Elderly Mr Yang Xifeng, a Falun Dafa Practitioner from Hebei Province Died from Persecution in 2002

Mr. Yang Xifeng was a Falun Dafa practitioner from Handan City, Hebei Province. After he practised Falun Gong, he recovered from his illnesses, including cerebral arteriosclerosis and diabetes. Ever since the persecution of Falun Dafa began on July 20, 1999, lawless persons from the police station and the street committee have harassed him, searched his home, and arrested him. Police officer Yan Junren forcibly sent him to a detention centre to persecute him, which resulted in a relapse of his old illnesses. He became very weak and unable to keep his balance while walking. He died on October 24, 2002.

Mr. Yang was 60 years old. Before practising Falun Gong, he suffered from cerebral arteriosclerosis, duodenal ulcer (which haemorrhaged three times), and diabetes. His blood sugar level was extremely high, causing him partial blindness and severe heart problems. In 1995 he began practising Falun Gong, after being introduced to the practice by an acquaintance. Within a few months his health improved significantly. He could eat anything and work normally. In early 1998, he rode his bicycle to a place about 50 miles away to spread Falun Dafa, a 100 mile round-trip. Afterwards, he didn't feel tired, even though he took no breaks along the way. After beginning Falun Gong practice he never needed another dose of medicine, which lessened the financial burden on his workplace, as well as on his family.

After the persecution of Dafa began, lawless persons from the police station, the street committee, and the residential committee often harassed him. To tell people that Falun Dafa is good, Mr. Yang distributed Dafa materials on the evening of August 30, 2001 and was illegally arrested by officers. At about 9:00 p.m., An Zhenzhi from the Congtai Police Station and Yan Junren from the Congdong Police Station led six officers in two police cars to search Mr. Yang's house. They confiscated 16 tapes, Dafa books, leaflets exposing the persecution, a copper incense burner, his ID card and other items.

After two days of torture in the police station, the authorities sent him to the No. 1 Detention Centre. The detention centre authorities refused to accept him because he failed the health entrance exam. The next day they ordered him brought to a medical school for a check-up. The result was even worse than that obtained in the detention centre. Yan Junren asked for the signature of the Congtai District Police Department chief and sent Mr. Yang to the detention centre a second time. The detention centre still refused to accept him. Policeman Yan Junren then went to the City Police Department and asked for the police department head's signature, saying that as long as Mr. Yang has a breath left the detention centre must accept him for detention.

Mr. Yang was thus forcibly sent to the No. 1 Detention Centre to be persecuted. In the detention centre Mr. Yang not only couldn't study the Falun Dafa teachings or do the exercises, he was subjected to all sorts of tortures. Within just one month his old illnesses relapsed. The police station authorities were afraid to take responsibility, so they reported the state of Mr. Yang's health to the Congtai District Police Department, suggesting that he be released. The Politics and Security Section personnel in the District Police Department said that Mr. Yang must be reexamined. One day, the Politics and Security Section notified Mr. Yang's family to bring him to the hospital to reexamine his health. Once his family found a car and went to the detention centre to take Mr. Yang home, the detention centre authorities claimed that it was too late [in the day] and told them to come back on another day. Two days later Mr. Yang was taken to the Central Hospital to be reexamined. His blood and urine sugar levels were much higher than normal and he also had heart problems. Regardless, the police authorities still refused to release him. Mr. Yang's family asked for help everywhere. In late September 2001, the police authorities ordered his son to pay 5,000 yuan (1) to have Mr. Yang bailed out for one year.

After returning home Mr. Yang's body was very weak. He couldn't even keep his balance while walking. Even so, the Congdong Police Department authorities still ordered local police and street committee personnel to harass him. Sometimes they went to his home after 11:00 p.m. These terrifying circumstances made it impossible for him to rest. Mr. Yang died on October 24, 2002.

Note:

(1) "Yuan" is the Chinese currency; 500 yuan is equal to the average monthly income of an urban worker in China.

Chinese version available at http://minghui.org/mh/articles/2005/5/31/103034.html