Investigative Report on the Chinese Ministry of Justice’ Involvement in the Persecution of Falun Gong

The People’s Republic of China Ministry of Justice is the regulatory body of the nation’s judiciary and administration departments. However, the Ministry has been under the direct command of the regime’s Political and Legislative Affairs Committee (PLAC) in carrying out the persecution of Falun Gong. The prisons and labor camps controlled by the PLAC are places where the most severe persecution took place by which Falun Gong practitioners were killed or disabled [1]. This report focuses on disclosing the systematic aspect of the persecution.

Released on June 24, 1998, the “General Office of the State Council Notice of Printing and Distributing the Ministry of Justice Job Function, Internal Division and Staffing Requirements” [2] stipulated that the Ministry of Justice, in charge of the nationwide judicial and administrative matters, is a division of the State Council. Its main responsibilities include “research and prepare the guidelines, policies and laws, regulations relating to judicial and administrative projects; direct and manage the administration of prisons and reeducation-through-labor camps; formulate plan on judicial propaganda and popularization of legal knowledge and organize the implementation of the plan; direct and supervise lawyers, legal counsels, legal assistance and notary public organizations and their activities” etc. According to the principle of matching rights with responsibilities, the leaders in the Ministry of Justice should be responsible for the genocide, torture and other human-rights related violations that take place within the scope of its responsibilities.

The sub-divisions of the Ministry of Justice are: Bureau of Prison Administration, Bureau of Reeducation-through-Labor Administration and Department of Guidance of the Work of Lawyers and Public Notaries.

1. In charge of or participate in the distribution of persecution commands via official documents and speeches

In the “Suggestions on Further Strengthening the Establishment of Judicial Entity at the Basic Level” document (April 13, 2000, [2000] No.050), the Ministry of Justice demanded active participation in the combat with Falun Gong organization [3].

From Jan. 16 to 18, 2001, the Ministry of Justice called a meeting in Beijing among heads of the nation’s departments and bureaus of justice. Zhang Fusen, who served as the Minister of Justice from December 2000 to May 2005, required the Ministry to implement Central Government’s plan to “transform” Falun Gong practitioners, to add the “education and transformation” (of Falun Gong practitioners) to the main scope of functions of the Party Committees at different levels [4].

On April 24, 2001 at the 21st member meeting of the Standing Committee for the 9th National People’s Congress, Zhang Fusen gave a speech saying, “The legal system propaganda and education departments use the legal weapon to seriously expose and criticize Falun Gong activities. For example, the Ministry published legal study materials, such as “Q&As on Maintaining the Stability of Society”, “Collection of Photos on Legally Exposing and Criticizing Falun Gong”, “Collection of Materials on Educating and Transforming Falun Gong Practitioners”, which worked well in education and providing the guidance. [5]”

In September 2002, the Ministry of Organization, the Ministry of Propaganda, and the Ministry of Justice jointly issued a document titled “Suggestions on Strengthening the Leaders’ Study and Application of Laws.” According to the interview of someone within the Ministry of Justice, one of the focus points in the study was to attack Falun Gong [6].

On Jan 31, 2002, Zhang Fusen led a delegation consisting of persons in charge of the General Office, Bureau of Labor and Education, and Institute of Justice, etc. to Lanzhou City Gansu Province to meet with the local judicial police officers. During their hearing of the reports by judicial and administrative offices, prisons, office of labor and education at different administrative levels, they specifically inspected items related to “educating and transforming” Falun Gong practitioners [7].

During the SARS outbreak in 2002, the Deputy Minister of Justice, Fan Fangping went to the labor camps and prisons in Hebei and Shanxi Province to examine and supervise their work. Fan set specific requirements on how to continue educating and transforming Falun Gong practitioners [8].

The “2003 Ministry of Justice System Party Construction Plan” stipulates that the battle against Falun Gong is to ensure the ruling status of the CCP; CCP officials at all levels must understand the length, complexity and intensity of the battle. It also includes detailed tasks of “exposing and criticizing, education and transformation, prevention and monitoring, probe and attack [9].”

In his opening speech at the National Department and Bureau of Justice Conference on Jan. 5, 2004, the Minister of Justice, Zhang Fusen requested that “the education and transformation of Falun Gong inmates be continuously intensified”, “the labor and education system seriously summarize the successful experience relating to educating and transforming Falun Gong, and carry out the psychological treatment, teaching of vocational skills, and supportive education, continuously explore and create new methods and manners of education and remedies, make efforts to improve the standards of management and the result of education and remedies…”[10]

In the “Quarterly Statistic Report on Prison Detainees” issued by the Ministry of Justice, Falun Gong was separately listed [11], which proves that the command to treat Falun Gong practitioners detained in prisons differently has come from the Ministry of Justice.

