't answer and said that I was young and naive.

Dear residents, if I am young and naive, why did they lock me up? I'm still under 18 years of age. I have now been released from the police station after my father's employer negotiated with the police, yet my father is still being detained. I also found out that my mother was arrested for handing out Falun Gong flyers on the street. Now I've lost both of my parents. I am still a young adult and I need the help of society. I need people from all levels of society to help me. I hope that regardless of your occupation, age, or ability, after reading this letter you will lend your hand and kindness. Please help me by calling the police station, signing your name below, or sharing with your families and friends my story, and raise awareness in society.

We lived as a "family plagued by the demon of sickness" for ten years. It took us much effort to come to learn Falun Gong, and we subsequently regained our health and happiness. Yet such happiness was too short. I sincerely wish that you can help me reunite with my family. Your speaking out will help save another unfortunate family.

Li Chaojun

Daughter of Li Yinjie

(1) Yuan is the Chinese currency. The average monthly salary of an urban worker in China is 500 Yuan.