Good People Helping Disaster Victims Are Arrested and Persecuted

A disastrous flood occurred in the Fushun District of Liaoning on August 16th, 2013 with the worst affected area at Nankouqian Town in Qingyuan County. Government officials did not provide relief for the disaster, and even prevented the news from getting out. Police then arrested Falun Gong practitioners who were actively helping out with the relief efforts.

Ms. Huang Yupin from Nankouqian Town, together with fellow practitioners Zhang Yanfen, Ms. Liu Jinyan and Mr. Zhang Wenkun prepared food and clothing, and then went to distribute them to the flood victims. However, they were arrested by the police in Qingyuan County on the same day. The police also broke into their houses, took photos and confiscated some of their personal belongings. Zhou Fujie, political commissar of the Qingyuan Police Department, ordered the arrest of the practitioners and had their homes ransacked.

Zhang Yanfen, Ms. Liu Jinyan and her husband Zhang Wenkun were released after they were each forced to pay 30,000 yuan¹ to the police. Ms. Huang is still being held in the Fushun Detention Centre.

Selfless behaviour is rewarded with persecution

After the disastrous flood, Ms. Huang who is almost 50 years old, visited the area to help the victims almost every day. Although she and her relatives were safe from the flood, she felt sympathy towards those who were forced to live in these miserable conditions.

Ms. Huang and her husband do odd jobs to earn a living. However, they spent over 700 yuan on supplies for the disaster relief efforts. This money could have supported the family for several months and is a large amount of money for them. Her husband supported her selfless behaviour saying, “It's worthwhile to spend some money to help victims in our hometown.” However, the police arrested her because she is a Falun Gong practitioner.

Ms. Huang and his son are requesting the Qingyuan Police Department release his wife and return the personal property taken by the police.

Note

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