2. The Education through Labor System Administered by the Ministry of Justice

Since the start of the persecution, the prisons in the labor and education system nationwide have detained large number of Falun Gong practitioners. Luo Gan’s Aug. 8, 2009 speech at the “Ministry of Justice system conference on education and transformation” mentioned that since October 1999, the education through labor system nationwide (except Tibet) have detained so many Falun Gong practitioners that “the system has never had encountered before and so is a challenging task [12].”

According to the government’s publicly released statistics, up until the end of July 2002, the labor camps in Guangzhou City alone had illegally detained 464 Falun Gong practitioners [13]. In December 2005, head of the Bureau of Justice in Guangdong Province, Chen Weixiong disclosed that the number of Falun Gong practitioners once detained by the labor camps in Guangdong were at least 2,460 [14]. Considering that such statistics were released under the circumstance of the CCP covering up the persecution, the actual number of detainees should be much higher.
As such, “610 offices” were set up in provincial level Departments of Justice and city level Bureaus of justice [15][16]. Even the provincial level Bureau of Education through Labor had a “610 Office,” which was dubbed as the department of education and transformation. These are designated entities to “brainwash and transform” Falun Gong practitioners [17].

On April 25th, 2001, the Ministry of Organization issued a document on how to conduct “brainwash and transformation” of Falun Gong practitioners. The document included experiences provided by the Party Committee at Masanjia Labor Camp in Liaoning Province, the Bureau of Labor in Beijing and the Party Committee of Qitaihe City in Heilongjiang Province [18]. The judicial system in Inner Mongolia regarded the “transform project” of Falun Gong practitioners as a major political task, which was on the top of the priority list for the “labor and education tasks” [19]. Among the goals and responsibilities set for various divisions directly under the Zhejiang provincial government in 2002, the “transform rate” of Falun Gong practitioners was set as a “Class A” goal for the provincial Bureau of Justice [20]. In breaking down the important tasks for 2003 for the Bureau of Justice in Anhui Province, the task of intensify the “transformation” of Falun Gong practitioners and further improving the “transform rate” was assigned to the Administrative Bureau of Labor and Education for execution [21].

In April 2001, the Ministry of Justice actively advocated torture when promoting the “battle of education and transform” under the name of “Spring Thunder”. One widely used torture method was called “straitjacket.” It had caused numerous deaths of Falun Gong practitioners [22]. In order to put the “straitjacket” on a person, one’s arms are bind at the back and pulled up over one’s upper back, then the legs are bind and one is hung on iron bars. Once put in this position, the arms will be broken at the shoulders, elbows and wrists; if being tortured longer, the person’s entire back will be broken and one would die of excruciating pain.

The Ministry of Justice once organized the bureau of justice from different provinces to visit Masanjia Labor Camp, which is directly under the Liaoning Province Bureau of Justice, in order to learn the “experience” of “transform” Falun Gong practitioners. According to a deputy director of Shenyang City Bureau of Justice, the experience was merely to use high-voltage electric baton [23].

Since mid April 2003, the nation’s labor and education system, following the instructions from the Central government and the labor bureau of the Ministry of Justice, started the “concentrated transform and education” against detained Falun Gong practitioners [24].

Zhang Fusen’s Jan. 5, 2004 speech at the National Department/Bureau of Justice Directors Conference summarized the judicial and administrative work for 2003 and presented the situation in 2004. Zhang required the entire system to seriously summarize the battle of educating and transforming Falun Gong and continuously intensify the education and transform of Falun Gong detainees [25].

Based on the requirements outlined in the “Opinions from Ministry of Justice on thoroughly carrying out labor and education with characteristics (trial version)”, Liaoning Provincial Bureau of Labor and Education implemented the education credit system within the labor and education [26].
The brainwash and transform activities conducted at all labor camps were under the direct command of the labor and education bureau of the Ministry of Justice and Bureau of Justice in each province [27].

3. The Prison System Administered by the Ministry of Justice

The prison system is another place administered by the Ministry of Justice where the transform and brainwash of Falun Gong practitioners take place. Jinan Prison, named by Shandong Province as “provincial level modern and civilized prison” has treated the education and transform of Falun Gong practitioners as the highest priority task, and formed a designated Falun Gong education team [28]. The Ministry of Justice has also spread the “methods and experience” of the brainwash and transform of Falun Gong practitioners at some prisons over the entire prison system nationwide [29].

The Chongqing Prison Bureau was established in 1998. On Nov.7, 2001, Chongqing City prison system held a meeting to summarize its accomplishments. The entire content of the summary was about how to transform and brainwash Falun Gong practitioners, the methods included “‘four set’ responsibility system”, “two to one”, “multiple to one”, “walk out”, “come in”, which were affirmed by the prison bureau [30].

