Ms. Cheng Donglan in Xichang City, Sichuan Province was arrested for practising Falun Gong; subsequently, her family hired an attorney. However, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture Judicial Bureau staff and Xichang City National Security Team blocked the attorney from meeting Ms. Cheng Donglan, citing "state secrets" as an excuse.
On October 2nd, 2009, Ms. Cheng Donglan was arrested by plainclothes police officers at the Factory Number 410 grocery market. Officers from the Xichang City National Security Team held her at the Dechang County Detention Centre, Liangshan Prefecture. Subsequently, officials issued an arrest warrant for Ms. Cheng Donglan. In January 2010, Ms. Cheng's family hired an attorney to represent her.
On the morning of January 7th, 2010, the attorney went to the Xichang City Public Security Bureau to request a meeting with Ms. Cheng. The National Security Team deputy director Tai Gangyi claimed that the case was classified, and rejected the attorney's request. The attorney explained to Tai Gangyi that a classified case in criminal law referred to a case involving state secrets. Ms. Cheng Donglan's case was open, so it didn't involve state secrets. Tai Gangyi then diverted the request, saying that the attorney needed local Judicial Bureau approval.
Ms. Cheng's attorney went to see Liangshan Prefecture Judicial Bureau deputy director Li and the manager of Notary Public Management Office. The manager claimed that Falun Gong severely threatened the CCP's ruling position and state security. Li told the attorney to "talk about politics." The attorney told the two officials: "An attorney requesting to meet his client is legal according to criminal law. I haven't heard any Falun Gong case not following criminal law. Ms. Cheng Donglan's case does not involve state secrets. An attorney meeting Ms. Cheng Donglan will not hinder the investigation. Even the police working on the case acknowledged that an attorney meeting with Ms. Cheng wouldn't hinder the investigation."
The attorney asked Tai Gangyi, "You told Ms. Cheng Donglan that she had the right to hire an attorney, but when her family hires one, you won't allow them to meet. If a law enforcement agency must use illegal methods to enforce the law, does it mean that there is something wrong in the case they are handling?"
Later, the attorney filed a complaint for being prevented from meeting his client.
The National Security Team deputy director's reason for rejecting the attorney's meeting request was the same as the Xichang City Public Security Bureau deputy director's reason for rejecting the request from another Falun Gong practitioner, Mr. Gao Deyu's attorney: Falun Gong issues involve state secrets.
Related organisations and personnel associated with the case:
Du Xichuan, director, Liangshan Prefecture Judicial Bureau: 86-834-2162022
Peng Kang, director, Xichang City Public Security Bureau: 86-834-2178001 (Office), 86-13881522777 (Mobile)
Wang Yaohui, deputy director (in charge of National Security Team): 86-13908158361 (Mobile)
Wu Hongtie, director, Xichang City Public Security Bureau National Security Team: 86-13608145134 (Mobile), 86-834-2178025 (Office)
Chinese version available at http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2010/1/15/216312.html
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