NEWS -- July 9, 2003 Falun Dafa Information Center, www.faluninfo.net

NEW YORK (FDI) -- Five practitioners of Falun Gong from Jilin Province have died due to physical and psychological torture inflicted in Chinese detention centers and labor camps. The individuals were detained and/or sentenced to labor camps by Chinese authorities simply because they practice Falun Gong.

To date, 92 confirmed death cases have been reported from Jilin Provinced, the second highest reported of any other province, following Heilongjiang Province. The current total of confirmed deaths now stands at 750, although according to Chinese government sources, the true death toll is in the thousands.

• Zhang Yulan, female, 48, a resident in Erdaobaihe River, Antu County, Jilin Province was illegally arrested in January, 2002. In detention, six policemen surrounded Ms. Zhang, kicking, beating and cursing at her non-stop for five hours. After becoming physically exhausted from abusing her, police resorted to grabbing her hair and throwing her head against a wall until she passed out. Within 8 months her condition was so critical that the labor camp released her so that she would not die in the camp. Ms. Zhang passed away soon after her release on October 8, 2002 in her home. (Read Full Story)

• Kong Fanrong, female, 56 years old, from Shulan City, Jilin Province was forced to abandon her business, home and 87 year-old mother, and flee her home because she is a Falun Gong practitioner. She was harassed, tortured and hunted by police for almost four years until her death on May 11^th, 2003. (Read Full Story)

• Jiang Laiyou, male, 49 years old, was a city model worker and employee in Jiaohe City Broadcasting Bureau, Jilin Province. After Mr. Jiang suffered five months of continuous brainwashing and heavy physical labor, the police fabricated documents to secure Mr. Jiang's early release in order to avoid responsibility of his seriously deteriorated health condition. On the day of his release, Mr. Jiang's family members met police as they carried him on their shoulders to the gates of the labor camp where he was thrown toward his waiting family. His relatives immediately took him to the hospital. He died on April 30, 2003. (Read Full Story)

• Guo Qiang, male, Jilin City, Jilin Province was taken by police officers from the Jilin Public Security Bureau to the sixth floor of the Jilin City police station, where he fell to his death a short time later. Police involved in Guo's death fabricated information about the case in an attempt to make it appear as a suicide.

Information about the persecutors:

• Chen Min, Xinbin County, Fushun City, Liaoning Province was arrested in Beijing on July 22^nd, 1999, two days after the persecution against Falun Gong began. While being transported by police on a train from Beijing to Fushun City, Ms. Chen jumped from the moving train in an attempt to escape and died. Details of her case were only recently uncovered and are currently under further investigation

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NEWS -- July 9, 2003

Falun Dafa Information Center, www.faluninfo.net

Background

Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa (about), 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, China's President Jiang Zemin outlawed the peaceful practice in July 1999 (report), 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, Jiang's regime has intensified its propaganda campaign to turn public opinion against the practice while quietly imprisoning, torturing and even murdering those who practice it.

The Falun Dafa Information Center has verified details of 750 deaths (reports / sources) since the persecution of Falun Gong in China began in 1999. Government officials inside China, however, report that the actual death toll is well over 1,600, while expert sources estimate that figure to be much higher. Hundreds of thousands have been detained, with more than 100,000 being sentenced to forced labor camps, typically without trial.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT THE FALUN DAFA INFORMATION CENTER -- Gail Rachlin 917-501-4441, Levi Browde 914-720-0963, Erping Zhang 646-533-6147, or Feng Yuan 917-941-1097. Email: [email protected], Website: http://www.faluninfo.net/