How do we let this happen?

[Corine2]

Posted: 8/30/04 at 11:02am

Women Tortured and Sexually Assaulted in Beijing’s Chaoyang Detention Center
A Chilling, Eyewitness Account of Medieval Brutality in a Modern City
(11/27/2002 12:29)


"The cries of the women being tortured often echo in my ears, and the brutal scenes still appear before my eyes."


NEW YORK, November 27, 2002 (Falun Dafa Information Center) -- Mei Zhao woke up soaking wet in the freezing wind, shivering from the buckets of icy cold-water police guards were pouring over her head to revive her.


She had passed out from the torture.


Hovering in a dazed state somewhere between consciousness and unconsciousness, Ms. Zhao could no longer clearly see her tormentor, policeman Du Shijun, but she could hear him say as he reached for his electric baton, "Go ahead and report it to the world if you're so resourceful! Jiang and the Party are running this country; I’m just following orders."


Reminiscent of Pulitzer prize winning journalist Ian Johnson’s description of the death of 58-year-old grandmother Chen Zixiu in Weifang three years before, the beatings and torture Ms. Zhao suffered and observed while detained in the Chaoyang Detention Center in Beijing have become all too common over the past three years during Jiang Zemin’s persecution of Falun Gong.


The following is Ms. Zhao’s story as she reported it to the Falun Dafa Information Center on October 14, 2002.


Forced into the Streets, Family Persecuted


For the past three years, Ms. Zhao has been forced to live on the streets in order to avoid unrelenting harassment and persecution from local police simply because she practices Falun Gong.


When Ms. Zhao first left home to avoid persecution, the authorities arrested her husband to coerce him to provide information about his wife’s whereabouts. When her son went down to the police station to find out about his father and ask for his release, the police responded by ordering his school to suspend him. Then, in order to avoid further harassment and persecution, her son was also forced to live on the streets for the next two weeks.


During this time, in addition to struggling to survive, Ms. Zhao helped to produce and distribute flyers and other informational materials that reported the facts of what was happening to practitioners of Falun Gong throughout the country. Such grassroots efforts to disseminate information on the human rights abuses against Falun Gong practitioners in China are common as all TV, newspaper and radio stations are controlled by Jiang’s regime.


One day while Ms. Zhao and others were working at the materials production site, a gang of police broke in, beat all five practitioners severely and took them down to the Chaoyang Detention Center. Here, each practitioner was assigned to a different cell, and after they were given another brutal beating by the cell leader, they were stripped and made to stand against the wall. When Ms. Zhao asked the cell leader why she was beaten for no reason, the other prisoner replied, "The detention center guards told us to do it. Each Falun Gong practitioner is to be beaten upon arrival. You are no exception. Jiang gave the order from high above."


Torture, Sexual Abuse Abound in Detention Center


Ms. Zhao says she was put into a cell containing 30 other Falun Gong practitioners from all parts of China. They had all come to Beijing to exercise their legal right to appeal to Jiang’s regime for an end to the persecution of Falun Gong. All were thrown into the detention center for their efforts.


Ms. Zhao recalls: "The police officers used all sorts of torture devices. Their methods were extremely cruel, including forcibly inserting electric batons into female practitioners’ vaginas and shocking them, applying electric shocks to sensitive areas such as palms, foot arches and nipples, burning women’s faces and pubic hair with cigarette lighters and inserting dirty socks into their vaginas and rectums."


Ms. Zhao also reported: "The cries of the women being tortured often echo in my ears, and the brutal scenes still appear before my eyes. So many Falun Gong practitioners have lost their lives simply for speaking a few truthful words to the public--but Jiang and his accomplices will do everything in their power to prevent this truth from getting out."


Ms. Zhao says a fellow Falun Gong practitioner, Yulan Mei, died from injuries sustained while being force-fed with a combination of dehydrated milk and a highly concentrated solution of salt water.


Ms. Mei’s death was reported by AFP on May 26, 2000.


Ms. Zhao Names Detention Center Tormentors


Ms. Zhao also provided the names of some of her tormentors, stating how police officers Du Shijun, Zhang Yingnan, Zhou Changwang, and Kang Jianjun handcuffed all Falun Gong practitioners and then forced them to stand outdoors in freezing temperatures for 12 hours at a time.


During the interrogation sessions, Du Shijun and Zhang Yingnan shocked the women’s breasts with electric batons and forced them to curse and step on the photo of Falun Gong founder, Mr. Li Hongzhi.


