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Liu Zhimin Has Difficulty Walking After Punitive Forced-Feeding in Hulan Prison (Heilongjiang Province)

July 25, 2007

(Clearwisdom.net) Falun Dafa practitioner Mr. Liu Zhimin from Harbin City was detained in the Hulan Prison (located in Hulan District, Harbin City, Heilongjiang Province) because he refused to be "transformed." He is being subjected to forced feeding.

On July 6, 2007, Liu Zhimin's family went to the prison to visit him. The receptionist said that the higher authorities needed to give their approval in order for them to visit a Falun Dafa practitioner. His family members went to the guards in the prison ward where Liu Zhimin was detained. The guard said, "Liu Zhimin is on hunger strike, and we are feeding him. If you want to see him, go to the 610 Office for approval."

Chen Weiqiang (male), a division leader in the 610 Office, is stationed in the Hulan Prison. He said, "Whoever refuses to accept forced transformation, refuses to write the "four statements," refuses to do hard labor, or refuses to obey the authorities cannot be visited." His family members said, "We have visitation rights. How could you deny us our rights?" Chen said, "There is a document to that effect from the national government." When Mr. Chen's family members asked to read the document, Chen said, "Even we cannot access the document specifically." The family members said that they would appeal to the higher authorities. Chen told them, "No matter who you appeal to, I have the final say here."

The family met with an administrator and told him about the situation. The official told them to wait outside with no further elaboration. Warden of the No. 15 Ward Lu Dongming told them, "He [Liu Zhimin] didn't write the four statements. There is a regulation that there is not any visitation unless the prisoner writes the four statements." After the family members repeatedly requested to visit him, the officer reluctantly agreed that they could talk over the phone. When the family members asked for an explanation, Lu Dongming said, "If he does not accept "transformation" and does not write the four statements, you'd better not come here again. If he writes the four statements, I will immediately let you have a meal together." The family members said, "We don't even know how he is doing or if he is still alive. We have to see him in person."

His family strongly demanded to see him. Only after negotiating from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. was Liu Zhimin's sister allowed to see him. That day, Liu Zhimin had to be held up by other people and had difficulty walking.