Five Falun Gong Practitioners from Ningxiang Arrested

On December 21st, 2012, officers from the Bairuopu Police Station in Wangcheng County arrested Falun Gong practitioners Mr. Dong Chao, Ms. Zhu Chuxia and a practitioner surnamed Yao from Ningxiang County as they passed Guangming Village, Wangcheng County. The three practitioners were beaten by the police. Afterwards, Yao and Mr. Dong were sent to the Wangcheng Detention Centre. Ms. Zhu's whereabouts are unknown.

The three practitioners' families hurried to inquire into their whereabouts after hearing that they had been arrested. They first went to the Bairuopu Police Station. The police pretended that the practitioners were not there. The families then went to the detention centre. The guards also told them that the practitioners were not there. The anxious families did not see Mr. Dong and Yao until three days later.

After being detained for several days, Yao still had clearly visible blood marks about the mouth. Mr. Dong's front teeth were missing due to being beaten. He looked old and withered. He talked in a low voice and had no energy.

In addition, it was said that officers from the Getang Police Station in Wangcheng County arrested practitioners Ms. Li Rong and Ms. Ye Haihua from Ningxiang County and sent them to the Wangcheng Detention Centre some time around December 15th, 2012. The details are under investigation.

Mr. Dong Chao Benefited Physically and Mentally from Practising Falun Gong but Was Persecuted Because He Exposed the Persecution

Mr. Dong Cao, 53 years old, worked at the Ningxing Grain Bureau. His mother was the first female mayor of Ningxiang County. Mr. Dong started to practise Falun Gong in 1996 and benefited both physically and mentally from the practice. Under the guidance of the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, Mr. Dong learned to become modest and tolerant and got rid of bad habits such as smoking, drinking and playing cards.

In July 1999, while practising the Falun Gong exercises at Ningxiang Stadium, Mr. Dong Chao was taken away by Liu Shiqiang, Deputy Secretary of the Ningxiang Politics and Law Committee and other officers from the Ningxing 610 Office (an organisation of special agents just for persecuting Falun Gong) and the County Domestic Security Division. He was detained for one month. In 2000, Mr. Dong went to Beijing to appeal for Falun Gong. He was detained for one month by the Ningxiang 610 Office, during which time he was badly injured both physically and mentally.

Retired Teacher Ms. Li Rong Brutally Tortured Many Times

Ms. Li Rong is a retired teacher in her 70s from Ningxiang County. Her husband passed away years earlier. She has no children and lives alone. She was sent to the Bamalong Forced Labour Camp twice because she firmly held to her belief in Falun Gong. Her total time in detention has been more than four years. Later on, she was put under house arrest by the Ningxiang 610 Office at the Longfengshan Nursing Home in Ningxiang County for almost two years. Her pension was withheld without cause for almost ten years.

In the forced labour camp, Ms. Li was beaten with electric batons and forced to sit on a small tiger bench¹. She was handcuffed and hung up for a long time until she lost consciousness. One time, a guard kicked her on the sole of her left foot, badly injuring her. The guards also pried her mouth open with a big fire tong and stuffed dirty rags into her mouth. Her teeth were damaged in the process, and she lost three teeth. Others who took part in the torture grabbed her head, slammed her against the bed and brutally beat and kicked her.

Ms. Ye Haihua is about 60 years old. In November 2012, she was taken to the Ningxiang Detention Centre by officers from the Ningxiang 610 Office and the Domestic Security Division. She was detained there for one week.

All people of justice in the world, please offer your help to these practitioners so they can go home safely.

Relevant Departments and Personnel:

Wangcheng Politics and Law Committee:
Yuan Jiankang, Party Secretary: +86-731-88064578
Zeng Fengliang, Deputy Secretary: +86-731-88078610

Domestic Security Division of Wangcheng Police Department:
Hu Xin, Chief: +86-731-88175053, +86-13574168088 (Mobile)
Tang Wei, Deputy Chief: +86-731-88175054, +86-13787291388 (Mobile)

Note

1. "Tiger Bench": Prisoners are forced to sit on a small iron bench that is approximately 20 cm (6 inches) tall with their knees tied together. With their hands tied behind their backs or sometimes placed on their knees, they are forced to sit straight up and look straight ahead without movement for long periods of time.