Ms. Zhao revealed how fellow practitioner Li Zhen's eyes were beaten black and the entire right side of her face turned dark purple; how, while being tortured, one lady over 60 years old passed out many times, and another who was over 70 lost control of her bladder; and how female practitioners Tan Yingchun and Pan Dongmei from Guangdong Province were sexually abused while being interrogated.


To reveal these factual details of the torture and sexual abuse of women in the Chaoyang Detention Center, Beijing, would be a crime punishable by death in Jiang Zemin’s China. Therefore, to protect Ms. Zhao from the wrath and retaliation of those who are "just following orders," her name has been changed in this report.



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Background


Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa (about), is a practice of meditation and exercises with teachings based on the universal principle of "Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance." It is a practice that was taught in private for thousands of years before being made public in 1992 by Mr. Li Hongzhi. Falun Gong has roots in traditional Chinese culture, but it is distinct and separate from other practices such as the religions of Buddhism and Taoism. Since its introduction in 1992, it quickly spread by word of mouth throughout China, and is now practiced in over 50 countries.


With government estimates of as many as 100 million practicing Falun Gong, China's President Jiang Zemin outlawed the peaceful practice in July 1999 (report), fearful of anything touching the hearts and minds of more citizens than the Communist Party. Unable to crush the spirit of millions who had experienced improved health and positive life changes from Falun Gong, Jiang's regime has intensified its propaganda campaign to turn public opinion against the practice while quietly imprisoning, torturing and even murdering those who practice it.


The Falun Dafa Information Center has verified details of 521 deaths (reports / sources) since the persecution of Falun Gong in China began in 1999. Government officials inside China, however, report that the actual death toll is well over 1,600, while expert sources estimate that figure to be much higher. Hundreds of thousands have been detained, with more than 100,000 being sentenced to forced labour camps, typically without trial.





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[Zola Q. LaPlaya]

Posted: 8/30/04 at 11:04am

Corine steps into the Falun Gong controversy.

[Corine2]

Posted: 8/30/04 at 11:07am

Falun Gong Practitioners to Hold Public Appeals in New York City During the RNC
(8/30/2004 10:15)




Anti-torture demonstrations will show-case some of the brutalities carried out in China’s labor camps against practitioners of Falun Gong. Hundreds of Falun Gong practitioners will travel to New York City next week to take part in public appeals and performances. (See schedule)


NEW YORK (FDI) – Hundreds of Falun Gong practitioners are traveling to Manhattan to conduct several large-scale events for the more than 45,000 people scheduled to attend the Republican National Conventional next week. Practitioners of Falun Gong are coming from as far away as Taiwan and Australia to show RNC attendees and the people of New York how tens of millions of Falun Gong practitioners in China are suffering under brutal persecution in China.


Events are scheduled for each day of the RNC, beginning on Saturday, August 28th and ending on Friday, September 3rd. (See official schedule).


Highlighting the week’s events will be several large-scale Anti-Torture Exhibitions, beginning Saturday and continuing through Friday. At several locations, we will depict some of the brutal torture methods used against the Falun Gong practitioners who are illegally imprisoned in China.




Practitioners of Falun Gong will hold a cultural show in Madison Square Park on Monday, Aug. 30, highlighting ancient Chinese culture and virtues. The events will also include a press conference to reveal the brutal persecution carried out for five years in China. (See schedule)


On Saturday, practitioners will form a 10-block Wall of Courage: they will stand side-by-side to raise public awareness about a persecution that is ripping apart China’s society. At least one thousand practitioners are expected to participate in the week of events, which will also include an Asian culture show; among the performances will be demonstrations of the five Falun Gong exercises and traditional Chinese dancing.


We invite you to come out to see Falun Gong firsthand and witness reenactments of the persecution occurring in China.



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Interviews and photo-ops available with first-person witnesses and survivors of China’s labor camp and torture system.


# # #


MEDIA ADVISORY - Aug. 30, 2004
Falun Dafa Information Center, www.faluninfo.net



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Background


Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa (about), is a practice of meditation and exercises with teachings based on the universal principle of "Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance." Practiced in over 50 countries world-wide, Falun Gong has roots in traditional Chinese culture. With government estimates of as many as 100 million practicing Falun Gong, China's Communist leader Jiang Zemin outlawed the peaceful practice in July 1999 (report). Since that time, Jiang's regime has intensified its propaganda campaign to turn public opinion against the practice while imprisoning, torturing and even murdering those who practice it. The Falun Dafa Information Center has verified details of 1,027 deaths (reports / sources) since the persecution of Falun Gong in China began in 1999. In October 2001, however, Government officials inside China reported that the actual death toll was well over 1,600. Expert sources now estimate that figure to be much higher. Hundreds of thousands have been detained, with more than 100,000 being sentenced to forced labor camps, typically without trial.

