Some Estimates Put Death Toll Between 4,000 —
10,000
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NEW YORK (FDI) — Now in its fourth year, former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin’s
campaign to “eradicate Falun Gong” continues to sanction brutal methods to force
Chinese citizens to renounce their beliefs in the traditional Chinese faith.
Those who renounce Falun Gong are often released, although
they are monitored and frequently forced to assist authorities in coercing others
to renounce their faith. Those who do not renounce Falun Gong continue to be
tortured and abused, or die in the process.
Between June and August 2003, reliable sources in China reported
details on the deaths of 58 Falun Gong practitioners — most of whom died from
severe torture suffered in Chinese detention centers and labor camps.
Deaths from torture and abuse were reported from all areas
of China, from Xinjiang to Guandong to Beijing.
“These are just the deaths we have details about,” says Falun
Dafa Information Center spokesman, Mr. Erping Zhang. “In October 2001, a Chinese
government source revealed that the true death toll was more than five times
the number we had confirmed at that time, and Jiang’s regime has only become
more thorough in covering up these killings. We have now confirmed the details
of 787 deaths. The true death toll could be well over 4,000.”
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Other sources indicate a much higher death toll.
On June 6, 2002, a book reportedly written by a top-level Chinese
Communist Party official detailing former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin’s
campaign against Falun Gong was published. (news)
The book, entitled Poisonous Deceit, reported that the actual
death toll of Falun Gong practitioners was “over 7,000.”
More recently, in a July 16, 2003 radio interview, former U.S.
Ambassador Mark Palmer put the figure “in the range of ten thousand.” Mr. Palmer
added, “[Jiang] is engaging in a human rights crime which is equivalent to what
Saddam Hussein and Milosevic [did].”
Hielongjiang Province, Torture Remain Most Prolific Killers
According to sources, Hielongjiang Province remains the deadliest
Province overall, accounting for 14% of all known deaths of Falun Gong practitioners
since the persecution began in July 1999. Liaoning and Shandong Province each
account for 11% of all known deaths, with Jilin Province at 10% and Hebei Province
at 9%.
Seven percent of all known deaths occurred in Beijing.
Approximately 73% of all known deaths were the result of torture
and physical beatings, while 10% resulted from force-feeding
torture. The remaining cases include mysterious circumstances where individuals
die in mental hospitals after being injected with unknown drugs or reportedly
“fall” from the upper floors of buildings while in police custody.
Dozens of sources throughout China have reported police saying
they have standing orders that deaths in custody are to be counted as suicide.
Fewer than 3% are reported to have died from hunger striking.
Posting date: 26/Sep/2003
Original article date: 25/Sep/2003
Category: News from China
