Li Jinzhong, 50, was a farmer in Sidi Village, Beigang Township, Tunliu County, Shanxi Province; and Chang Haochi, 27, was a student in the Economics and Trade Department at Institute for the Shanxi Coal Mining Administrative Staff.
In early July 1999, Li and Chang, believing they had achieved divinity and could ascend to Heaven, burned themselves to death. At about 6 a.m. on July 6, some farmers working in the fields found their charred bodies in a hollow about two kilometers away from the village.
Inspection at the site by local police proved it a case of suicide. The bodies, facing each other, were found sitting cross-legged. Evidence collected showed that they had burned themselves by lighting gas-soaked twigs around themselves. Chen Ying, Director of the Public Security Bureau of Tunliu County, says, "When our legal medical experts lifted the bodies, we found some unburned fragments of Falun Gong materials. We also found a Falun Gong insignia under their bodies. From these evidences we concluded they were Falun Gong practitioners."
Li and Chang had become close friends while practicing Falun Gong together two years ago. In the afternoon of July 3, Chang came to Li's home. The next morning they both disappeared. As Li's family members recalled, the day before they committed suicide, Chang told Li's son that the latter's father had achieved divinity and would ascend to Heaven.