[kissmycookie]

Posted: 8/30/04 at 11:12am

I'm hesitant to step into the Falun Gong controversy... but while I certainly do not condone the detention and re-education camps, I can't quite condone Falun Gong as well. It's actually more than just the "exercise" and "meditation" that they claim to be. Followers are also expected to collect donations for their spiritual leader who they claim as a god. And they preach a form of racial purity, in which each race should keep unto themselves...

[Corine2]

Posted: 8/30/04 at 11:15am

Please tell me more.
I spent an hour talking to some of them on 72 and Broadway.
They had women in cages. Women and men tied up with blood marks, black eyes etc.
I really wanted to throw up. It was really heart wrenching.

[etoile]

Posted: 8/30/04 at 11:20am

How do we let this happen? What did we let happen, the abuse or the protest?

Should we now invade China? Atrocities across this world are nothing new. Atrocities against women are nothing new. Should we be the world's police? Some would say not. Therse's no easy answers in life.

[kissmycookie]

Posted: 8/30/04 at 11:22am

http://www.apologeticsindex.org/f02.html


http://skepdic.com/falungong.html Updated On: 8/30/04 at 11:22 AM

[Corine2]

Posted: 8/30/04 at 11:23am

Did you see the demonstration on 72nd street.
Un freaking believable.
I feel very lucky to be a woman in this country.
With my mouth anywhere else I would be in a jail.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 8/30/04 at 11:26am

Yet do we condone the fact that Falun Gong had a six year old child walking around Bryant Park with a man I assume was her father, the child holding up a large sign as high as her little arms would let her? Some would consider that child labor/mistreatment.

[Corine2]

Posted: 8/30/04 at 11:30am

YIKES.

[kissmycookie]

Posted: 8/30/04 at 11:31am

Not to mention the little boy dressed in a yellow t-shirt made to hand out pamphlets and flyers on a hot humid day outside the Crate and Barrel on Broadway and Houston...

[NYadgal]

Posted: 8/30/04 at 11:33am

They've been in front of my office building most of the week. Quite a dramatic - and disturbing - sight.

[Nina]

Posted: 8/30/04 at 11:43am

First of all, Corine, even in this country you should be locked up until you're better.

Secondly, there are two sides to the Falun gong controversy. No matter what, people should not be beaten, imprisoned or in any way persecuted for believing in anything. However, don't fall into the belief that this is a simple spiritual, meditative practice. It is a cult, like any other. Updated On: 8/30/04 at 11:43 AM

[Amy Archer]

Posted: 8/30/04 at 11:51am

What you can do is give some of your time to Amnesty International, if you are truly concerned.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 8/30/04 at 12:06pm

That's horrible!

[Corine2]

Posted: 8/30/04 at 12:12pm

Nina darling I smell a cat fight coming on.
Just you, me and Amy.

CAT FIGHT! MEOW!

[Nina]

Posted: 8/30/04 at 12:19pm

You don't want to fight me or Amy. We've already held our own with some of the nastiest bitches in the business.

[Corine2]

Posted: 8/30/04 at 12:28pm

Updated On: 8/30/04 at 12:28 PM

[Amy Archer]

Posted: 8/30/04 at 12:31pm

And once again, Corine's sudden concern for world human rights violations drops away for her usual inane bon mot of the moment.

[thirdrowcenter]

Posted: 8/30/04 at 12:37pm

Corine why haven't you addressed the situation in the Sudan?

[Nina]

Posted: 8/30/04 at 12:40pm

That's quite interesting. Corine responds by once again mentioing someone she worked for. I counter respond with a mesage saying I know exactly whom she is referring to. Now both posts have disappeared.

Would you please stop mentioning your employment history then having the posts deleted? It's such an obvious ploy to make yourself seem important.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 8/30/04 at 12:43pm

Well this thread is an example of "How we let this happen." We read a story say "how sad," then get right on with the banality of our everyday lives. That's how we "LET THIS HAPPEN."

Updated On: 8/30/04 at 12:43 PM

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 8/30/04 at 12:46pm

So, Chorine, what is your next celebrity interview gonna be?

[Corine2]

Posted: 8/30/04 at 12:49pm

Sue Honey,
You are right. Gerard Alessandrini of course! It will be up next week! Updated On: 8/30/04 at 12:49 PM

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 8/30/04 at 12:51pm

Oh, can't wait. Where can we read it? Here or on Gay.com?