4. Lawyers: Defending for Falun Gong Practitioners and No Guilty Plea are Prohibited

The Ministry of Justice issued a “Notice for lawyers and representatives of Falun Gong cases,” which required lawyers to be well prepared and firmly devote to the battle against Falun Gong [31].

On Oct. 30, 1999, the president of China National Lawyers Association Gao Zongze required that the lawyers associations at various levels “should take full advantage of the self-disciplinary organization”, “fight the battle to the end” against Falun Gong organization [32].

In the same year on October 31st, the Ministry of Justice held an anti-Falun Gong forum among the Capital’s lawyers representative. The lawyers stated their position to severely punish Falun Gong. The minster at that time Gao Changli (in position from 3/1998 to 12/2000) required “the judicial administrative officers and legal professionals to seriously implement the spirit of the Central Government, carry the battle of exposing and criticizing Falun Gong to the end, if the battle is not won completely, it won’t be stopped.”[33]

After the Tiananmen self-immolation hoax took place, on Feb. 1, 2001, the notarization division of the Ministry of Justice called some of the lawyers in the national lawyers association office and the law firms directly administered by the Ministry of Justice to open a forum at the conference room of the national lawyers association to “strongly condemn and criticize” Falun Gong. The head of the notarization division Jia Wuguang, the deputy head and the secretary of the national lawyers association Wu Mingde required the lawyers must take the anti-Falun Gong stand [34].

Legal professionals are encouraged to participate in the persecution. For example, lawyers in Nanjing City participated in the education and transformation of Falun Gong practitioners through dealing with cases [35].

On Feb. 13, 2001, the Justice Bureau in Chongqing City and the municipal lawyers association commanded lawyers, in dealing with Falun Gong related cases, to strictly follow the following rules: “stand firmly and politically on the side of the Party and Central Government”, “achieve unified results in political, social and legal aspects”; “improve connections and communications with three bodies, i.e., police, prosecutor, and court”; Law firms that have accepted Falun Gong cases need to report to the lawyer administration division of the justice bureau of the city, the defendant lawyers’ statement should be submitted to the special criminal committee of the municipal lawyers association for review prior to the court hearing.” By doing so, it was guaranteed that the defendant’s lawyers’ opinion would be consistent with the suppression policy of the Central Government [36]. Punishment was given to lawyers who violated the rules and warning notice was sent to everyone [37].

Guangdong lawyers association issued a notice based on “exposing and criticizing” Falun Gong, stipulating the “attitude lawyers are supposed to have” when dealing with Falun Gong cases and “providing the guidance” [38].

Lawyer Yue Cheng, whose client was Li Chang of the Falun Dafa Association, summarized his experience in defending Li [39], “during our process of handling Li’s case, we formed a guiding principle, which is defending the backbone persons in Falun Gong is not equal to defending Falun Gong, defending Li is not equal to defending for Li Hongzhi (founder of Falun Gong),” “because major criminal cases usually involved certain level of political sensitivity, we should grap the proper political direction.” Being a lawyer, during the whole process of defending Li, Yue Cheng was under the leadership of Beijing justice bureau and was requested to hold to the “correct political direction”, and to help others to do the “thought transfer job” for the defendant [40], being the agent for all the parties with conflict of interest.

Those lawyers who were willing to defend or do no-guilty-plea for Falun Gong practitioners were threatened or their law licenses were revoked [41].

On Jan. 26, 2006, Yang Zaixi, an attorney of Guangxi Zhongchi Law Firm, was fired because he made a no guilty plea for Falun Gong practitioner Nong Youyue from Pingguo County, Baise District in Guangxi Province.

China’s well-known human rights attorney, Gao Zhisheng accepted his first Falun Gong case in late 2004, defending Huang Wei from Shijiazhuang City. Gao was threatened by the “610 office.”

Through investigations conducted in Shandong, Henan, Guangdong, Hebei and Sichuan Province, Gao obtained first-hand evidence of the persecution.

Since Nov. 29, 2005, Gao and Professor Jiao Guobiao escaped police monitoring and spent 15 days investigating the persecution in Jinan City Shandong Province, Dalian and Fuxin City Liaoning Province and Changchun City Jilin Province. Based on his investigation, Gao wrote three open letters to the National People’s Representatives, the nation’s leader Hu Jintao and Wen Jiaobao on Dec. 31, 2004, Oct. 18 and Dec. 12, 2005 respectively, speaking up for Falun Gong.

After that, Gao was threatened, monitored, harassed, isolated and defamed. He was almost killed in a deliberate traffic accident. Beijing justice bureau rejected the application for address change from Gao’s law firm then closed Gao Zhisheng Law Firm under the excuse of non-registration of the new address. Gao was secretly detained on Sept 21, 2006. He was accused of “suspicious of involving to overturn the state authority [43].” This case has caused widespread concern in the international community [44].

