Police in Jilin City Arrest Practitioners, Family Demands their Release

Mr. Dong Qingyou is a practitioner who lives on Zhanqian Street in Jilin City. At about 8 a.m. on April 25th, 2009, more than 10 policemen went to his place, including officials from the Jilin City 610 Office¹, and the Domestic Security Division head, Mr. Huo, as well as officials from the Jilin Criminal Division, and the Zhanqian Police Station (Chief Sun Tiegang and a policeman surnamed Chen). Mr. Dong Qingyou and his wife Li Shunxiang did not open the door, so the police broke into their home and confiscated their personal property, including a laptop computer and CD recorders. They arrested the couple and took them to the Zhanqian Police Station.

Upon hearing this, Ms. Li's younger brother came to his home and noticed that the windows were left open, the door lock was broken, and the entire home had been messed up. Seeing that the police were about to leave, he asked them, "How can you break the door lock and leave like this? If you do, I will leave the door open for others to come and take photos." The police were afraid that their bad deeds would be exposed, so they replaced the lock.

After he closed the door and windows, Ms. Li's younger brother went to the Zhanqian Police Station and asked them why they had made the arrest. A policeman named Chen said it was because the couple practised Falun Gong. When told that practising Falun Gong did not violate the law, Chen said that they found Falun Gong books and informational materials during their search. Mr. Dong's family members then told Chen that it was normal to keep Falun Gong books at home and requested they be returned. Chen said he needed permission from the Jilin City's National Security officials.

Police officers from the Jilin Criminal Division also made a list of items that were confiscated and asked one of Mr. Dong's relatives (a practitioner) to sign it. This practitioner refused to sign, because they had stolen these items and they should be returned unconditionally. The practitioner also said that it was a violation of the law to break in and arrest innocent people. Mr. Dong's family said they would file a lawsuit.

At about 7 p.m., Mr. Dong and his wife walked out of the Zhanqian Police Station and returned home.

Phone number of the Zhanqian Police Station: 86-432-2549880
Yang Zhongping, Head of Jilin City 610 Office: 86-432-2010610

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/2009/4/28/199848.html