Police mask cause of death, claiming she “fell in the shower”
Ms. Zhang Guizhi, 47, a resident of Liujiawopu Village, (Xinmin Town, Taihe District, Jinzhou City) Liaoning Province, was kidnapped by police in August 2001 because she practiced Falun Gong Police took her to the Xiaolingzi Airport Police Station. Within two months, she was illegally sentenced to 2 years of forced labour in Masanjia Labour Camp for her Falun Gong practice.
On April 12th, 2003 Ms. Zhang’s family received a notice issued jointly by the Masanjia Labour Camp, the local police station and Liujiawopu Village Committee stating that Ms. Zhang “is receiving emergency treatment because she’s critically ill.”
By the time Ms. Zhang’s family arrived at Masanjia, she was already dead. Family members say there were noticeable wounds on her body, including numerous bruises as well as bloodstains in her nose and mouth.
Labour camp officials refused to allow the family to take any photographs of the body. Initially, police and camp officials declined to answer questions about the cause of her death. When Ms. Zhang’s family members demanded to know why her body was black and blue, the police claimed that she had fallen in the shower, triggering a heart problem that led to her death.
According to a source familiar with Masanjia Labour Camp, prisoners are only allowed to take showers on specific days. April 12th was not a designated “shower day” for those held in the camp, the source says.
Related responsible government departments and personnel:
Jinzhou City First Detention Centre: 86-416-2572038
Xiaolingzi Airport Police Station: 86-416-5179207
Masanjia Labour Camp:
Director Sun Fengwu: 86-24-89212096-206
Director Zhang Chaoying: 86-24-89210262
Director Su Jing of Division 2: 86-24-89210074 ext 305, 86-24-89210567, 86-24-89210054
Vice Director Wang Naimin of Division 2: 86-24-89210074 ext 310
Team 2 of Division 2: 86-24-89210184 ext 382
Group 1 Leader of Team 2 of Division 2:: Yang XX
Liujiawopu Village Committee: 86-416-3498008
NOTE: In January 2003, the Masanjia Forced Labour Camp officially changed its name to the “Ideology Education School.” It continues to be one of the worst examples of torture and atrocious conditions in China’s forced labour camp system.
Posting date: 5/Aug/2003
Original article date: 4/Aug/2003
Category: News from China