5. Legal Education – Participate in the establishment of nationwide “brainwash centers” and carry out the theoretical study of “transformation”

The Ministry of Justice once organized “help and educate delegation tour” to conduct the “help and educate” (another way to say “transform and brainwash”) activities all over the country [45].

The “2001 Guidance for the Scientific Research Projects for Theoretical Study of Law at the Ministry Level and the Legal Construction in the Ministry of Justice” set up research on how to transform Falun Gong detainees [46].

The Ministry of Justice and the “610 Office” are in charged of the rating and quota system for the prisons, labor and education camps nationwide in their brainwash and transformation of Falun Gong practitioners [48].

All provincial justice bureau have treated the “education and transform battle” against Falun Gong practitioners as its priority job every year [49].
As far as the brainwash and transform is concerned, Ningbo City Justice Bureau has implemented the so-called “pair help and educate”, “bilateral help and educate”, “advance help and educate” and “family help and educate” activities, which was adopted and promoted by the Ministry of Justice and provincial justice bureau [50].

6. Propaganda in the Legal Field

In 2004, the Ministry of Justice issued “Opinion on Further Strengthen the News and Propaganda in the Judicial Administration System.” For the labor camps, it stipulated the focus on propaganda, which should emphasize the result of educating and transforming Falun Gong detainees. Report on cases inside the prisons, labor and education camps, and the illegal, violation and criminal activities conducted by the prison police officers should be submitted to the provincial justice bureau for approval; reports on those major cases with nationwide impacts must be approved by the Ministry of Justice. In particular, unexpected incidents in general should not be reported publicly. In the documents, such unexpected incidents occurred within the judicial administration system included judicial human rights issues and situation on Falun Gong detainees. [51]

Then Minister of Justice, Zhang Fusen personally planned and shot a 24-episode TV series “Life is innocent” that demonized Falun Gong [52]. Zhang and deputy Minster Fan Fangping, Hu Zejun also distributed the “Life is Innocent” DVD to the residence communities, towns and villages, schools, labor and education camps [53].

Government officials from the judicial office directly and publicly slandered against Falun Gong, stirring up hatred. For example, the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Propaganda, “610” office of the Central Government, and others totaled 6 sectors jointly organized a nationwide anti-Falun Gong exhibition [54]; the deputy head of Shandong Provincial Justice Bureau and vice president of the provincial lawyers association Yao Chenglin demonized Falun Gong and the founder through Q&A session held by Xinhua News Agency [55]. The Ministry of Justice also included anti-Falun Going content as a major part of its popularization activities of legal knowledge [56].

7. Award Units and Individuals who Used Violence in the Persecution

During the second half of August 2000, the Ministry of Justice held an “Education and Transform Experience Sharing and Recognition Conference” directly attacking Falun Gong. Li Lanqing, head of the “leadership team to handle Falun Gong issues” wrote a letter to the Conference [57]. Luo Gan, Secretary of Central Government’s PLAC [58], Wang Maolin, the Director of the “610” Office [59] each gave a speech at the conference, summarizing and praising the “transform and brainwash” job done by the Ministry of Justice and the labor and education camps and prisons under its administration. All the praised units and individuals were those who conducted innumerable crimes in the persecution. Some of them persecuted practitioners to death [60].

On Feb. 26, 2001, the Ministry of Organization and others totaled 7 divisions at the ministry level held a national recognition conference for battle against Falun Gong. 23 groups and 22 individuals within the national judicial system were praised. They are Masanjia Labor Camp, Beijing Labor and Education Bureau, Jilin Provincial Labor and Education Camp for Women, Hubei Province Shayang Labor and Education Camp, and the head of Masanjia Labor Camp Su Jing, etc. After the conference, then Minister of Justice met with the representatives from the conference at his office and required the judicial and administrative system to continue summarize the experience of the education and transform work and expand the results of the education and transform [61].

In April 2002, the Ministry of Justice held an experience exchange conference on the battle against Falun Gong organization within the nationwide judicial and administrative system [62].

Among those who were praised by the Ministry of Justice in different occasions are the political commissioner of Guangdong Province women’s labor and education Camp Suhong Xie [63], the deputy head of Beijing Tian Hetang labor and education camp Xiaoli Zhu [64], Anhui Province female labor and education camp [65], Henan female labor and education camp, etc. [66].

Liaoning Provincial Justice Bureau heavily promoted the main “experience” of Masanjia Labor Camp in transforming Falun Gong practitioners was to use the electric batons [67].

