Four Falun Gong Practitioners from Longkou City, Shandong Province, Arrested

When four Falun Gong practitioners from Longkou City, Shandong Province, were handing out posters about Shen Yun Performing Arts [a world-class traditional Chinese cultural show from New York] DVDs on the morning of October 20th, 2012, they were reported to the police by individuals who were unclear on the facts about Falun Gong. Police officers arrived, arrested them, and took them to the Xiaomenjia Police Station. The one man and three women were then taken to Penglai Detention Centre. The man's car was held at Xiaomenjia Police Station. Their cash, keys, and handbags were confiscated.

The families of the four practitioners went to Penglai Detention Centre on October 21st to demand their release. After they learned that all of them refused to report their names, that they were on hunger and water strikes to resist being held, and that their situations were perilous, their family members got very worried and demanded their release more urgently. However, detention centre officials claimed that they couldn't make such a decision and that the families had to talk to the Penglai Domestic Security Department, but to whom exactly they would not say. All they said was, "We can't give you a name. If you go, you'll find out."

The families went to the Penglai City Domestic Security Department on October 23rd and explained that there was nothing wrong with practising Falun Gong. They demanded that the practitioners be released right away. Police officers from the Domestic Security Department refused to listen, instead demanding that they reveal the names of the four practitioners, as well as their own names. When they refused to do that, the police drove them away. The police also held their vehicle, claiming that it was blocking traffic, and they confiscated their computer, mobile phones, and other personal items.

One of the four practitioners was divorced from her husband a long time ago and has sole custody of their 10-year-old son, who has now been forced to get by on his own.

The situations of the four practitioners are currently unknown, because their families have not been allowed to visit them. We ask that concerned people from home and abroad help these innocent practitioners return home!

Xiaomenjia Police Station in Penglai City

Relevant phone numbers:
Xiaomenjia Police Station: +86-5355751215, +86-5355751110, +86-5355751315
Liu Yuming, in charge of the Domestic Security Department: +86-5355606050, +86-13708910199 (Mobile)
Li Yuelian, in charge of the 610 Office: +86-15853582925 (Mobile) +86-535-5719626 (Office)
Wang Jianzhou, in charge of detention centre: +86-535-5666826, +86-13863879565 (Mobile)
Hao Jianwei, head of detention centre: +86-535-5642501 (Office), +86-13963846266 (Mobile)