(Minghui.org) The Masanjia Forced Labor Camp is a place of wicked persecution which has been used by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to persecute Falun Gong practitioners for the past 14 years. The CCP's forced labor system now faces the fate of disintegration. The occurrences at the Masanjia Forced Labor Camp during the second half of 2012 were its last frenzy before dissolution.
Guards at Masanjia once again intensified their persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in September 2012. They deployed a variety of means to brainwash those who remained steadfast in their belief, claiming that everyone must be “transformed.”
The following is a partial list of the cruel methods they deployed in their attempt to force practitioners to renounce their faith: Punishment by standing or squatting for many hours, hanging up by handcuffs, stretching torture, electric shock, force-feeding, slapping and kicking, covering one's head with a plastic bag, brutal beatings, sleep deprivation, denial of restroom use, not allowing family visits, brainwashing, force-feeding with unknown medications, and withholding food.
Tortures used to persecute Falun Gong practitioners.
Practitioners were denied normal meals and water. Only hard corn steam buns were provided at each meal, and these often contained sand and mouse droppings. Moreover, many practitioners felt dizzy, weak, and confused after eating such food, which suggests that drugs or poison had been added.
Falun Gong practitioners were not allowed to purchase their own food. If a practitioner was injured due to torture, the guards used his/her money to purchase medicine, without permission, and then forced the practitioner to take the drug(s).
The following are brief accounts of the persecution endured by some of the practitioners held at the Masanjia Forced Labor Camp.
1. Ms. Song Ailian from Dalian City
“You Must Be 'Transformed,' No Matter What”
Ms. Song Ailian was sent to Masanjia in October 2004. She developed severe skeletal deformities in her back as a result of the beatings administered there.
One day, Ms. Song asked to see the person in charge, to request being released without charges. Guard Zhang Huan told her, “No one is in charge. You are not allowed to see the head of the labor camp.” Ms. Song tried to advise Zhang Huan against being involved in the persecution, but he ignored her kind advice and continued participating in crimes against practitioners.
Ms. Song was taken to a room used to torture practitioners one day in late September 2012. She was forced to squat down for a long period of time. The guards put a newspaper that slandered Falun Gong at her feet, along with a photo of the founder of Falun Gong.
Guard Zhang Huan threatened her, “You must be 'transformed,' no matter what. Otherwise, you will not be allowed out of this room.” Ms. Song replied, “I follow the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. I am not wrong.”
Head Banged Against the Wall
Torture re-enactment: Grabbing by the hair and banging the head against the wall
Ms. Song refused to renounce her belief. In retaliation, the guards grabbed her by the hair and banged her head against a wall. Guard Ma Jishan stepped on Ms. Song's feet with leather shoes and dragged her around in a circle.
They kicked her more than 20 times. Guard Zhang Xuerong also stomped on her head.
Torture re-enactment: “Stretching” torture
The guards also subjected Ms. Song to the “stretching” torture, in which her hands were cuffed to a bed while bent over, rendering her unable to stand up or squat down.
Smothered with a Plastic Bag
Torture re-enactment: Plastic bag put over a Falun Gong practitioner's head
The guards at Masanjia often tortured practitioners by placing plastic bags over their heads. The practitioners experienced difficulty breathing and felt as if they were being suffocated.
Guards Zhang Xiurong, Zhang Lei and Zhang Jun put the plastic bag over Ms. Song's head. After a while, Zhang Lei exclaimed, “Look! Her face is turning purple!” Ms. Song still refused to yield. Finally, the bag was removed from her head.
2. Ms. Sun Yun from Dalian City
Force-fed with Unidentified Medicines
Ms. Sun Yun is a certified accountant. Before she began to practice Falun Gong, she had severe hyperthyroidism and cardiac disease. After a period of practice, she became free of these diseases.
She was reported to police for distributing Shen Yun Performing Arts DVDs in 2008, and sentenced to 18 months of forced labor. Ms. Sun was beaten about the face after refusing to submit to slave labor in Masanjia. The guards also shocked her with electric batons in an attempt to force her to work.
Torture re-enactment: Cuffing and hanging up
Ms. Sun continued to do Falun Gong exercises and refused to participate in slave labor. As a result, she was cuffed and hung up by her wrists on many occasions.
When she went on a hunger strike to protest the mistreatment, she was brutally force-force-fed. She was fed unknown drugs, which caused memory loss, numbness, dizziness, and vomiting.