8. Ministry of Justice Officials Involved in the Persecution

Zhang Fusen: Minister of Justice (November 2000 ~ May 2005)

While he was the deputy Beijing Party chief, Zhang Fusen actively participated in the persecution of Falun Gong. Zhang visited Beijing Huirou County [68] and Yanqing County [69] on Aug. 13 and 21, 2000 respectively. He ordered the transform and brainwash of Falun Gong practitioners. During the meeting among the heads of the national justice bureaus from Jan. 16 to 18, 2001, Zhang delegated tasks relating to the education and transform of Falun Gong, and required that the education and transforming job be added to the master scope of the education and transforming plan of the Party’s committee and government at different levels [4].

On Feb. 26, 2001, Zhang met with the units and individuals in the judicial and administrative system of nationwide that were praised by the national recognition conference for battle against Falun Gong and required the judicial and administrative system to continue summarize the experience of the education and transform work and expand the results of the education and transform [61].
On the 21st Conference of the 9th National People’s Congress Standing Committee held on April 24, 2001, Zhang introduced how the legal propaganda and education departments of the Ministry of Justice organized the “exposing and criticizing activities” through compiling and printing anti-Falun Gong materials [5].

On Jan. 31, 2002, Zhang led a delegation of whom in charge of the General Office, Bureau of Labor and Education, and Institute of Justice, etc. to the Lanzhou City Gansu Province to meet with the local judicial police officers and inquired and sought information relating to educating and transforming Falun Gong practitioners [7].

On Jan. 5, 2004, in his opening speech on the National Department/Bureau of Justice Directors Conference, Zhang summarized the judicial and administrative work of 2003 and presented the situation in 2004, required to seriously summarize the battle of educating and transforming Falun Gong and continuously intensify the education and transform of Falun Gong detainees [25].

In his speech on the national labor and education forum on Dec. 3, 2004, Zhang called Falun Gong and other religious groups not under the Party’s control “stubborn crux of mind, more difficult to educate and save”, and required to take “specific measures” [70]. On Jan. 31, 2005, Zhang encouraged the brainwash and transform of Falun Gong practitioners during his inspection of prisons in Hebei Province [71].
In 2003, Zhang personally planned and shot a 24-episode TV series “Life is innocent” that demonized Falun Gong [52]. Fusen Zhang and deputy minster Fan Fangping, Hu Zejun also distributed the “Life is Innocent” DVD to the residence communities, towns and villages, schools, labor and education camps. [53]

Gao Changli: Minister of Justice (March 1998 ~ December 2000)

On Oct. 31, 1999, then Minister of Justice Gao Changli gave a speech on the anti-Falun Gong forum among the Capital’s lawyer representatives, requiring “the judicial administrative officers and legal professionals to seriously implement the spirit of the Central Government, carry the battle of exposing and criticizing Falun Gong to the end, if the battle is not won completely, it won’t be stopped.”[32].

In January 2000, during his visit to Tianjin, Gao affirmed and praised the local Party and Union Committee for their “practice of battling against Falun Gong”[72]. On June 20, 2000, when being interviewed by Guangming Daily, Gao introduced how the legal education system under the administration of the Ministry of Justice participated in the anti Falun Gong-legal education & propaganda and organize the carry-out of “exposing and criticizing Falun Gong” activities [73].

Fan Fangping: Deputy Minister of Justice (1999~2006) President of China Prison Association (2006 on)

On June 20, 2001, Fan inspected Henan Province No. 3 labor and education camp, the brainwash center in Henan Province (the provincial education and transform base) and praised its “solid and effective education and transform work” [74]; On Sept. 24, 2002, on the teleconference of “crackdown” and re-organize to ensure the safety of prisons held by the Ministry of Justice, Fan required the labor and education system of nationwide to “absolutely prevent Falun Gong criminals, inmates from creating extreme events”. The deputy minister of Justice Hu Zejun was the host of the conference [75]; In 2003 when SARS was prevailing, Fan went to Hebei, Shanxi to inspect and supervise prisons and labor and education camps, giving specific instructions on how to brainwash and transform Falun Gong practitioners [76]; In 2002, when inspecting Shandong, Fan praised that “the accomplishment in education and transform job made by Shandong in three months is equal to one year in other provinces”. The labor and education bureau in Shandong was named the “advanced unit in the battle against Falun Gong in the judicial and administrative system of nationwide” under the Ministry of Justice [77].

In early 2005, Fan visited the Kaiping Labor and Eduation Camp in Hebei Province and emphasized “to continue do a good job in educating and transforming Falun Gong inmates”[78]. In 2002, Fan also participated in the planning and production of the anti-Falun Gong propaganda TV series “Life is Innocent” [79], and along with the minister of Justice Zhang Fusen, deputy minister Hu Zejun, distributed the “Life is Innocent” DVD to the residence communities, towns and villages, schools, labor and education camps [53].

