Owner of Painting and Calligraphy Store in Lanzhou Arrested, Store Contents Confiscated

On October 27th, 2012, Mr. He Jianzhong, a Falun Gong practitioner from Lanzhou, was arrested at his painting and calligraphy store by Chen Zhikai, Assistant Director of the Domestic Security Division of the Lanzhou Police Department, and a group of police officers. The police took a bank deposit and cash amounting to over 10,000 yuan¹, and clients' calligraphy and paintings. These items still haven't been returned. Mr. He is locked up at the Gongjiawan Brainwashing Centre. His family was denied visitation rights.

At about 3 p.m. on October 27th, a man brought a calligraphy painting to Mr. He 's shop, pretending that he wanted it mounted. He asked a few questions and then left the store. Shortly after, Chen Zhikai, Assistant Director of the Domestic Security Division of the Lanzhou Police Department, and three police officers stormed in.

Two officers immediately seized Mr. He. Then, Chen Zhikai demanded that a client who was in the store squat down. The client said, “Who are you? Why should I listen to you.” Chen punched him in the face twice, causing his nose to bleed.

Chen Zhikai then questioned Mr. He, “Do you know anything about what happened in June 2012? Who wrote to Hu Jintao? We've been following you for a long time. You will suffer the same consequences as Niu Wanjiang and his wife if you disclose this on the Minghui website.” [Mr. Niu Wanjiang and Ms. Zhang Zhenmin, Falun Gong practitioners from Lanzhou City, were arrested at their small restaurant on June 29th, 2012.] Chen Zhikai grabbed Mr. He's keys and money when he finished talking. He didn't count the money and stuffed it in his pocket. He handcuffed Mr. He, then arrested him and the client whom he had hit. Chen Zhikai commanded the other police officers to stake out the store and keep it under surveillance.

On October 29th Mr. He's older sister went to the store to discuss a matter related to their father. She didn't expect to find Chen Zhikai and officers from a branch office of the Qilihe Police Department, Lanzhou City, searching her brother's store. Chen and the officers arrested Mr. He's sister and took her to the Chengguan District Police Department. They released her after her family members signed a guarantee statement that she wouldn't practise Falun Gong or associate with people that do.

His family members went to the Chengguan District Domestic Security Division to ask for Mr. He's keys. The director, whose last name was Ma, said, "We still have official business to do, so you can't have them."

On November 9th, officers from the Domestic Security Division confiscated everything from the store, including calligraphy and paintings, books, CDs, three computers, a printer, a CD burner, an incense bag and other objects. They also took a bank deposit of 10,000 yuan that Mr. He had set aside to pay the rent, 4,000 yuan in cash and many paintings and calligraphy by famous artists owned by their customers. Later, his family compared the checklist that the officers gave them against Mr. He's accounting record. They found out that the officers didn't include the money or the paintings and calligraphy that had been taken. There was no account of these items.

Afterwards, Mr. He's family went to the Domestic Security Division to inquire about the missing rent money, and the calligraphy and paintings. Director Ma said he would check. Chen Zhikai called Mr. He's family and said, “The money, calligraphy and paintings are here but don't report this to the upper authorities.” Chen called Mr. He's family again and asked them to come to the Domestic Security Bureau the next day.

The next day Mr. He's family went to the Domestic Security Bureau. The officers let them see the bank deposit money and the cash, and gave them a record of it, but didn't say where the calligraphy and paintings were. They just said that they definitely have them but only a few people are aware of them and know where they are. They also said that they would retaliate if this were exposed on the Minghui website.

Mr. He's family went to the Gongjiawan Brainwashing Centre but they were weren't allowed to see him. They asked why. They were told to speak with the authorities but that “this would cause trouble.”

Chen Zhikai, Assistant Director of Domestic Security Division of the Lanzhou Police Department, has persecuted many Falun Gong practitioners in the Lanzhou District

Note

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