Shocked with Electric Batons
Torture re-enactment: Electric shock
When Ms. Sun exposed her experience of being persecuted, the guards panicked and sought revenge. Guard Zhang Lei cuffed her to a metal bed and shocked her hands, temple, forehead, and thighs with an electric baton. Ms. Sun felt extreme pain throughout her body. Her heart palpitated, and she was unable to breathe.
She nonetheless continued to stand by her report of persecution, refusing to deny the truth. Zhang became exasperated by her refusal to recant her report, and attacked her in the face with an electric baton.
Confined in a Solitary Cell
Ms. Sun was put in solitary confinement in October 2012, and cuffed to a metal bed and rendered unable to straighten her back. The cell was dark and gloomy, with all of the windows covered with old newspapers. The walls were covered with slogans and graphics that slandered Falun Gong. Newspapers that slandered Falun Gong were spread around Ms. Sun's feet.
She was also forced to listen to propaganda slandering Falun Gong, which blared from the speakers day and night.
Ms. Sun was forced to rise at 5:00 a.m. every day and not allowed to go to sleep until after midnight. She was denied personal hygiene, and her hands remained cuffed even as she slept.
Due to long hours of squatting, her legs became numb and swollen. The pain in her knees made it hard for her to sleep. She became thin and weak, and was unable to stand up or walk normally.
It was six weeks before she could walk again after release from solitary confinement. Even today, two toes on her right foot are still numb.
Deceptive Lies Told by Guards
While detained in solitary confinement, Ms. Sun suffered beatings, electric shock, being cuffed and hung up, deprivation of sleep, and denial of restroom use. She was provided only contaminated foods to eat. She endured this treatment for nearly a month.
After she came out of solitary confinement, her mind was slow to respond and her body felt cold and numb. She felt dizzy all day long and was often sleepy. Her memory declined dramatically. A once intelligent and energetic person was tortured to such a state.
Guard Zhang Lei made use of her post-torture state to spread lies, saying, “She became a muddle-headed fool because of practicing Falun Gong.”
3. Ms. Sun Zhongli from Dalian City
Ms. Sun Zhongli began a six-day hunger strike just after arriving at Masanjia in June 2012. She was subjected to brutal force-feeding.
While outside in the prison yard, Ms. Sun called out, “Falun Gong is good! Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good! Stop the persecution of Falun Gong!” Her mouth was immediately sealed, and criminal inmates dragged her back to her cell. When she refused to wear the prison uniform the next morning, the inmates were instructed to force her to put it on.
Inmate Tan Qingmei was assigned to monitor Ms. Sun. She followed Ms. Sun everywhere, even to the restroom. She often reported Ms. Sun to the guards for clarifying the truth about Falun Gong. Ms. Sun was then scolded and punished by being forced to stand from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. for nearly two weeks.
When another practitioner was forced to read the three statements denouncing Falun Gong, Ms. Sun called out, “Falun Gong is righteous!” Guards Zhang Lei and Zhang Lili took her to another room and slapped her across the face several times. She was then cuffed and hung up from 3:00 p.m. to 9: p.m.
Torture re-enactment: Cuffing to a bed
Ms. Sun was put in solitary confinement for about 12 days in late 2012. She was cuffed to a metal bed from 5:30 a.m. to midnight. For the first six days, she was cuffed with one hand up and the other one down, and was unable to stand or squat. The hand cuffed at the bottom swelled to twice its normal size.
Ms. Sun was not allowed to go to the restroom and was only allowed ten minutes to eat.
She was forcibly dressed in a uniform displaying slanderous words against Falun Gong, and forced to listen to propaganda slandering Falun Gong that repeatedly played from the speakers. If she tried to clarify the facts about Falun Gong, the guards kicked her and beat her head with a washbasin. At one time, she was beaten so severely that a washbasin broke.
4. Ms. Zheng Juxiang from Dalian City
Subjected to "Stretching" Torture
After calling out “Falun Gong is good!” Ms. Zheng Juxiang was brutally beaten by guards. She was then taken to a room and persecuted with a “stretching” torture.
As a result of the torture, she experienced extreme pain around her waist and left arm. For a long time thereafter, she was unable to lie flat or sleep on her left side. She couldn't walk without help, her right leg was weak, and she limped while walking. She often had chest pain and difficulty breathing.
Cuffed and Hung in Painful Position
On November 29, 2012, Ms. Zheng was taken to a room where guard Zhang Huan spread her arms apart and cuffed her hands to a bed. Her legs were fixed against the bed and her body was bent forward. Being cuffed and hung in such a position caused extreme pain.
