Chinese Communist Party Officials from the Qingdao Bei District Court Conduct Large-Scale Unjust Activities

On the morning of March 10th, 2009, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) orchestrated a terrible and ugly play at the Qingdao City Dashan Detention Centre in Shandong Province. The CCP collected a large group of individuals to attend a court session, including 610 Office¹ staff, CCP plain clothes policemen, armed military police, Domestic Security Brigade officers, court police officers, judges, a "Procurator" and two to three hundred additional people. Additionally, over 50 police and other vehicles occupied nearly the entire 600-metre long path leading to the detention centre. All these arrangements were made for the trial of four kind-hearted Falun Gong practitioners.

In the so-called trial, all the practitioners stated, "Falun Gong is wonderful, and Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good." They refused any part in the admission of crimes, and they sued the court for conducting an trial, and for their having been subjected to cruel punishment while being detained. Within thirty minutes after the trial began, court judges Tian Hua and Wang Ge read a prepared statement, then quickly ended the session.

During his illegal detention, practitioner Mr. Liu Lianjun often shouted, "Falun Gong is wonderful!" As a result, he was severely beaten and one of his legs was injured. Therefore, guards dragged him into the court. During the court recess period, the guards dragged him out of the court room, where he was beaten again. When Mr. Liu's sister requested to see him, she also accused the guards of subjecting Mr. Liu to torture, and was immediately removed from the courtroom by three officers. One officer kicked her in the back, causing an injury.

Summary of Irresponsible Actions by CCP Officials and Other Personnel:

1. To fabricate an inappropriate court atmosphere and cover up their own fears, the CCP set up multiple checkpoints along a 600-metre section of road leading to the detention centre. There were several policemen stationed at each checkpoint, including a dozen "citizens" who were actually plain clothes police. Additional officers and plain clothes policemen occupied the road. Vehicles were not allowed to pass the first checkpoint, since it was occupied by police vehicles. The second checkpoint allowed only lawyers and two family members per practitioner on trial to pass, but all CCP personnel were allowed through to fill the courtroom. The third checkpoint was set up at the iron gate of the No. 1 Detention Centre, and was guarded by a group of officers and plain clothes policemen, one armed with an anti-crowd-control weapon, with which he threatened an elderly family member (Ms. Jin Fengli, a 70-year-old woman), who was trying to enter the courtroom. Ms. Jin questioned him, "You policemen are supported by us ordinary people. How do you justify pointing your gun at us?" Ms. Jin was not allowed into the courtroom until the lawyer talked to the court manager. The fourth checkpoint was set up just outside the courtroom, in the detention centre, where guards conducted body searches targeting the practitioners' family members and friends.

2. A group of "court police officers" delayed the lawyers, demanding to see their IDs. The lawyers stated, "We're here to meet our clients. If you are police officers serving the court, how dare you stop us?! How dare you stop us on the detention centre's property?! We want to see your IDs too." Another lawyer took a picture of this police officer's ID, then a group of officers came up to him and tried to take away his camera, but didn't succeed.

3. A group of plain clothes police officers surrounded a few lawyers in order to harass them. They tried to search the lawyers while shouting, "We're bystanders, and don't like people like you!" The lawyers immediately replied, "Look around, if there are so many bystanders and checkpoints, how come you guys can freely pass through, while others can't?"

4. Although Mr. Li Quanfu's lawyer received a notice that the trial would begin at 10:30 a.m., the court set the actual time for 9:30 a.m. without notifying the lawyer. When the lawyer produced the notification letter, the court officer lied to him, saying that he needed to verify the letter. He took the letter, but didn't return it. This particular police officer has a history of suspicion of destroying evidence.

5. Several lawyers went to the Shibei District Court to submit a "Declaration Protesting An Illegal Trial and Refusal To Be Present At the Court." There were very few people working at the district court, since most of them were at the detention centre. The court employees were quite dissatisfied over the mistreatment of practitioners, and their facial expressions indicated that they disapproved of the actions of those participating in the persecution, their illegal handling of the case, and their knowingly violating the law.

The CCP brought this case to trial many times, placed practitioners under detention for extended terms, and conducted other illegal activities. The CCP should bear responsibility for the following:

1. Preventing lawyers from providing a legal defence for their clients. Only one hour was allowed for each court trial. Therefore, there was not adequate time for important procedures such as proof, cross-examination, and defence. According to the lawyers, regular court time typically lasts five to six hours, and sometimes eight to nine hours.

2. The "court" was set up inside the detention centre, and a significant police force was arranged to prevent people from going into the court, even though these trials are technically open to the public. The rights of family members and other citizens to observe the trial were violated. The plaintiffs were discriminated against, the court ignored the principal of "presumption of innocence until proven guilty," and a threatening atmosphere was created that violated citizens' civil rights. The CCP demonstrated contradictory actions, causing social dissatisfaction and hatred. Police resources were wasted, and taxpayer and social resources were squandered.

3. The CCP undermined the independent jurisdiction of the local authorities. Neither the "procurator" nor the "court" followed applicable laws. Rather, they followed orders from the 610 Office.

In late January 2008, the CCP's 610 Office officials from Shanghaiing and Qingdao City Provinces had police officers arrest thirteen practitioners, including Jin Fengli, Lu Xueqin, Sun Liping, Zhang Xiaoqiang, Xu Zhifeng, Guo Zhiqiang, Liu Lianjun, Li Quanfu, Yin Xiaoxin, Liang Lijun, Zhang Shouwei, Li Tao and Xiong Xianyong and their family members (including Sun Li ).

In the interim, to hide the brutality of the persecution and reduce national attention to the persecution, as well as create obstacles for practitioners' lawyers, CCP officials from the Shibei District Procurator changed the case and brought practitioners to trial in different ways, from combining thirteen people into one case, to later separating them into nine different cases. Lawyers and practitioners' families have complained and appealed to the responsible judicial and auditing departments. Disregarding the strong protests from family members, on March 10th, 2009, CCP officers brought Jin Fengli, Li Tao, Li Quanfu, and Guo Zhiqiang to trial, and also arranged to bring Liu Lianjun, Liang Lijun, Sun Liping, Zhang Shouwei, Xiong Xianyong, Xu Zhifeng, Zheng Raoqiang, and Yin Xinxiao to another six trials on March 12th-13th.

Family members and lawyers decided that the lawyers would refuse to show up in court as an act of protest and condemnation, and would only submit a "Declaration of Refusing to be Present in Court," demonstrating that they would not cooperate with this "court farce."

Relevant agents and their workplaces -
The criminal court of the Shibei District Court: Tian Hua
Court staff, Shibei District Court: Wang Ge
Secretary of the court, Shibei District Court: Zhang Jing
Shibei District Procurator: Lu Qiang

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.

Chinese version available at http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2009/3/15/197174.html