Chinese laborer plea found in Halloween decorations in Oregon

An Oregon woman claims she found a plea from a Chinese laborer hidden in a box of Halloween decorations.

The letter, stuffed in a "graveyard kit" purchased at Kmart, describes working conditions at a camp where the decorations are apparently made.

The plea asked the buyer of the product to contact a human rights organization about the conditions the workers faced.

“If you occasionally buy this product, please kindly resend this letter to the World Human Right Organization,” the unsigned letter read, according to the Oregonian.

“Thousands people here who are under the persicution of the Chinese Communist Party Government will thank and remember you forever."

Fox News reported that Julie Keith, 42, of Portland, believes that the letter is real as she found it in a sealed box.

After finding the letter, she posted it on Facebook and soon gained media attention.

“It would be nice if these companies were aware of what was happening,” she told Fox News.

Keith said she had spoken with US customs agents who are investigating.

The writer of the letter indicated that they worked in the Masanjia Labor Camp in Shenyang, China.

It even specifies the unit and department where the laborer is stationed.

Laborers work for 15 hours a day without time off on the weekends and holidays and make only 10 yuan ($1.61) per month, it claims.

NDTV, a channel run by the Falun Gong who are persecuted in China, said that the description of the camp rang true.

The channel quoted a Falun Gong member, Dai Liguo, who said:

“I was sent to Masanjia in 1999 and persecuted there. They produce handmade crafts for export. Most are plastic and are toxic." 

He added: "I was making Christmas decorations, and also knitted sweaters. I had to work from 5 in the morning to 11 at night.”

US law prohibits the import of products made by foreign convict or forced labor.