Shayang Forced Labour Camp Authorities Abuse Practitioners with Isolation

In February 2007, a number of Falun Gong practitioners were detained and abused in Shayang Forced Labour Camp in Hubei Province, including Mr. Zhong Shoubang from Chibi City, Ma Yuan from Zhongxiang City, Mr. Cen Xuedong from Huang Shi City, Mr. Li Chuanbao from Shiyan City, Mr. Mei Shuqing from Chibi City and Mr. Liu Hongpin from Suizhou City. They all declared publicly that they would remain steadfast in their belief. Consequently, they were abused with "isolation" by the authorities of No. 9 Ward. The labour camp intensified the abuse of practitioners who made their declaration.

Under the intense abuse, practitioners were forcefully instilled with the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) fallacies and absurdities, made to watch video tapes with slanderous content towards Falun Gong, talk with the guards in charge of brainwashing and collaborators¹, copy articles containing CCP propaganda at night, deprived of sleep, and forced to squat on one leg for a long time. Also, they were prohibited from seeing their family members, mailing letters and making phone calls. They had to ask for permission even when they needed to use the toilet. They were monitored by the controlling inmates all day long.

In the No. 9 Ward, both the chiefs and guards showed indifference to the abuse. Some of them met secretly and incited the inmates to employ all kinds of tricks to entice the practitioners to "transform²".

In late November 2007, the No. 9 Ward moved back to its previous location, where the small cells on the first floor were specifically designed to abuse practitioners. The cells were isolated from the exterior world. The back yard had a door which led to the hospital affiliated with the labour camp. This provided a convenient way for the guards to handle "special and emergency" issues.

In July 2007, with the direct involvement of director Wei Peng, and chief He Bingrong, Mr. Zhong Shoubang was put into a small cell and subjected to intense brainwashing. Several inmates, including Xia Hongbo from Honghu City, Ruan Hong from Yichang City, and Ruan Xiaodong from Yichang City, took turns monitoring Mr. Zhong. The chiefs of No. 9 Ward at the time included Zhang Zubin, Guo Minyao, Dong Xiangyang, and Xu Jie. Up until the end of December 2007, Mr. Zhong stayed in that cell. The guards, assisted by four inmates, forced him to stand or squat in military posture each day. He was also forced to watch slanderous programmes. He was not allowed to sleep until 1 a.m. or 2 a.m.. At about 5 a.m., he was awakened by the inmates to repeat the abuse.

Mr. Zhong Shoubang, 28, lives in the Dongliu Community, Lushui Lake District, Chibi City. Previously, he suffered abuse in the Shizishan Forced Labour Camp for three years. In the beginning of June 2006, he was arrested at home by Huang Huaqun, a police officer from the Lushui Lake District Police Department. Then he was detained in the First Detention Centre of Chibi City for four months before he was taken to the Shayang Forced Labour Camp. Due to the long-term isolation and abuse, he was devastated both mentally and physically. His vision worsened and his health became poor. In such a dark environment, at the end of December 2007, Mr. Zhong made his escape one early morning. The labour camp authorities became fearful and turned out in full force to search for him. At 3 p.m., on the same day, he was arrested again in Yingcheng City.

After this event, Mr. Zhong was taken to the "education" Ward and suffered one week of severe abuse. Later he was forced to criticize himself, repent, and make guarantees in a conference. He was also made to write statements. Under the CCP's implication policy, all the responsible guards and inmates were affected. In the criticism meeting held by Wei Peng and Yu Bangqing, the inmates were incited with hatred towards Falun Gong, and Mr. Zhong. As a result, Li Hong, a local inmate, abused and beat Mr. Zhong, injuring him severely. The authorities of the labour camp and No. 9 Ward threatened to extend Mr. Zhong's term.

At present, Mr. Zhong is still detained in the labour camp and subjected to abuse, but after the beating, the strict control of him was relieved and he was placed under regular control.

Note

1. "Collaborators": former practitioners who have turned against Falun Gong under brainwashing and torture. They are then made to assist in brainwashing and torturing practitioners.

2. "Reform or Transform" Implementation of brainwashing and torture in order to force a practitioner to renounce Falun Gong. (Variations: "reform", "transform", "reformed", "reforming", "transformed", "transforming", and "transformation")

Chinese version available at http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2008/12/13/191541.html