Click
on the glowing objects to learn about the prison.
tip: set to full screen
PRISON
You are inside a cell in a labour camp in China – follow the instructions to learn the story of our prisoner Tian.
-0%1%2%3%4%5%6%7%8%9%10%11%12%13%14%15%16%17%18%19%20%21%22%23%24%25%26%27%28%29%30%31%32%33%34%35%36%37%38%39%40%41%42%43%44%45%46%47%48%49%50%51%52%53%54%55%56%57%58%59%60%61%62%63%64%65%66%67%68%69%70%71%72%73%74%75%76%77%78%79%80%81%82%83%84%85%86%87%88%89%90%91%92%93%94%95%96%97%98%99%100%
A Re-Education Through Labour Camp is a prison for a person who has committed a non-criminal offense like practicing religion such as Falun Gong, using drugs, or anything deemed anti-communist.
The process is intended to reform “offenders” into compliant citizens by restricting their freedom, forcing them to carry out manual labour and subjecting them to brainwashing techniques.
×
01. Living Conditions
- Prisoners sleep on the floor with only a 12 inch wide space each, with over 10 prisoners per room.
- No furniture is provided.
- Bed bugs and lice are very common and are not treated leading to serious infestations.
- A bucket is used as a latrine; new prisoners are forced to sleep nearest to it.
- Food consists of gruel, bread, and a watery vegetable soup made from the cheapest vegetables available.
×
02. Attire
- Prisoners are issued a uniform which they are to wear for the duration of their detention.
- They are given only one pair of shoes made of rubber or plastic, which must hold up through their long 12-17 hour shifts in the factory.
- Prisoners must purchase underclothes, socks, hats, and jackets with their meagre earnings of less than approx. 2.00$ USD a month.
×
03. Hygiene
- A water basin is the only thing provided for washing, of which there are few.
- Basic essentials like toothbrushes, toothpaste, toilet paper, soap, and towels, are not provided. Prisoners must purchase them at exorbitant prices.
- Diseases are rampant including diet related illness like Scurvy and Edema.
- More serious outbreaks of tuberculosis and hepatitis are common, which left untreated can be fatal.
- Prisoners are often forced to work when they are very ill due to the poor conditions.
×
04. Prison System
- The camps were started in 1957 and since then it is estimated that more than 50 million people have been imprisoned in them.
- At the end of 2009, there were 320 confirmed active labour camps in China that held over 190,000 prisoners.
- Detention periods are typically from one to four years, but reports suggest they are often longer.
- The recipient of a sentence has no right to a hearing, counsel, or judicial determination of their case.
