Four People in One Family Arrested, Young Child Left Homeless

More than ten police officers from the Hengshan District in Jixi City rushed into the home of senior citizen Mr. Xiang Hongfu on May 14th, 2009, at 4:00 a.m. Mr. Xiang is a Falun Gong practitioner who lives with his wife in the Dahengshan residential area. The police ransacked his home, making a mess, and arrested him; his wife, Yu Shuqin; son, Xiang Bin; and daughter-in-law, Huang Yingjie. The police also confiscated a number of family possessions.

The four adults are being held at the Jixi Detention Centre. Mr. Xiang's young grandson, with no one at home to take care of him, became homeless.

Xiang Hongfu's wife, Ms. Yu Shuqin, is 62 years old. She was in poor health before she started practising Falun Gong and suffered from multiple illnesses. She also had a nasty temper. When she was in a bad mood, she would fight with her husband and his parents. Once she began practising Falun Gong, however, she understood the purpose of life and became a much kinder person. Ms. Yu apologized to others for her past behaviour and began to enjoy good relationships with family members and neighbours. She also became much healthier. Her husband suffered from severe life-threatening illnesses for years. After becoming healthy through practising Falun Gong, Mr. Xiang often told others, "Falun Gong has given me a new lease on life. I would have died long ago had I not practised it." Living by the principles of Falun Gong, the couple enjoyed a happy family life.

Prior to the arrests of Mr. Xiang and Ms. Yu, their youngest son informed them of his plan to get married at home. He had been away in Hainan Province for five years and had not returned home once during that time. The old couple was very happy and began to prepare for their son's wedding. But suddenly they were arrested and could not participate in the wedding. Their relatives are saddened by the arrests.

We appeal to the regime to release the Xiang family. China's constitution guarantees freedom of belief, of assembly, and of speech. The Chinese Communist Party's persecution of good citizens is a gross violation of the law.

Hengshan District Police Department:

Police Chief Qi Xiujie: 86-467-2886969, 86-467-2462368, 86-13704686177 (mobile), 86-467-8816177
General Office Head Liu Bin: 86-467-2660228, 86-467-2560666, 86-13836598888 (mobile)
Political Office Head Yin Zhisheng: 86-467-2380708, 86-13946844443 (mobile) 86-467-8864443
Disciplinary Office Head Tan Zeming: 86-467-2463292, 86-467-2461685, 86-13945807059 (mobile)
Public Security Team Head Xin Chengguo: 86-467-2662390, 86-13284671000 (mobile)
Criminal Police Team Head Sun Changbin: 86-467-2560999, 86-13945843088 (mobile)
Internet Surveillance Team Head Feng Dapeng: 86-467-6161298, 86-467-8867989
State Security Team Head Gao Yan: 86-467-2374444, 86-467-2464441, 86-13304874444 (mobile)
Touring Police Team Head: Li Wenlu: 86-467-2376138, 86-467-2462353, 86-13946814869 (mobile)
Technical Support Team Head Liu Zhuqiang: 86-467-2456189, 86-467-2561974, 86-13359891266 (mobile) 86-88640571138
Dahengshan Police Station Head Liu Ruheng: 86-467-2375218, 86-13836554866 (mobile)

Chinese version available at http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2009/7/6/204031.html