Police Arrest Several Practitioners in Xiangtan County, Hunan Province

Police officers in Xiangtan County, Hunan Province arrested five Falun Gong practitioners in February 2008. Only Mr. Zhu Guangquan has been released on bail (on March 4th, 2008). The others have been detained in the Sanjiaoping Detention Centre in Xiangtan City and their family members are not allowed to see them.

At about 9 p.m. on February 26th, 2008, when Mr. Liu Heqing was passing by the dormitory of the Tan Coal Mine in Yisuhe Town. He was stopped and physically searched by a patrol team from the local police station. After a Falun Gong booklet was found on him, he was taken to the local police station.

The next day, Mr. Liu questioned He Jianping (male), head of the 610 Office¹ in Xiangtan County, and Xiong Liangjun (male), director of the State Security Division, "Don't I have the freedom to walk? This illegal search is a violation of citizens' freedom." Police Officer Deng Shunyuan (male) lied by claiming that Mr. Liu was distributing Falun Gong leaflets exposing the persecution
Chen Yixin (male), director of the local police station said, "The two Congresses will be held soon, so we have to detain you again." At 8 p.m., Mr Liu was secretly taken to Xiangtan County Detention Centre, where he shouted loudly each day, "Falun Gong is good."

Starting March 17th, 2008, Mr. Liu held a hunger strike to protest the persecution and he also informed people about the true nature of Falun Gong. On the fifth day of the hunger strike, he collapsed onto the ground. To avoid responsibility, the authorities of the detention centre called the Yisuhe Town Police Station to ask for his release. On the afternoon of March 21st, 2008, the local police station sent Mr. Liu back to his home.

Mr. Zhu Guangquan was arrested at 12:00 p.m. on February 29th, 2008. His computer, printer and 12,900 "yuan²" cash were seized from his home. In addition, in another of his apartments, a computer, two printers, and an electric cooking pot disappeared without a trace.

On the evening of March 1st, 2008, Mr. Xie Wangming and Ms. Yang Shunying were arrested. The police officers seized computers, printers, air conditioners, refrigerators, and bicycles from their homes.

At about 5 p.m. on March 2nd, 2008, Ms. Zhang Yaqin was arrested. Her husband refused to cooperate with the police officers, so they threatened to arrest him for "hindering official business". The computer and printer in her home belong to her daughter, and were not taken.

Another practitioner Mr. Lu Xiqiong was also arrested during this period.

Note

1. "The 610 office" is an agency specifically created to persecute Falun Gong, with absolute power over each level of administration in the Party and all other political and judiciary systems.

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

Chinese version available at http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2008/3/31/175538.html