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On April 23, 2003, 56-year-old Ms. Zhao Chunying was detained by Chinese police for posting a story on the Internet about torture she had previously suffered in police custody. Less than a month later, she was dead and photographs taken by her family indicate her death was horrifyingly brutal.
After repeated demands from her family, the Jixi City Procuratorate conducted an autopsy on Zhao’s remains. The autopsy revealed a large knife wound to the head, four broken ribs and numerous black and purple bruises indicating a violent beating. The autopsy also discovered considerable internal bleeding.
According to reports from China, Zhao’s family has initiated legal action against the police who allegedly killed her.
On November 15, 2003, the Heilongjiang Judicature Appraisal Committee carried out a second autopsy on Zhao’s remains. In addition to the findings of the first autopsy, the second autopsy discovered a fractured skull.
The second autopsy also revealed that the heart, spleen, pancreas and other internal organs were missing.
It is not known when the internal organs were removed or for what purpose, although illegal human organ trafficking in China has been identified as a serious concern by international human rights groups. In June 2001, Chinese Dr. Wang Guoqi testified before the U.S. Congress about nearly 100 operations he reportedly performed on executed prisoners in China to extract their organs for sale.
Background
Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, 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, Chinas then-Communist leader, Jiang Zemin, outlawed the peaceful practice in July 1999, 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, Jiangs regime has intensified its propaganda campaign to turn public opinion against the practice while quietly imprisoning, torturing and even murdering those who practice it. To that end, Jiang established the 6-10 Office, a Gestapo-like agency spanning from the Central Government to the local governments. The United States Congress has described the 6-10 Office as an agency charged with overseeing the persecution of Falun Gong members through organised brainwashing, torture, and murder.
The European Falun Gong Information Centre has verified details of 827 deaths 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 labour camps, typically without trial.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT THE EUROPEAN FALUN GONG INFORMATION CENTRE
Peter Jauhal 44 (0) 7717 508 268 Nicolas Schols 32 (0) 479875734
More contacts: http://www.falungonginfo.net/europe.htm
Email: [email protected]
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