4,730,400 Minutes of Persecution and Torture

Dear Zhiwen,

July 20th, 1999 around 6a.m. marks exactly 9 years since you were illegally detained. 9 years you have been forbidden to contribute your great skills to society and physically be the loving father that you are.  People in your neighborhood all knew of your strong moral character and kindness to all. You were generous with money and generous with your belongings. You would sacrifice your lunch break to ride a bicycle back home to make lunch for your daughter every day.  We ask the Chinese Communist Party and your captors: Is this the kind of person you want in prison? Is this the kind of person you want to remove from society? In 9 years of persecution, has society become better because you imprison good people and torment their families? No. No. No.

Falun Gong practitioners have endured 9 years of persecution. 4,730,400 minutes of physical and mental torment and anguish. 

At rally in front of the White House, Danielle gave a speech for you and said, 

"Perhaps it is hard to comprehend the pain one can endure over such a long, agonizing time, where minutes feel like hours, trapped in a prison cell. Once a number reaches a certain point it becomes inconceivable. When it comes to the persecution of Falun Gong, it became inconceivable before it reached minute number 1 and another moment that it continues is a moment too long. My dad’s experience is only a miniature of the persecution of hundreds of thousands of Falun Gong practitioners."

Your daughter is strong, Zhiwen. Her strength comes from goodness, not from force. As other Falun Gong practitioners have done for 9 years, she peacefully appeals for your release. Not by venting anger, nor calling names, but by speaking the truth of the situation with compassion.  It is difficult to understand how someone with such trying conditions could possibly maintain a positive demeanor, but she has done it.

You have much to be proud of. You have led by example and raised your daughter well. Although you are detained, you continue to encourage people to step forward to help rescue you and end the persecution.

July 20th will forever be a day of infamy for the Chinese Communist Party -- the day it betrayed the Chinese people and attempted to snuff out this hope for a moral return. However, with the passing of 9 years, not only has Falun Gong continued to flourish, but also what is good and what is evil grows ever more apparent.  More and more people are realizing that Falun Gong is group of good people trying to live peaceful and healthy lives, and it is even brining back the traditional Chinese culture that was lost since the invasion of Communism in China.

We do not know how much you are able to hear about the outside world in prison, but perhaps you can feel the tide changing. We will continue to call for your release and righteous people will continue to step forward. It is only a matter of time before this persecution ends, but 9 years is already 9 years much too long.

We wish you all the very best and a speedy return to freedom where you belong.

Sincerely,

The Rescue Team