Former Deputy Mayor Fangliang Zhang Tortured to Death in the Xishanping Forced Labour Camp

Dafa practitioner Zhang Fangliang was the deputy mayor and a native of the town of Guangshun in Rongchang County, Chongqing City. He was an honest and well-respected official. In October 2001 he was arrested for distributing truth clarification materials concerning Falun Gong and was tortured to death in early July 2002.

As a Dafa practitioner who cultivates "Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance," Mr. Zhang Fangliang never accepted bribes and refused to take advantage of perks such as free meals like many others did. His integrity and upright conduct were highly respected by his colleagues as well as the people of Guangshun.

In October 2001, Zhang Fangliang attended a meeting in the town of Tongliang. He made use of his spare time to distribute truth-clarification materials relating to Falun Gong and was arrested for doing so. Later, when officers from the Rongchang County Police Department ransacked Zhang Fangliang's home, they found that he did not have much money saved, clearly showing that he was a "clean" government official.

After being sent to a detention centre and then to a brainwashing class, Zhang Fangliang still persisted in cultivation of Dafa. In the end, he was kidnapped and sent to the Xishanping Forced Labour Camp, where he was tortured to death in less than six months. In early July 2002, Zhang Fangliang's body was sent to Rongchang for cremation. His family members were only allowed to look at his body from the window of the van. According to witnesses, Mr. Zhang's body looked extremely emaciated.