In January 2013, when ordered to write a report criticizing Falun Gong, Ms. Zheng instead wrote about her own experience of benefiting from the practice. Guard Zhang Huan became angry and subjected Ms. Zheng to the “stretching” torture once again.
5. Ms. Chen Haibin from Dalian City
Denied Medical Care
Ms. Chen Haibin exhibited symptoms of a stroke and heart disease. She complained of chest pain and difficulty breathing. Despite such severe symptoms, she was not allowed to leave confinement for medical treatment. Director Zhai from Masanjia Hospital falsified Ms. Chen's medical records and stated that no illnesses were found.
Guard Zhang Lili then threatened Ms. Chen, “There are two ways for you to get out of here. Either you die, or you are released after your term is served.”
False Clinical Report
Ms. Chen had chest pain and breathing problems again on December 10, 2012, and was sent to Masanjia Hospital for evaluation. Her ECG indicated a myocardial infarction and enlargement of the heart. However, the doctor falsified the ECG report and changed it from “abnormal” to “normal.”
The falsified report resulted in Ms. Chen's return to imprisonment. The next day, she was taken to solitary confinement for further persecution.
Ill Treatment, Even for Seriously Ill
Ms. Chen was very weak and unsteady on her feet. However, the guards still didn't leave her alone, and forced her to sit in a double-cross-legged “meditation” position every day. If she took her legs down or refused to sit, guard Ma Jishan kicked her with his hard leather shoes. Guard Wang viciously suggested, “Hang her up for thirty minutes and she will give in.”
On one occasion, Ms. Chen was forced to sit in this position for about 18 hours.
When the guards realized that Ms. Chen was not going to renounce her belief, they changed their strategy. Li, the section head, deceptively appeared to have compassion for Ms. Chen. He allowed her to take her legs down and even helped to massage them. He then helped Ms. Chen to walk around the room and said, “You see. We work very hard here and have not much time to spend at home.” The guards even brought her eggs (a “luxury” meal) in an effort to coax her to comply with their “request” to renounce Falun Gong.
Forced to Take Medicine
Although the prison doctors made up a false clinical report indicating that Ms. Song's heart was “normal,” she was still required to take medicine. She questioned, “Why should I take medicine when I'm told that I have no problem?” Guard Zhang Lili replied, “Although you haven't been found to have a medical problem, you have the symptoms, so you have to take the medicine.”
Ms. Song was forced to take cardiac medicine for six months. The drugs damaged her blood vessels, and she experienced side effects. She lost more than 33 pounds (15 kg) in less than a year in the labor camp.
6. Ms. Song Changmei from Dalian City
Loss of Vision after Beating by Guard
Prisoner Liang Guicun was assigned to monitor Ms. Song Changmei, and report her actions to the guards. Liang tried to force Ms. Song to give up her belief in Falun Gong, and even ordered her to do the same to other practitioners.
Ms. Song said to her, “Why do you try to brainwash others? Is it because you want an early release? Don't do it. You can't repay this kind of sin.” Instead of considering her advice, Liang reported her to the guard.
Liang used Ms. Song's money card to purchase food for herself and some other inmates. Ms. Song was not allowed to purchase food because she refused to renounce her belief. Nevertheless, she shared some of her given food with other practitioners. For this kind act, Liang reported her to guard Zhang Lili.
Zhang demanded to know who received the food. When Ms. Song would not tell her, Zhang beat her. Ms. Song sustained an injury to the cornea of her left eye, which caused vision loss. The medical treatment for her injury cost more than 2,000 yuan, which Ms. Song was forced to pay for herself.
Brutally Beaten by Inmates and the Doctor
Ms. Song refused to recite the labor camp's regulations. In retaliation, guard Zhang Lili instructed the inmates to confine her in a room and beat her. Three inmates grabbed her shirt and attempted to choke her. Ms. Song nearly suffocated.
Inmate Zan Guilian asked, “Do you agree to recite the regulations or not?” Ms. Song answered, “I believe in Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, not the evil party. I will not recite those rules.”
Three inmates, Zhang Ying, Zan Guilian, and Huang Yafei, kicked and hit her until she lost consciousness. Doctor Ding Taiyong was then called in. He raised his fist and punched Ms. Song in the nose. The beating left dark bruises around her nose, and her eyes bled.
High Blood Pressure and Tumor Due to Abuse
Ms. Song was quite physically fit prior to her imprisonment. After suffering such abuse in the labor camp, she developed hypertension and an egg-size tumor on her left arm. She was taken to the labor camp hospital and later a municipal hospital for evaluation. The medical treatment cost her more than 1,000 yuan.