Hu Zejun: Deputy Minister of Justice (4/2001~7/2004); Minister of Organization of Guangdong Provincial Party Committee (2004 on)

Actively participated in the production, launching and promotion of the anti-Falun Gong TV series “Life is Innocent”. On July 9, 2003, on the “Life is Innocent” forum held by the Ministry of Justice, he and the minister of Justice Zhang Fusen, deputy minister Fan Fangping distributed the “Life is Innocent” DVD to the residence communities, towns and villages, schools, labor and education camps. Hu Zejun, as the Deputy Minister of Justice, also gave a speech during the forum, and said that “this TV series has a strong taste of life”, trying to prove that the persecution of Falun Gong is “right” [80] [53]. On March 28, 2004, when summarizing the 1st half year performance on the discussion forum for the national popularization of legal knowledge and rule of law, Hu introduced the situation of “carrying out the legal education on anti-cult job in the exposing and criticizing battle against Falun Gong” [81]. On Sept. 2, 2005, in his speech on the conference of the heads of the advanced units and touring inspection groups of Guangdong Province, he introduced how the Dongfang community in Jinping District of Shantou City combined the “advanced” education activities with “brainwash and transform” Falun Gong practitioners [52].

Wu Aiying: Minister of Justice, Secretary of Party Committee (June 2005 on)

From April 1998 to November 2003, Wu was the Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee in Shandong Province, in charge of politics and judiciary affairs. Wu was one of the main persons in charge of persecuting Falun Gong [83]; From November 2003 to May 2005, Wu was Deputy Minister of Justice (ministry level), Deputy Decretary of Party Committee.

Chen Xunqiu: Deputy Minister of Justice, Deputy Secretary of Party Committee (4/2006)

Since 1998, served as the secretary of Hubei Province PLAC, head of Hubei Province Public Security Bureau and Secretary of the Party Committee. Since October 2002, served as the secretary of Wuhan City Party Committee. Since May 2005, served as Deputy Secretary of the provincial Party Committee (in charge of daily administration). Since April 2006, served as Deputy Secretary of Party Committee in the Ministry of Justice and Deputy Minister. Chen was one of the major persons in charge of the persecution of Falun Gong in Hubei Province [84].

Zhang Sujun: Deputy Minister of Justice (9/2005)

On Dec. 23, 2001, in his debriefing report on the 27th meeting of the 9th People’s Congress Standing Committee, while he was serving as the head of the justice bureau of Jiangsu Province, in addition to reporting that the justice bureau required all the judicial and administrative departments to actively carry out the transform of Falun Gong practitioners, he also reported that he himself has gone to the frontline of education and transform several times to do the brainwash work [85].
 

(Published in Chinese on Dec. 1, 2006; English translation published on Aug. 17, 2012)

