Eight Practitioners Sentenced to Forced Labour

On September 23rd, 2009, police officers from different townships, including those from the National Security Division of Lixian County Police Department and the 610 Office (an organisation of special agents just for persecuting Falun Gong), broke into the homes of 14 practitioners. They forced their way in by smashing or prying the doors open with crowbars, then proceeded to ransack the homes. Twelve practitioners were arrested, eight of whom were denied any legal defence and sent to forced labour camps within three days of their arrests. The judge even attempted to sentence one of the practitioners to a long sentence.

The following is information on the practitioners and their arrests:

1. Mr. Zhu Junqiang, 39, was an employee of Lixian Food Company. After he lost his job, he started his own business running a sporting goods store. At 7:00 p.m. on September 23rd, 2009, about a hundred people led by Wang Ruixin, deputy head of Lixian Police Department, and Wang Junchang, head of the National Security Division, surrounded Mr. Zhu's home. Because Mr. Zhu refused to open the door, Wang Junchang ordered officers to use an ax to break down the security door. The officers confiscated a printer, a desktop computer, a DVD burner, DVD player, and Falun Gong books. They also confiscated a safe in which there were three fixed certificates of deposit and over 20,000 yuan¹, totalling over 100,000 yuan, money earned by Mr. Zhu and his brothers. On September 26th, less than three days after his arrest, Mr. Zhu was sentenced to two years of forced labour at Gaoyang Forced Labour Camp.

2. Ms. Zhao Limei, 45, was a teacher at Lixian Television University. After refusing to give up her belief in Falun Gong, she was harassed by officers from the 610 Office, people from her workplace, and the education commission. As a result, her loving family was torn apart. At around 7:00 p.m. on September 23rd, 2009, when Ms. Zhao was on her way home, a group of officers stopped her and took her motorbike and handbag, which contained cash, a fixed certificate of deposit, and pay slips. Then the officers forced their way into her home and confiscated a computer, a printer, and two DVD players. Ms. Zhao was sentenced on September 26th to one year of forced labour at Shijiazhuang Women's Forced Labour Camp.

3. Ms. Zhu Lihua, 40, was a hospital technician. She had been harassed and persecuted for not giving up her belief. She was denied any leave by her employer and was eventually fired. At around 7:00 p.m. on September 23rd, 2009, Han Dakuan, head of the Guodan Police Station, and his men arrested Ms. Zhu and confiscated a computer, two mobile phones, and some Falun Gong books. She was later sentenced to one year of forced labour and was sent to Shijiazhuang Women's Forced Labour Camp on September 26th.

4. Ms. Gu Xiangrui, 56, a retired teacher, was arrested by officers from the local police station shortly after 7:00 p.m. on September 23rd, 2009. The officers confiscated a computer, a printer, and Falun Gong materials. She was sentenced to one year of forced labour and sent to Shijiazhuang Women's Forced Labour Camp.

5. Ms. Rong Zhen, 43, was a doctor who worked at Lixian County Home for the Elderly and was loved by the staff and residents. On September 23rd, a group of officers broke into her home. They arrested her and ransacked her home. They confiscated a video camera with wedding footage, a printer, and Falun Gong books. She was sent to Shijiazhuang Women's Forced Labour Camp to serve one year of forced labour.

6. Mr. Zhu Yanlong, 43, was arrested and his home ransacked at 7:00 p.m. on September 23rd, 2009, by officers from the local police stations. They confiscated a computer, a printer, and Falun Gong books. He was sent to Gaoyang Forced Labour Camp on September 26th for one year.

7. Ms. Fang Wei, 52, owned a bookshop. Because she refused to give up her belief, she was arrested and her home ransacked on September 23rd, 2009. Officers from the local police department confiscated a computer, a printer, and Falun Gong books. She was sent to Shijiazhuang Forced Labour Camp on September 26th for one year.

8. Ms. Tian Junfang, 45, was arrested and her home ransacked by the police on September 23rd, 2009, for refusing to give up her belief. The officers confiscated a computer and printer, which were used for keeping accounts. Her computer contained many important accounting files and report forms. The police also confiscated some Falun Gong books. On September 26th, she was sent to Shijiazhuang Women's Forced Labour Camp for one year.

9. Mr. Zhao Xiaochang, 60, was sentenced to forced labour in 2001, because he went to Beijing to speak out for Falun Gong. During his detention, he was subjected to electric shocks, and the officers also inserted bamboo sticks into the tips of his fingernails. At 7:00 p.m. on September 23rd, 2009, dozens of officers forced their way into his home and confiscated a computer, Falun Gong books, and several copies of Falun Gong leaflets exposing the persecution. As the officers forcibly led him out, Mr. Zhao shouted at the top of his lungs, "Falun Gong is good!" He was handcuffed and shackled, then taken to the Lixian County Detention Centre. The authorities attempted to sentence him with a long imprisonment. His wife, Ms. Feng Wenzhen, was sentenced to seven years imprisonment in 2007 for distributing leaflets about the persecution of Falun Gong. No one is left at their home.

Those responsible for the persecution:

Guo Jianmin, head of Lixian County Police Department: 13803125771 (Mobile), 0312-6218121, 6923698 (Office)

Wang Tao, secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission of the CCP, who was in charge of persecuting Falun Gong: 13933203818 (Mobile)
Wang Ruixin, head of Lixian County Detention Centre: 13930233022 (Mobile)
Wang Junchang, head of the National Security Division: 13503382201 (Mobile), 0312-6226606
Zhang Yaoxian, head of Lixian County 610 Office: 13633228299 (Mobile)
Tian Lihui, deputy head of Lixian 610 Office: 0312-6218555, 0312-6211103, 6215541, 6235800 (Office)

Note

1. "Yuan" is the Chinese currency; 500 yuan is equal to the average monthly income of an urban worker in China.

Chinese version available at http://www.minghui.org/mh/articles/2009/12/14/214402.html