Cases of Two Elderly Falun Gong Practitioners in Danger Submitted to the United Nations
On August 13, 2009, the Falun Gong Human Rights Working Group (FGHRWG), submitted the cases of Mr. Liu Yalin and Ms. Wei Xiuhua to the United Nations Human Rights mechanisms, urging the relevant Special Rapporteurs and Working Groups to issue an urgent appeal on behalf of the two elderly practitioners whose lives are in danger.
Name: Wei Xiuhua? ????
Gender: Female
Age: 62
Address: Jincheng Town, Linghai City, Liaoning Province
Occupation: Unknown
Date of Most Recent Arrest: April 17, 2009
Most recent place of detention: Linghai City Detention Center (??????)
City: Linghai
Province: Liaoning
On April 17, 2009, Ms. Wei Xiuhua was arrested by police officers from the Public Security Department in Jinzhou City and the Domestic Security Division in Linghai City. While in detention, the police poured hot water over Ms. Wei’s head, kicked the left side of her chest and smashed her right ear with a bottle filled with water, causing loss of hearing in her right ear. She is unable to walk on her own and has suffered heart failure, convulsions and high blood pressure. She cannot keep any food down and is very weak. Wang Jingshan, deputy director of the Public Security Department in Linghai City, has refused to release Ms. Wei and instead sent her to the brainwashing center in Fushun City. When the brainwashing center refused to accept Ms. Wei because of her physical condition, Wang sent her to the Linghai City Detention Center and prohibited family visits. She remains detained at the center and her life is in great danger.
Name: Liu Yalin?????
Gender: Male
Age: 64
Address: Dadukou District, Chongqing City
Occupation: Former employee of Yongchuan Transportation Company
Date of Most Recent Arrest: 2007
Most recent place of detention: Fourteenth Division of Yongchuan Prison (????????)
City: Chongqing
In 2007, Mr. Liu Yalin was arrested and sentenced in an unfair trial to a three-year prison term. He is currently being held in the Fourteenth Division of Yongchuan Prison. Since being detained, Mr. Liu’s physical condition has deteriorated. He has lost all of his larger teeth and can only eat a small portion of rice gruel every day. He is malnourished, extremely thin, and weak. However, the prison guards continue to force him to do hard labor, such as carrying heavy loads of coal. On April 1, 2009, Mr. Liu was sent to the prison hospital after his blood pressure escalated to over 230mmHg and he showed symptoms such as blurred vision, lightheadedness, numbness in his limbs, and difficulty breathing. He was unable to walk on his own. His family went to the prison to demand his release, but were turned away.