Reference

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[27] “Anhui Daily” Jul 31, 2001] “Anhui Provincial Party Committee officials emphasized: Continue to carry out the education and transformation of Falun Gong" (Zheng Faxuan) (Back)
[28] “Almanac of Jinan City 2003” “Overview of judicial administration” (Back)
[29] “Xinhua net” Oct 24, 2005] “Looking at the present after a century of vicissitudes” by Yang Huirong, Party chief and warden at Jinzhong Prison; Cheng Yonghong, deputy secretary and political commissar at Jinzhong Prison. (Back)
[30] “The new century prison website” “The achievements of regulatory and rehabilitation were remarkable since the establishment of Chongqing Bureau of Prison Administration” (Back)
[31] Zhoushan Lawyer Association second session council work report” Nov 11, 2001 (Back)
[32] “Guangming Daily” Oct 30, 1999 (Back)
[33] “People’s Daily” Nov1, 1999, page 3, “Beijing Lawyers held a meeting to criticize Falun Gong” by Xinhua reporter: Li Shufeng, People’s Daily reporter: Wang Bixue. (Back)
[34] “Legal Daily” Feb 3, 2001 report (Back)
[35] “Nanjin City Bureau of Justice website” “Propel the new development of all kinds of work with enthusiasm and momentum - the selected compilation of the speeches at the work conference of judicial administration of Nanjing City” (Back)
[36] “The work bulletin of lawyer professions in Chongqing City” 22nd issue of 2001 (Back)
[37] “The work bulletin of lawyer professions in Chongqing City” 22nd issue of 2002] Alert (Back)
[38] “Guangdong Lawyers Association website” “23 years’ memorandum of Guangdong Lawyers Association----starting from the political education, constantly perfect the lawyer self-disciplined system in the lawyer profession and strengthen the construction of morals and disciplines in the lawyer profession.” (Back)
[39] “Chinese lawyer website” “Stories of Lawyer Yue Cheng” (Back)
[40] “Yue Cheng Law Firm” Originally published in the Times Tide sponsored by People’s daily, 2005 supplement issue] “Defense in accordance with the law at the coordinate point of justice---- about National Top 10 lawyer, Yue Cheng” (Reporters: Qi Bing, Xin Xiaoqi) (Back)
[41] “Minghui.org” “Affidavit of Falun Gong practitioner He Lizhi” (Back)
[42] “The Epoch Times” Feb 7, 2006 “The lawyer Yang Zaixin who pleaded not guilty for Falun Gong practitioners was fired” (Back)
[43] Based on the reports from The Epoch Times, Voice of American and Associated Press (Back)
[44] Human Rights Watch “Letter to President Hu Jintao, Stop harassment of advocates for social justice”
CECC “Beijing Officials Order Gao Zhisheng to Shut Down His Law Firm”
United States109th CONGRESS 2d Session H] CON] RES] 365 Urging the Government of China to reinstate all licenses of Gao Zhisheng and his law firm, remove all legal and political obstacles for lawyers attempting to defend criminal cases in China, including politically sensitive cases, and revise law and practice in China so that it conforms to international standards. (Back)
[45] “People’s net” Jul 19, 2001 “Put all efforts to transform the Falun Gong practitioners” The Ministry of Justice organized a help and education group touring around the country being involved in the activities of help and re-education. (Back)
[46] The Ministry of Justice announcement on the release of “2001 Guidance of Ministerial Research Project Topics on the Rule of Law and Legal Theory Research” and the Notice of Project Application Acceptance (The Ministry of Justice, August 22, 2001) (Back)
[47] “Beijing Judicial Administrative Network” July 8, 2004 “2003 Annual Review of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Justice” (Back)
[48] “Work situations of Hebei Provincial Department of Justice” “A Powerful Initiative of Treating both Root Cause and Manifestation -- From Changes in the Provincial Administration of Justice System to look at Profession Morals Appraisal Activities” (Back)
[49] “Shandong People's Congress” Work Report on the Rectification and Corrective Situations (Shandong Provincial Department of Justice Minister Chen Mingfu, February 28, 2005) 13th Meeting of the Tenth National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee (Back)
[50] Ningbo People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the CPPCC Consultative Group’s Return Visit to the Bureau of Justice. (Back)
[51.“Anhui Provincial Department of Justice’ suggestion on Further Strengthening the News and Propaganda Work of the Province's Administration of the Justice System”, [2004] No] 21 (Ministry of Justice “On Further Strengthening the News and Propaganda Work of the Administration of Justice System ") (Back)
[52.《新华网》2003-04-03《生命无罪》修复残缺人生。（来源：北京晚报）
"Xinhua" April 3, 2003, TV soap opera "Life is not Guilty" to remedy a defective life] (Source: Beijing Evening News) (Back)
[53] "Xinhua" July 10, 2003] Beijing residents from all walks of life held a discourse on TV soap opera " Life is not Guilty" (Back)
[54] "People’s Web" July 30, 2001 “Objection to Cults Advocating Civilization” exhibition closing (reporters Ling Weijia, Li Yongsheng, Che Shuming) (Back)
[55] “Xinhua” Aug] 7, 2001, “Shandong Provincial Department of Justice, Deputy Director of Provincial Lawyer Association, Vice President Yao Chenglin answered questions from readers” (Back)
[56] "Guangzhou Municipal Bureau of Justice" July 5, 2004 in Guangzhou City on the Situation Regarding the Implementation of the "Fourth five-year’s” Law Popularization Plan and the View on the next phase of work. (Back)
[57] WOIPFG archive: Li Lanqing’s Letter “Ministry of Justice Education and Transformation Work Experience Exchange and Commendation Meeting" (August 23, 2000) (Back)
[58] WOIPFG archive: Luo Gan’ Speech in the Ministry of Justice Education and Transformation Work Experience Exchange and Commendation Meeting (August 29, 2000) (Back)
