Chenzui Village Police Officers in Tianjin Arrest and Extort Money from Practitioners

Villager Li Guosheng falsely accused a male practitioner from the same village of burning an antithetical couplet [two lines of poetry traditionally placed on the doors of people's homes] on March 15th, 2007. The practitioner, who had just begun practising Falun Gong, learned of Li's accusation and asked another practitioner, Ms. Huang Xixiu, to go with him to explain the facts about Falun Gong to Li. When they arrived at Li's home, only his daughter-in-law was there. The two practitioners told her of their visit and explained, "Falun Gong practitioners cultivate Truthfulness-Benevolence-Forbearance and would definitely do no such thing." Li Guosheng's daughter-in-law became irrational and called Li. The two practitioners realized she wouldn't listen to them and wanted to leave. However, she wouldn't let them leave and said Li would return immediately. Several moments later, Li returned home and told the practitioners, "I reported you to the authorities."

The next day at around noon, the police, including officer Wang Lei from Chenzui Police Station, went to Ms. Huang Xixiu's home and arrested her. They ransacked her home and confiscated her Falun Gong books and lectures CDs. Ms. Huang's sister was there and tried to explain that it wasn't her sister's fault and they should not take her into custody. As a result, the police also took her to the police station for "interfering with their duty." There was also a young man at Ms. Huang's home who tried to kindly explain to the police, but they threatened him, "If you do this again, we will arrest you too." Many people witnessed the incident.

The police extorted money from Ms. Huang and her sister's family by threatening them, saying "Your problem is big if we say so or small if we say so. We will release you after each of you pays 500 yuan¹ for each of you." The family members knew what the police were doing was wrong, but they were afraid to stand up for their rights. Without Ms. Huang or her sister's consent, the families gave the police 1000 yuan. However, the two sisters were still detained at the police station for seven days even after the money was paid.

Director of Chenzui Police Station Wei Yuqing
Assistant-director Wei Wenjian
Policeman Wang Lei
Phone number of Chengzui Police Station: (86-22) 22146425

Note

1. "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/2010/10/28/231591.html