(Minghui.org) An army veteran in Anyue County has filed a motion to request that his conviction be overturned and he be unconditionally released.
Mr. Jing Changxu was arrested on October 13, 2012 for producing and distributing materials exposing the Chinese communist regime's persecution of Falun Gong, a mind-body practice based on the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.
Mr. Jing was moved around following his arrest. While he was held at a local brainwashing center, the center director Liu Debing punched him in the chest and face. Mr. Jing asked him to stop, but Liu replied, “This is a brainwashing center!” Liu meant that he could do whatever he wanted without any consequence.
The local court allowed only one family member, Mr. Jing's son, to attend his trial in May 2013. The son, Jing Gang, said to his father before the hearing, “Dad, don't defend yourself in court or file an appeal afterwards.” The young man didn't say anything else, leaving his father perplexed. The older Mr. Jing learned later that the court had warned his family that they'd sentence him to a nine year prison term if he testified in his own defense or filed an appeal, and seven years if he stayed mum.
Mr. Jing was sentenced to seven years in prison on June 9, 2013 on charges of “using a cult to undermine law enforcement,” a standard pretext used by the regime in its attempts to frame and imprison Falun Gong practitioners. Less than two months later, on July 17, he was admitted to Jiazhou Prison, where he remains incarcerated to this day.
This was not the first time that Mr. Jing was targeted for his faith. He was sentenced to 1.5 years of forced labor following his arrest in 2007. He also lost his teaching job at Mingyang Village Elementary School, where he had worked for more than three decades after retiring from the military.
Mr. Jing filed a motion with the Supreme People's Court on January 1, 2018. In his motion, he requested that the highest court follow the Constitution, the Criminal Law, and the Code of Criminal Procedure 1) to resolve his case fairly and timely, 2) to release him and all other detained Falun Gong practitioners, 3) to restore the reputation of Falun Gong and its founder, Mr. Li Hongzhi, 4) to allow people to practice Falun Gong without being arrested as before the persecution began in 1999, and 5) to return all belongings confiscated from him over the years.
In his motion, Mr. Jing also refuted the baseless indictment against him. He was charged with violating Article 300 of the Criminal Law, which states that anyone using a cult to undermine law enforcement must be prosecuted to the maximum extent possible.
Mr. Jing argued that the People's Congress, China's law-making body, has never enacted any law that criminalizes Falun Gong or labels it as a cult. As such, the local Procuratorate and court cited an inapplicable law against him. His conviction thus lacked legal basis, and he should be acquitted.
Mr. Jing also pointed out in his motion why former Chinese dictator Jiang Zemin launched the persecution in July 1999, even though the Chinese government had given many awards to Falun Gong between 1992 (when the practice was first introduced to the public) and early 1999, for its miraculous ability to keep people healthy and fit.
Mr. Jing said that Jiang was envious of Falun Gong and its founder's ever-growing popularity, and that he was afraid of Falun Gong overturning the government. Mr. Jing emphasized that Falun Gong practitioners like himself only wanted to be good people, and had no interest in politics.
Mr. Jing further explained why he and numerous other Falun Gong practitioners risked their lives to inform the public of the ongoing persecution. When all legal channels of appeal were shut down to practitioners, they had to use creative ways, such as distributing flyers and materials to raise awareness of the persecution.
Mr. Jing urged the highest court to correct Jiang's mistake of persecuting Falun Gong and its practitioners.
The motion also included the following personal account by Mr. Jing, describing how he and his family have benefited from Falun Gong.
Health Improved
I was born on August 22, 1952 at Mingyang Village, Yongqing Town, Anyue County. I currently live at 101 Xiangxiulin, Tiefeng Street, Anyue County.
I came upon Falun Gong in March 1996, after which my chronic diseases, including neurasthenia, stomach ulcer, sore throat, and stomach flu all went away without a trace. My wife also took up the practice after witnessing my improved health. My older brother joined us not long afterward and saw his illnesses disappear as well. His family was thrilled to see that he was able to do farm work again.
Behavior Changed
It wasn't easy teaching elementary school pupils, but I always kept the following teaching from Master Li Hongzhi in mind:
“I have not only taught you Dafa, but have also left you my demeanor. While working, your tone of voice, your kindheartedness, and your reasoning can change a person’s heart, whereas commands never could! If others are not convinced deep down inside but only superficially comply, they will still conduct themselves according to their own will when no one is around to see them.” (“Clearheadedness,” from Essentials for Further Advancement)
I stopped scolding my students for misbehaving or failing to follow my instructions, and instead advised them to follow Falun Gong's principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance to guide their behavior.
I saw the kids change in front of my eyes. Whenever there was a conflict, they'd say to me, “Teacher, it's my fault. I didn't practice tolerance well and I won't make the same mistake again.”
My students did their homework quietly even if I had to step out for a meeting or something. This was inconceivable in the past, when the kids needed constant supervision.
If any child dropped his or her lunch by accident, the other kids shared their food with the student without any hesitation.
A student was once kicked out of class by his homeroom teacher for fighting with other kids. The school was going to suspend him unless another teacher took him. His parents brought him to me, and I agreed to give him another chance.
Not long after, another student with similar behavior problems was also given to me.
I used Falun Gong's principles to guide these two new students. Little by little, they kicked their bad habits of fighting with others and improved their grades.
Students in my class had the highest grades and best behavior among all the students in the school. My students took what they learned from me to middle schools and high schools. I heard many compliments regarding how students who graduated from my class continued to excel as they moved through the school system. As a matter of fact, these kids also became excellent citizens when they graduated from college and entered the workforce. I had many former students who landed good jobs and established happy families of their own.
All I can say is that Falun Gong has far-reaching impact on a person's character.
Foes No More
For over a decade, my family and our neighbor were foes and didn't talk to each other. It all started when my father was beaten by the neighbor one day in the 1980s. I gave the guy a beating when I learned of what happened.
After I began practicing Falun Gong, I realized that what I did was wrong, and took the initiative to greet our neighbor and his family. My wife and I offered whatever help they needed. They had a school-age child, and I did my best to tutor him.
We became good friends. Had it not been for Falun Gong, I probably would have never said a word to my neighbor again.
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