(Minghui.org) 70-year-old Mr. Sun Yuqiang is a Falun Gong practitioner from Cang County, Hebei Province. After he was sentenced to three years in prison in May 2013, he was taken to Jidong Prison in Tangshan City on June 17, 2013. Mr. Sun began a hunger strike to project the persecution and illegal detention. He has been brutally force-fed in prison. Mr. Sun has started to show symptoms of cerebellar atrophy. However, the Cang County Judicial Bureau refuses to release him on bail for medical treatment.
Even staff at Jidong Prison would like to see Mr. Sun released. On November 19, Mr. Sun's daughter Ms. Sun Xiuling once again visited her father at Jidong Prison. She asked the prison staff about their application for medical bail, and they replied, “We tried twice, but both were rejected. Go talk to your local police.”
A Good Man Arrested, Secretly Sentenced
Mr. Sun is from Wanghaisi Village, Fenghuadian Township, Cang County. After he started to practice Falun Gong, his physical health recovered and his bad temper improved. He became known for his kindness.
On December 24, 2012, when he talked to people about Falun Gong in the Dabaitou Farmer's Market, Mr. Sun was reported to the police by villagers Yang Ximing and Yang Hongzhen.
Deputy Captain Bai Jianhua from the Domestic Security Division of the Cang County Police Department arrested Mr. Sun. Later, Mr. Sun was detained in the Cangzhou City Detention Center. The Cang County Court secretly convened a trial in early May 2013 without notifying Mr. Sun's attorney or family. Observers were not allowed in the courtroom. The court sentenced Mr. Sun to three years in prison and transferred him to Jidong Prison in June.
Long-term Hunger Strike Protest
Mr. Sun Yuqiang has been on a long-term hunger strike to protest the persecution and illegal detention.
Both the detention center, where he was first held, and the prison have brutally force-fed him. The forced-feedings further damaged Mr. Sun's physical health. The long-term insertion of the feeding tube caused throat irritation. The prison has been urging Mr. Sun's daughter to persuade him to eat, afraid that he would die there. Mr. Sun is extremely thin and weak and has abdominal swelling.
Mr. Sun's daughter has appealed to the Prison Management Department, as well as various departments in Jidong Prison, asking them to release her father. When informed of the situation, most of the staff showed sympathy for him, and agreed that he is innocent of any wrongdoing and has been unjustly incarcerated.
Application for Medical Bail Denied
On October 22, three police officers from Jidong Prison came to the Cang County Judicial Bureau to apply for bail for Mr. Sun. They even called his daughter on their way and told her to wait for them at the county government office. Later, it was learned that the Judicial Bureau and the 610 Office had a meeting that day about Mr. Sun. The result was not to release him.
On October 30, Ms. Sun again asked the Jidong Prison about the application for bail. A prison staff member said, “Three of us went there but we were not successful. We have been following the proper procedures but your application did not work. Go talk to your local police.”
Mr. Sun became very ill when he was in his 40's, which exacerbated his bad temper. A friend introduced Falun Gong to him. After he started to follow Falun Gong's principle of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, Mr. Sun's temper became better and better. His physical health also improved. Soon, all his ailments were gone. He always helped his neighbors without asking for anything in return. Whenever he saw pot holes or ridges in the road, he would quietly fix the area. Everyone said that he was a new man after he started cultivation practice in Falun Gong.
Officials at Jidong Prison were reluctant to detain such a kind-hearted senior, so they actively applied for bail for him. However, the Judicial Bureau, the Political and Judiciary Committee and the 610 Office of Cang County have continuously rejected the request, using a variety of excuses.
Related article:
Good Person Arrested and Persecuted by Public Security System, 432 Local Citizens Sign Petition for His Release Cang County Court in Hebei Province Illegally and Secretly Sentences 70-year-old Practitioner and Prevents Attorney from Appealing
