Witnessing History: One Chinese Woman's Fight for Freedom

Witnessing History: One Chinese Woman's Fight for Freedom is the true-life memoir of Zheng (Jennifer) Zeng, once a graduate of in science at the prestigious Beijing University and granted the honor Communist party membership, who was caught in the crossfire when the government chose to crack down on Falun Gong, the spiritual practice she followed. Sentenced without trial to indefinite term re-education through forced labor, she suffered beatings, electric prods, starvation, and sleep deprivation. After enduring months of being compelled under deplorable conditions to produce goods for sale in the U.S. market, she recanted her beliefs under the rationalization that a forced retraction had no validity. After her release, though, she came to terms with the realization that she had betrayed herself and her principles. Witnessing History is Zheng's own words, offered in testimony of the ordeal she endured and that thousands of other Falun Gong practitioners continue to suffer for their faith, and a necessarily harsh assault on a nation that does not respect civil rights or freedom of religion. Highly recommended.

Jennifer Zeng was a successful college graduate and mother who lived in China. Her career was interupted by a very serious virus infection that left her with no energy and unable to leave home for work. Then she heard about Falun Gong. It was a mix of public exercise, meditation, and personal developoment. Also known as Falun Dafa, the precepts of this philosophy are Truthfulness, Benevolence, and Forbearance. It is said to promote mental and physical health. She took up the practice and soon found that all traces of her disease disappeard. She then entered a new career in the emerging Chinese stock investment field. Jennifer was very successful and became one of the most valued employees at the firm where she worked. All went well untill the Chinese government decided that the Falun Gong movement was a threat to the nation. They began arresting anyone who practiced Falun Gong in public. People were usually released once they promised to never again practice Falun Gong. Jennifer was arrested several times and kept for longer stays with each successive arrest. She refused to refute the teachings of Falun Gong and was subsequently placed in a hard labor camp (re-education camp) for over a year. She and others were subjected to torture, deprivation, and beatings. Thousands were arrested and many died in prison. This is the story of one of the most repressive communist governments in history. The situation is unchanged to this day. If a Chinese citizen were to unfurl a Falun Gong banner in Tiananmen Square today, they would be arrested within 5 minutes and go directly to jail (there are hundreds of cameras covering the square at all times). Jennifer eventually escaped China after here release from prison and is presently living in Australia. Read her book so you will know who we are really dealing with when you hear about the favorable trade status the USA confers on China. To learn about Falun Dafa, go to their organizaton web site. There are readings, books, and general information available. If you have forgotten what Tiananmen Square was all about back in 1989, check out the recent headlines about its anniversary.