13 Arrested for Demanding a Falun Gong Practitioner's Release

Thirteen people were arrested outside a brainwashing centre for asking for the release of Falun Gong practitioner Mr. Ye Shumao (叶树茂) on October 18th, 2014, two days after Mr. Ye was arrested.

A village toll station in Shulan City was turned into a black jail, now known as the Shangying Brainwashing Centre, where Falun Gong practitioners are tortured in an attempt to force them to give up their belief.

Mr. Ye was arrested at his own shop in Jiaohe, Jilin Province, and taken to the Shangying Brainwashing Centre by Minzhu Police Station officers on October 16th.

According to informed sources, the arrest was orchestrated by the Jiaohe 610 Office (an organisation of special agents just for persecuting Falun Gong). The police were arresting practitioners based on a list of names they had obtained.

Several other practitioner shop owners in Jiaohe were also harassed on the same day.

Out of serious concern for Mr. Ye, his family went to the local 610 Office and police station on the day of his arrest, demanding his release. The officials refused to meet with them.

The family returned the next day, but again were prevented from seeing the officials who were responsible for the arrest.

On the third day, 13 family members and friends went directly to the brainwashing centre and demanded Mr. Ye's release.

When the brainwashing centre staff learned of the reason for their visit, they stopped talking with them and left them outside the gate of the brainwashing centre.

A short while later, more than ten police officers arrived and arrested all 13 people there. They were taken to Xiaocheng Town Police Station and later to the Shulan Police Department, where they were interrogated.

Mr. Ye's wife was released due to health issues. Of the 12 who remain in custody, several received a 15-day detention notice.