Reports Confirm Ongoing Persecution in China Despite Labor Camp Closures
Falun Dafa Information Center
October 10, 2013
NEW YORK — Several reports recently issued by the Minghui.org website show that abductions and torture of Falun Gong practitioners in China continue on a daily basis, despite closures of some forced labor camps in recent months.
The reports also demonstrate a vast majority of Falun Gong practitioners are being sent to brainwashing centers and prisons, reversing a trend of the past 14 years, which saw the majority of detained Falun Gong practitioners being held in forced labor camps.
Brainwashing centers are makeshift detention centers located throughout China that typically use psychological and physical torture on detainees to induce “thought reform.”
“I think it’s clear from these numbers that the move to close some forced labor camps in China does not translate into a change of policy toward Chinese citizens that practice Falun Gong,” says Levi Browde, Executive Director of the Falun Dafa Information Center. “Anyone who practices or is supportive of Falun Gong remains at risk of being abducted and thrown into a brainwashing center or prison.”
The Minghui reports also provide statistics compiled in the first six months of 2013, including:
43 deaths from torture
2,101 abductions
14 labor camp sentences
445 “show trials” and/or prison sentences
20 additional deaths of practitioners that occurred prior to 2013 were reported for the first time in the first half of 2013, underscoring how timely or complete collection of such data remains extremely difficult and dangerous in China. Due to fear of reprisal or a lack of open Internet channels, a significant portion of abuses suffered by Falun Gong practitioners go unreported.
Of the 43 deaths in the first half of 2013, 34 occurred during, or shortly after, extended periods in prisons, labor camps, detention centers or brainwashing centers. The remaining nine deaths occurred after individuals were released, often with life-threatening injuries from prolonged abuse while incarcerated.
The reports also classify all known prison and labor camp sentences over the past fourteen years, approximately 11,500 and 25,400, respectively, by date and province. The highest number and most severe of abuses come from north and northeast China, including Shandong, Liaoning, Heilongjiang, Hebei and Jilin provinces. It is in this region where house raids, abductions and torture are part of daily policing activities.
The Minghui reports can be viewed here:
- Persecution Statistics for First Six Months of 2013
- Analysis of 2013 Incarcerations
- Labor Camp Detentions
- Prison Terms
Background
In July of 1999 China’s autocratic Communist Party launched an unlawful campaign of arrests, violence, and propaganda against Chinese citizens practicing Falun Gong (or “Falun Dafa”) with the intent of “eradicating” the apolitical practice. Since then, the Falun Dafa Information Center, based in New York, has reported over 3,700 deaths from abuse (news). The United Nations, Amnesty International, Chinese human rights lawyers, and foreign media have also documented Falun Gong torture and deaths at the hands of Chinese officials (news). Hundreds of thousands of Chinese who practice Falun Gong remain in captivity, rendering them the single largest group of prisoners of conscience in China (news).
Falun Gong, also called Falun Dafa, is an advanced practice of self-cultivation — a way to improve wellness and attain spiritual wisdom. The practice is from the Buddha School and is based on easy-to-learn exercises, meditation, and the universal values of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Tolerance. Former Communist Party leader, Jiang Zemin, launched the suppression of Falun Gong fearing that it’s popularity (70 to 100 million people) and promotion of traditional values were a threat to the Party’s control over society. (report)
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT THE FALUN DAFA INFORMATION CENTER
Contacts: Gail Rachlin (+1 917-757-9780), Levi Browde (+1 845-418-4870), Erping Zhang (+1 646-533-6147), or Joel Chipkar (+1 416-731-6000)
Fax: 646-792-3916 Email: contact@faluninfo.net,