[59] WOIPFG archive: Wang Maolin’s Speech in the Ministry of Justice Education and Transformation Work Experience Exchange and Commendation Meeting (Back)
[60] Reference related to reports on the minghui.org, fawanghuihui.org, and WOIPFG www.zhuichaguoji.org (Back)
[61] “Legal Daily” February 27, 2001] “Zhang Fusen met with Advanced Representative of the Judicial Administrative System Education and Transformation Work” (Back)
[62] Shanghai Local Records” Shanghai Almanac 2003 40] Public security and judiciary (5) Judicial Administration. (Back)
[63.People’s net” Feb] 15, 2001 “Remonstrate in Earnest to Promote Transformation” , Guangdong Province Women's Re-education through labor Camp Political Commissar Xie Suhong. (Back)
[64] Legal Celebrity] Zhu Xiaoli (Back)
[65] Anhui Daily July 31, 2001] Anhui Provincial Committee leader stressed: Do a better job of education and transformation work on "Falun Gong" reeducation inmates (Zheng Faxuan) (Back)
[66] Henan Province Legal News] March 6, 2001 (Back)
[67] The Epoch Times] June 30, 2005 [exclusive] Fled Secretary of Justice Exposed 610 Inside Story] The Epoch Times’ exclusive interview with former Shenyang Bureau of Justice Director Han Guangsheng (2) (Back)
[68] Huairou Information Network - Huairou Chronicle of Events] August 13, 2000: In the company of County Party Secretary Lei Decai and County Commission of Discipline Inspection Secretary Zhang Tongsheng, the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee Secretary Zhang Fusen visited the town of Beifang to listen to the town situation reports on the transformation of Falun Gong practitioners. (Back)
[69] “Communist China Yanqing County Committee” Chronicle of Events (2000) August 21, Vice Municipal Party Committee Secretary, Zhang Fusen, visited the County to conduct investigation and research on the transformation work on Falun Gong practitioners. (Back)
[70] “Guangzhou Judicial Network” December 3, 2004, Zhang Fusen made a speech at the Nationwide Reeducation through Work Forum, (Back)
[71] “Hebei Rule of Law Network” February 1, 2005 Ministry of Justice Minister Zhang Fusen visited and conveyed greetings to the Grassroots Prison Police in Hebei Province (Back)
[72] “Nanyingmen Street of Heping District,Tianjin City” 2000 Chronicle of Events] In January, the Ministry of Justice Minister Gao Changli conducted investigative check on Tianjin] Street Party Work Committee Secretary, Chen Li, reported on the work situation of our Street Youth Legal Education, the strategies used in Managing the Street According to Law, and the in the Struggle with Falun Gong, and received recognition and praise. (Back)
[73] “Guangming Daily” June 20, 2000 “Laying a Solid Foundation for the Rule of Law -Interview with the Minister of Ministry of Justice and Director of the Nationwide Law Popularization Office Gao Changli” Staff reporter Zhou Xun (Back)
[74] China Judiciary” 2002 No] 5, pp] 21-22, the Third Re-education through Labor Camp of He’nan Province, (Back)
[75] “China Law Popularization Web” “Ministry of Justice Assembly: Crack down and Punish the inmates severely to Guarantee Prison and labor camp Safety and Security (2002) September 24 hearing (Wang Yu) (Back)
[76] “China Legal Network” Anti-SARS Prevention in Prisons should Abide by the Two-Prong Strategy to Achieve the "Three Guarantees" (Fan Fangping) Deputy Minister of Ministry of Justice Fan Fangping went to the Hebei Province Gaoyang Labor Reeducation through Labor Camp and the Shanxi Province Datong prison and Datong City Luozhenying Reeducation through labor Camp where he inspected the work on SARS prevention and control stability and security, production safety, carry out the inspection and supervision. (Back)
[77] Almanac of Shandong Province] 2003, Judicial administration] Provincial Bureau of Re-education through labor Administration was conferred to the title of advanced collective struggling with Falun Gong by the Ministry of Justice. (Back)
[78] The Ministry of Justice, PRC] Greeting, Investigation and research, Encouragement-The sidelights of the leaders of Ministry of Justice visited and conveyed greetings to the grass-roots units in the Spring Festival (Back)
[79] China News Service] Beijing, Oct] 18, (Reporter Xing Liyu) China’s first anti-Falun Gong TV soap opera with 20 series “Life is not guilty” will be shot soon in Beijing (Back)
[80] Beijing Weekly, Mar 30, 2003] “The first anti-Falun Gong TV series deeply disclosed ……”Vice minister of the Ministry of Justice, Hu Zejun thought this TV serials had strong life activities and it proved the policy to eradicate Falun Gong was correct. (Back)
[81] Ruling the city by law] The speech by vice minister of the Ministry of Justice, Hu Zejun, at the symposium of national legal popularization and ruling by law] Mar 28, 2004 (Back)
[82] The documents of Guangdong Provincial Party Committee leading group office for the education movement in maintaining the advanced nature of the Communists Party .[2005] No.36] The speeches by the standing committee of the Provincial Party Committees, Minister of the Provincial Department of Organization, deputy group leader of the education movement & Director-general of the general office, comrade Hu Zejun, at the conference of inspection group leaders. (Back)
[83] WOIPFG Investigative report on the “610 office” - Shandong Province (Back)
[84] WOIPFG Investigative Report on the Main Officials in Wuhan City of Hubei Province Who Actively Participated in the Persecution of Falun Gong (Back)
[85] Jiangsu Provincial People’s Congress] Work report of Zhang Sujun, the Director-General of Jiangsu Provincial Department of Justice at the 27th session of Ninth Jiangsu Provincial People Congress Standing Committee.