Elderly Shenyang Woman Arrested, Tried for Speaking the Truth

Name: Wang Guilan
Gender: Female
Age: 65
Occupation: Retired worker of factory owned by the Masanjia Forced Labour Camp
Date of Most Recent Arrest: April 17th, 2012
City: Shenyang
Province: Liaoning
Persecution Suffered: Home ransacked, detention

Ms. Wang Guilan, 65 years old, is a resident of Shenyang in Liaoning Province. On April 17th, 2012, she was grocery shopping at the fresh market, and said to some people “Falun Gong is good”. She was then arrested by local police and her home was ransacked. Although the authorities did not find anything incriminating in her home, she is still being detained. Recently, the Tiexi District Court placed her on trial. The presiding judge was Li Chunying.

Ms. Wang Guilan is a retired worker of a factory owned by the Masanjia Forced Labour Camp in Shenyang. Prior to her practising Falun Gong, she suffered from various diseases, including pain in the cranial nerves, lower back and legs; rhinitis (nose infection caused by a virus); neurasthenia (fatigue and headaches); and other illnesses. She could not work due to the severity of the diseases. After she started practising Falun Gong in 1997, her health improved quickly and her diseases were cured. She said at the time, “This is the first time in decades that I have the feeling of my body being so light and healthy.” Ms. Wang is kindhearted, outgoing, diligent and skillful. Whenever her neighbours had problems, she was always there to help. She also enjoyed a harmonious relationship with her daughter-in-law. When her daughter-in-law's mother was sick, she went to take care of her every week, helping with laundry, grocery shopping and cooking. Her daughter-in-law said, “Where else can I find such a good mother-in-law?!”

On the morning of October 30th, 2012, Ms. Wang's husband received a call from Tiexi District Court of Shenyang, notifying him that Ms. Wang's trial was that very day. He went to the court, where he saw his wife in very weak condition, thin, and hardly able to open her eyes.

During the so-called trial, judge Li Chunying asked a few questions then quickly ended the session. Li Chunying announced that there were three witnesses, who were employees of the Qinggong Neighbourhood Committee in Tiexi District. Li asked Ms. Wang, “What were you doing at the fresh market?” Ms. Wang replied that she was grocery shopping. Li asked her to sign the court confession document. Ms. Wang refused, saying “I am not a criminal. I'm not signing anything.”

Since the court did not notify Ms. Wang's family until the trial day, her husband didn't have enough time to arrange for a defense lawyer. After the trial, Ms. Wang's friends and relatives consulted a lawyer, who informed them that practicing Falun Gong and telling people about Falun Gong was legal, and founded on the Constitution's protection of the freedom of belief. The so-called witnesses verified that Ms. Wang did tell people “Falun Gong is good.” However, this merely proved that Ms. Wang's actions were legal. On the contrary, he stated that it was illegal for the Zhonggong Police Station to arrest Ms. Wang and for the Tiexi District Procuratorate and Court to prosecute her. Individuals participating in the prosecution will eventually be held accountable.

Although the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) began the persecution of Falun Gong in 1999, Ms. Wang has maintained steadfast practice of Truthfulness-Benevolence-Forbearance. She is a kind person and always speaks the truth, yet she has been persecuted multiple times – and is currently being detained. Her husband is extremely concerned about her deteriorating health. He asked Judge Li Chunying in court, “My wife is quite aged. If you sentence her to prison, don't you think she'll die in there?” Judge Li replied indifferently, “It is out of my hands now. All supporting materials have been completed.” Ms. Wang's family and friends were indignant and said, “The CCP is lawless and unreasonable. Good people are wronged. This society is hopeless.”

Individuals responsible for Ms. Wang Guilan's persecution:

Tiexi District Court, Shenyang: +81-24-25860539 (Phone)
Address: 32 Nanqidong Road, Tiexi District, Shenyang, zip code: 110021
Li Chunying (female), presiding judge; +86-24-85639080 (Phone)

Tiexi District Procuratorate, Shenyang
Public Trial 2nd Division (in charge of Ms. Wang Guilan's case)
Address: 32 Nanbadong Road, Tiexi District, Shenyang, zipcode: 110023

Liu Chungang, police officer, Zhonggong Police Station in Tiexi District, responsible for arresting Ms. Wang: +86-15502417233 (Mobile)
Zhonggong Police Station, Tiexi District, Shenyang: +86-24-85729339, +86-24-85729338

Tiexi District Police Department: +86-24-25855432, +86-24-25857289, +86-24-25739288, +86-24-25637115, +86-24-258504690
Shenyang City 610 Office: +86-24- 25842329 (Phone),
Address: 13 Shiwei Road, Heping District, Shenyang, zip code: 110014
Shenyang City Domestic Security Team: +86-24-25850233 (Phone)