7. Ms. Kang Yuying from Dalian City
Ms. Kang Yuying was forced to watch video programs that slandered Falun Gong during the day and was taken to a room for further brainwashing at night. Since she refused to renounce her faith, she was subjected to torture in late 2012.
She was forced to squat down for more than eleven hours a day for several days. Her legs were severely injured, and covered with bruises and blood. She was also cuffed and hung up by her wrists for days, which caused extreme pain all over her body.
8. Ms. Wang Xuemei from Dandong City
Because Ms. Wang Xuemei refused to give up her belief in Falun Gong, she was cuffed and hung up for long periods of time. While she was unconscious due to torture, the guards held her hands, forcing her to produce fingerprints on the so-called three statements, which stated that she had renounced her faith.
Ms. Wang firmly refused to acknowledge the falsified statements and initiated a hunger strike, which continued for more than three months. She was brutally force-fed during this ordeal.
9. Ms. Wang Tan from Dandong City
“No Restroom if you Refuse to be 'Transformed'”
Torture re-enactment: "Pouring water" torture
Ms. Wang Tan was taken to a torture room in 2012. She was cuffed and hung up by her handcuffs for many hours, and lost consciousness twice. She was not allowed to sleep. The guards kicked and beat her if she closed her eyes.
Ms. Wang went on a hunger strike for five to eight days to protest the mistreatment. During that period, the guards forcefully poured water down her throat and didn't allow her to go to the restroom. One guard said, “No restroom if you refuse to be 'transformed.' Too bad if you get sick.”
Frozen in a Dark Room
Ms. Wang was confined to a dark, gloomy room. The guards forcibly put a uniform with derogatory words about Falun Gong on her.
It was a cold winter day, and she was wearing very little clothing, and had no food to eat. She was forced to sit on a cold concrete floor. Her frozen fingers were extremely painful.
She was held in this dark room for more than a month. During that time, she was sent to the hospital on four occasions as a result of injuries sustained from torture.
10. Ms. Sun Guiqing from Dalian City
When Ms. Sun Guiqing refused to recite the labor camp regulations, she was forced to stand all day as punishment. Guard Zhang Lili instigated inmates Zhang Ying, Zan Guilian, and Huang Yafei to brutally beat her, which made her heart condition worse. She also had diarrhea and often vomited. She became very weak as a result of the abuse in the labor camp.
Attempting to force her to give up her belief in Falun Gong, in late 2012, the guards shocked Ms. Sun with an electric baton at the back of her neck. After her family traveled a long distance to visit her, they were not allowed to see her because she hadn't been “transformed.”
11. Ms. Wang Shulan from Dalian City
Guard Zhang Lili often instigated the inmates to beat Falun Gong practitioners. Sometime she did the beatings herself, not sparing even the seniors who were older than her mother.
Ms. Wang Shulan was in her sixties. Zhang slapped her face more than twenty times. This caused Ms. Wang's teeth to become loose, and she was unable to chew food. Guard Zhang Xueyong also kicked Ms. Wang in the back, causing a large open wound.
12. Ms. Hao Qiujin from Dalian City
Tortured
Ms. Hao Qiujin was taken to a room and tortured during a period of the so-called “fortification fight” at Masanjia around September 2012. On another occasion, she was forced to remain squatting down for a week. She still suffers from knee pain resulting from this torture.
Another time, she was subjected to the “stretching” torture for eleven days.
Family Visitation Denied
Ms. Hao's husband took their daughter and drove nearly five hours to visit his wife. However, he and the child were denied visitation because Ms. Hao had not been “transformed.”
Furthermore, the guards made it seem as though Ms. Hao was the one who did not want to see her family. They said, “Falun Gong practitioners have no feelings, and refuse to see their families.”
In attempts to make her give in and renounce her faith, the guard let Ms. Hao stand at the window in solitary confinement and watch her husband and young daughter from a distance.
13. Other Cases
(1) Ms. Sun Xiuhua was forced to kneel down for an entire day, and was then cuffed and hung by handcuffs.
(2) Ms. Chen Guixiang from Dailian City was cuffed and hung by handcuffs.
(3) Ms. Shen Xiangling from Shenyuan City was cuffed and hung by handcuffs because she practiced the Falun Gong exercises. She was often kicked and punched by the guards. Whenever she talked about Falun Gong, the guards slapped her face and threatened, “If you talk about Falun Gong again, we will seal your mouth with tape and sew it shut!”
Crimes occurred daily at Masanjia Forced Labor Camp. They are countless. What is exposed here is just the tip of the iceberg.
