Publicity Department Director Arrested on Orders from Political and Legal Committee and 610 Office

Ms. Li Tong is the Publicity Department Director of the Benxi Women's Federation, a highly placed position. After she was arrested for exposing an illegal trial of Falun Gong practitioners, the police tried to use the loss of her job as leverage against her. She was told, “It would be a shame to lose such a good job. Why don't you just give up Falun Gong?” Li Tong firmly refused, and is still detained today at the Benxi Detention Centre.

Ms. Li was arrested by the Benxi Police Department on June 6th, 2014, on orders from the Benxi Political and Legal Committee (PLC) and 610 Office (an organisation of special agents just for persecuting Falun Gong).

The Political and Legal Committee (PLC) has jurisdiction over the police force, and has played a key role in carrying out the persecution of Falun Gong. Along with the 610 Office, the PLC coordinates the arrest, search, and trial of Falun Gong practitioners. In many cases, the PLC dictates the practitioners' sentences to the judges.

The PLC, however, often denies responsibility when challenged by practitioners' families. In Ms. Li's case, the family members were directed to the police and court when they tried to protest her illegal arrest.

Ms. Li was accused of providing information about a trial of 12 Falun Gong practitioners that took place on June 3rd, 2014. These practitioners were part of 17 arrests on April 25th, 2013 carried out by Mingshan District Police Station officers. Their trial was postponed as a result of the defence attorneys' refusing to comply with the CCP's intimidation tactics, as covered in this earlier report.

Parties involved:
Shi Fengyou (史凤友), director of Benxi Political and Legal Committee: +86-13384249616 (mobile), +86-024-42890099 (office)
Sun Hongfa (孙洪发), deputy director of Benxi Political and Legal Committee: +86-13704149898(mobile),+86-024-42890063 (office)
Pu Qinghe (朴庆贺), deputy director of Benxi Political and Legal Committee: +86-13804140908(mobile), +86-024-42890056(office)
Zhu Wenqing (朱文清), director of Benxi 610 Office: +86-13604149611 (mobile),+86-024-42803389 (office)
Wang Zhentao (王正涛), deputy director of Benxi 610 Office: +86-13804145992(mobile), +86-024-42890064 (office