(Minghui.org) Speaking up can send you to prison if you live in China. A young woman who lived in a Shanghai neighborhood with her husband, son, and in-laws tells her story of refusing to be spied on by the local Chinese Communist Party (CCP) neighborhood committee.
Sometimes people are forced to betray their conscience, all the while aware that what they are doing is wrong. My Shanghai neighborhood committee followed CCP orders to monitor and harass my family. I had to speak out.
We had heard about the Shanghai CICA summit (an annual Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia). All the Shanghai neighborhood committees were on alert. Before the summit, they were instructed to keep an eye on Falun Gong practitioners 24/7.
While I was away, the secretary and director of my neighborhood committee came to our house and spoke to my in-laws. They told my mother-in-law, “We have no choice. We have to order you to report on your daughter-in-law every Tuesday and Thursday.”
I called the neighborhood committee office the next day. The director answered.
“You are not welcome in my home. Do not harass me or my family again,” I said. “And another thing: my mother-in-law will not report my activities to you.
“I am a law-abiding citizen, not a criminal. Why would you ask my mother-in-law to do such a thing? We practitioners are good people who follow Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. You should not help do such an evil thing. You should accumulate virtue for yourself and your family.”
The director said she had to obey orders. She told me she would discuss it with the Party secretary.
I advised her, “I have told you where I stand on this. Do not betray your conscience.”
I increased sending forth righteous thoughts so that the evil would not persecute me and my family. I asked Teacher to help me.
The neighborhood committee stopped the harassment.
Harassment didn't work, so the neighborhood committee tried another tactic. One night before the Dragon Boat Festival, the director arrived with a platter of rice dumplings. After I got home, my in-laws told me the dumplings were from the neighborhood committee.
I called the office the next morning. “Thank you for the dumplings, but why did you bring them? I won't accept the gift if it is a bribe, because I am a Falun Gong practitioner.”
“The dumplings are for your in-laws, she said. "They are good people and advanced in years. I do this for the elderly. Also, you are good, kind, and educated, and you have a nice family. You have a good husband and your son works hard at his studies.
“Do not hand out materials about the persecution; it's against the law. Things will not go well for you. We have to carry out our orders.”
I tried to explain why she should not carry out the CCP's orders. “Everything I have is a blessing from Falun Gong. All practitioners are good people. We treat our family and everyone well. We practice Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.
“Jiang Zemin, the former head of the Chinese Communist Party, told a reporter from the French newspaper Le Figaro that Falun Gong was a cult. Our state-controlled media made this headline news. If you check Chinese law, no law says that Falun Gong is a cult. It's legal to believe in Falun Gong.
“The CCP has done so many bad things to turn people against Falun Gong. The Tiananmen self-immolation incident was set up by the CCP. They even remove internal organs from detained practitioners while they are still alive.
“Now many officials who persecuted practitioners are being arrested. That includes Bo Xilai, former Communist Party chief in Chongqing; Zhou Yongkang, former security chief; and Li Dongsheng, former director of the state 610 Office. The truth of Falun Gong will soon be revealed.”
The secretary said, “I have been to Taiwan and Hong Kong. I have seen many Falun Gong practitioners freely practicing in parks and have read some informational material.
“But you cannot do this in China. You need to be careful. If you were in Taiwan, you would not have trouble like this.”
“Thank you for your kind reminder,” I said to her. “You are a kind person. Please remember that Falun Dafa is good, and Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good. This will bring you peace and happiness.”
The secretary said she was going to the United States.
“There are many practitioners there. I hope you will read more Falun Gong informational materials. It will do you good.” I said.
She thanked me.
