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Photos Expose Torture Death of 56-year-old Falun Gong Woman
After Several Months, Family Secures Autopsy Report Indicating Force-Feeding and Other Torture
(7/14/2003 2:5)
NEW YORK (FDI) – On March 5, 2003, the Falun Dafa Information Center reported the death of Ms. Fengxia Xiong who was tortured to death in a detention center in Liyuzhuang Town, Dingxing County, Hebei Province on October 13, 2002. (news)
Corpse of 56-year-old Ms. Xiong Fengxia shortly after she was tortured to death by Chinese police. Photographs of Ms. Xiong’s corpse reveal severe torture. (View photos) Please be advised that these photos contain graphic material. Recently, sources in China obtained photographs of Ms. Xiong’s corpse shortly after she died, providing clear evidence of severe torture. (View photos). Please be advised that these photos contain graphic material.
According to witnesses, when Ms. Xiong first arrived at the detention center in Liyuzhuang, several police surrounded her and knocked her down to the floor. They shouted at her: "We'll beat you all the way to the crematorium."
Sources say that Ms. Xiong was beaten and tortured so badly during her detention that at one point she could not eat nor take care of herself.
On the night of October 13, the police forced several practitioners, including Ms. Xiong, who could not walk by herself, into the courtyard, and began administering force feedings.
Ms. Xiong died that night.
Many detention centers and labor camps in China force feed Falun Gong practitioners. More often used as a torture technique than a way of forcing nutrients into the detainee, the force feeding procedure is often carried out by untrained police or common prisoners. (Force Feeding)
Government Officials Divert Inquiries for Months
Upon viewing her body, Ms. Xiong’s family members counted more than 40 wounds and bruises over her body. They demanded an autopsy report, but the Baoding procurator delayed responding directly until a month later when he referred the family to the county government.
Hao Guochi, the party secretary of Dingxing County Political and Judiciary Committee, again delayed responding to the family’s inquiries until finally revealing that the Baoding procurator “could not reach a conclusion” and that the case had been was referred to the provincial government.
How can you help stop the persecution of Falun Gong in China?
• Take action! • Sign a petition • Join Friends of Falun Gong • Ask others to subscribe to FDI news. Thus, it was several months before the family finally obtained a copy of the autopsy report. According to the report, Ms. Xiong died of "pulmonary perforation" – puncture wounds in the lungs most likely inflicted by misused force-feeding tubes.
The report also indicated that – in addition to more than 40 wounds and bruises on her body – Ms. Xiong had massive extravasated blood in her chest and an accumulation of mucous in her trachea. There was also a reddish fluid in her bladder.
After months of pressing for an investigation into Ms. Xiong’s death, the county government attempted to settle the matter by giving Ms. Xiong' family 60,000 Yuan (about US $7,200) as compensation.
The family has been offered no other channels for further investigation or compensation.
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NEWS - Jul. 14, 2003
Falun Dafa Information Center, www.faluninfo.netBackground
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 754 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.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT THE FALUN DAFA INFORMATION CENTER
Contacts: Gail Rachlin (+1 917-757-9780), Levi Browde (+1 646-415-0998), Erping Zhang (+1 646-533-6147), or Christina Chai (+1 917-386-5068).
Fax: 646-792-3916 Email:, Website: http://www.faluninfo.net/
