Trial in the Hongshan District Court, Wuhan City, Hubei Province

On the morning of May 31st, 2011, the area surrounding the Hongshan District Court in Wuhan City was densely populated with plainclothes and uniformed police officers. Passersby were interrogated. It turned out that four Falun Gong practitioners were being tried in court that day.

A minimum of 100 police officers were mobilised to the vicinity of the courthouse, including more than 20 anti-riot police, a dozen police cars, and many plainclothes officers. These officers were transported in at least two medium sized vans (around 20-30 seating capacity), a huge police bus (approximately 60 seats), small police vans, and several dozen police cars.

Near the court, anti-riot police were stationed every 7-8 metres. They stood in the rain, wearing helmets and raincoats, and wielding batons. Many police officers dressed in uniforms and plain-clothes stood outside the entrance to the court. On the other side of the main road (which is 20-30 metres wide), police were stationed on the sidewalk 20-30 metres apart.

There were at least two police officers on guard at a bus station about 100 metres away from the court. It was reported that on that day, many practitioners were seized and taken to a brainwashing centre just because they happened to be in the vicinity of the courthouse.

Many police officers were also stationed outside the South-Central University for Ethnic Minorities, which is directly across from the courthouse. A medium sized van carrying a full load of police drove into the university grounds.

After the trial, a super-sized police bus was used to transport the officers. The four practitioners who were tried were transported in a specially designed vehicle that was enclosed in a steel frame.

The four practitioners on trial were Mr. Peng Liang, Mr. Zhang Jingzhou, Mr. Liu Shehong, and Mr. Ouyang Haiwen.

Mr. Peng Liang, nearly 40 years old, lives in Zijin Village (in Pangxiejia, Wuchang District). His family of five are all Falun Gong practitioners. His mother Li Yingxiu and younger brother Peng Min were persecuted to death. His father Peng Huaisheng became mentally unstable as a result of the torture he suffered. He and his sister Peng Yan were detained many times and nearly tortured to death. On the eve of the trial, on May 27th, Peng Yan engaged a lawyer to defend Peng Liang in court, but Peng Yan was suddenly seized and taken away by Liangdao Street Police in the Wuchang District, leaving their elderly and mentally unstable father at home.

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Mr. Liu Shehong is originally from Xianning City in Hubei Province. Before practising Falun Gong, he was notorious for being a troubled youth. At the end of 2006, he began to practise Falun Gong and acted according to the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. He learned to treat others kindly. When fellow villagers heard that he was arrested, they signed petitions to affirm that he was a former troublemaker who turned into a good person. The Daqiao Village Committee also wrote a testimonial for him. (Related article: http://www.clearwisdom.net/html/articles/2011/6/4/125802.html)

Mr. Ouyang Haiwen is 56 years old. He lives in Shuangdun, Hankou and was detained on many occasions in detention centres, forced labour camps, and brainwashing centres. As a result of long periods of inhumane torture, he was so ill that he was taken to the trial wearing an oxygen mask and with an intravenous drip. He was also accompanied by a group of medical staff. He made three statements in court: “First, I used to suffer from many illnesses, but after practising Falun Gong, I truly became healthy. Second, there are people in over 100 countries practising Falun Gong; if it is bad, why would so many people practise it? In China, Falun Gong has been banned for more than 10 years; yet as of today, there are practitioners who refuse to give it up; why is that so? Third, Falun Gong practitioners have no other motives nor political aspirations. We only want to be healthy and be good people. Is this wrong?” According to witnesses who recounted the incident later on, it was very touching to hear these words coming from his emaciated body.

Mr. Zhang Jingzhou, 52 years old, is a resident of Jingzhou City. He was seized and taken away many times. His home was ransacked, and he was sent to a brainwashing centre and forced labour camp. Mr. Zhang was hung up and beaten by police from the Dongxihu branch station for several days and nights. Other practitioners were also tortured by police during interrogation and not allowed to sleep for long periods of time. (Related article: http://www.clearwisdom.net/html/articles/2011/2/5/123073.html )

It was said that on the day of the trial, due to the lawyer's strong defence and the practitioners' efforts, the court could not pronounce a sentence, and the court session was adjourned. However in mid-June, the Hongshan District Courts secretly sentenced the four practitioners. Mr. Zhang Jingshou was sentenced to five-and-a-half years, Mr. Liu Shehong to four years, Mr. Ouyang Haiwen to four years, and Mr. Peng Liang to three years of imprisonment.

Meanwhile, Mr. Peng Liang's sister, Peng Yan, who was abducted on May 28th, four days before her brother's trial, is currently still being detained in the Wuchang Yangyuan brainwashing facility.

The main officials responsible for the sentences are Xu Zhongquan, presiding judge for Hongshan District Courts and Qin Yu, the procuratorate officer.

Chinese version available at http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2011/6/28.html