Sixteen Falun Gong Practitioners from Tangshan Detained, Three Sent to Forced Labour Camp

In the early morning of February 20th officials from the 610 Office (an organisation of special agents just for persecuting Falun Gong) in Hebei Province organised police from all levels of the National Security and Police Department to conduct a large-scale arrest of Falun Gong practitioners in nearly ten cities and counties in Hebei Province, including Shijiazhuang, Tangshan, Baoding, Cangzhou, Botou, and Xuanhua. They fabricated charges to imprison practitioners. There are still nineteen practitioners from Tangshan detained, sixteen of them in detention centres, and three have been sent to forced labour camps. Liu Jianguo, Secretary of Tangshan’s Politics and Law Enforcement Bureau, is responsible for the mass arrests.

Eight Falun Gong Practitioners Detained in Tangshan First Detention Centre

Officers from the Kaiping Police Branch, National Security Brigade and Police Station arrested nine Falun Gong practitioners and their family members on February 25th. Currently, five people are detained in the Tangshan First Detention Centre.

Li Wendong, a Falun Gong practitioner who works at the Tangshan Iron and Steel Company, was arrested by the Kaiping Police Branch, National Security Brigade and Police Station on February 25th. His home was ransacked, and during the arrest he was beaten by police. His face turned black and blue. His wife, who does not practise Falun Gong, was also arrested. His family has hired a lawyer to help with the case.

The responsible persons who participated in the unlawful arrest and beating include an officer from the National Security Brigade with the family name of Zheng; Han Bingbing from the Kaiping Police Station; Wang Xuegong from the Kaiping Police Branch, +86-138 3298 9665 (Mobile); and Huang Chao from the Wali Police Station.

Gao Zhaochen lives in the 6th Residential Quarter, Majiagou District, Kaiping. On February 25th he was arrested by a dozen policemen from the police branch, Kaiping National Security Brigade, Kaiping District Liyuan Town Police Station. His home was ransacked. Gao Zhaochen, who is elderly, is now being held in the Tangshan First Detention Centre.

The responsible person who participated in the persecution is Zhang Zhi, team leader of the Criminal Brigade of Kaiping Police Branch.

Zhang Guochen, 44, lives in a miner’s dormitory in Jinggezhuang, Kailuan Coal Mine, Kaiping District, Tangshan. He was arrested on the morning of February 25th in Tangshan. He is being held in the First Detention Centre in Tangshan. His 70-year-old mother, his wife and son all fell ill due to the stress when Zhang Guochen was arrested. Zhang Guochen had been persecuted in a labour camp for two years in 2001. He was tortured in the Tangshan Forced Labour Camp, where he was beaten by electric batons and hung up, and suffered forced brainwashing.

Yue Changcun works at the Jinggezhuang Coal Mine in Kaping. On February 25th he was taken into custody by police from the Police Branch, Kaiping National Security Brigade and Interpol brigade.

Yang Zheng is a Falun Gong practitioner from Daodifu Village, Fengnan District, Tangshan. On February 25th he was taken into custody by police from the Police Branch, Kaiping National Security Brigade and Criminal Brigade.

The responsible persons who participated in the persecution include:
Dong Wei, Deputy Director of the 610 Office in Kaiping District.
Chen Yongwen, who was promoted to Deputy Director of the Kaiping Police Department and has been involved in the persecution for a long time.
Zhao Chunsheng, Team leader of the Kaiping National Security Brigade, +86-13832988290 (Mobile).

Ma Hengchao is a Falun Gong practitioner who works for a Tangshan bank. On February 25, 2012 he was arrested by police from Tangshan. His home was ransacked and his wife, who does not practice Falun Gong, was also arrested. She was released late that evening. Ma Hengchao was first detained in the Tangshan Detention Centre and was later transferred to the Tangshan First Detention Centre. He was jailed for four years for practising Falun Gong. He was fired by the Tangshan ICBC Bank.

The responsible person who participated in the persecution:
Tangshan Police Department Road North Police Branch, Dali Police Station.

A couple, Li Yunpeng and Lu Jianxin, live in Jiaodunlou, Tangshan. At around 6 o'clock on February 25th a dozen policemen from the Beilu Police Branch, National Security Brigade and the Jiaodunlou Police Station arrested them. Their family property was confiscated. The couple are detained in Tangshan First Detention Centre. Li Yunpeng is in Room 101.

The responsible persons who participated in the persecution include:
Jiaodun Police Station:
Liu Jianguo from Tangshan Politics and Law Enforcement Bureau: +86-13831518989
Jia Wenya, Director, Tangshan Police Department
Liu Xiaozhong, Deputy Director, Tangshan Police Department: +86-13832980008
Ma Zhendi, Team Leader, Tangshan Security Brigade: +86-13832985616
Gao Huijiang, Tangshan Security Brigade: +86-18832988508
Tangshan Road North Police Branch
Tangshan Police Department Road Detention Centre
Director: Sun Yansong: +86-315-2532517; +86-138 3298 0206 (Mobile)
Political commissar: Xiang Zhongyuan: +86-138 3295 5551 (Mobile)
Zhang Lanzhong (responsible for meeting lawyers): +86-315-2854999.

Falun Gong Practitioner Detained in Tangshan Second Detention Centre

Bian Lichao, 48, is a teacher at the Tangshan Kailuan Tenth School. His wife Zhou Xiuzhi is a teacher from the Tangshan Eleventh School. At around 6:00 a.m. on February 25th Bian Lichao was stopped on his way home by police from the Lunan District Police Branch, the National Security Team, Criminal Brigade and the local police station. He was arrested and his home was ransacked. His wife, who does not practise Falun Gong, was detained for ten days. Bian Lichao is currently detained in Tangshan Second Detention Centre.

The following agencies participated in the persecution: Tangshanlu Police Branch, National Security Brigade, Yonghongjiao Police Station.

Five Falun Gong Practitioners Detained in the Fengrun Detention Centre

Gu Youwen is a Falun Gong practitioner from Fengrun. At around 2:00 p.m. on February 25th he was arrested while visiting a patient in a hospital. His home was ransacked and he is currently detained at the Fengrun Detention Centre.

The responsible person who participated in the persecution: Tangshan Police Department and Tuanjielu Police Station in Fengrun District
Dai Xishuang, Director of Tuanjielu Police Station in Fengrun District: +86-315-2534999, +86-315-5187802, +86-13832982385 (Mobile).

Xu Jie is a Falun Gong practitioner from Hancheng Township, Fengrun District. He was arrested on the morning of February 25th. His home was ransacked. He is currently being held at the Fengrun Detention Centre.

The responsible parties who participated in the persecution: Tangshan Police Department and Hancheng Township Police Station.
Wang Donghui, Director of Hancheng Township Police Station: +86-315-2534727, +86-13832986009 (Mobile).

Yang Guoguang is a Falun Gong practitioner from Gaotuo Village, Chahe Town, Fengrun District. On the morning of February 25th he was arrested and his home was ransacked. The Tangshan Police Department, deputy director of the Chahe Town Police Station Zhang Zhaodan, and Party Secretary of Gaotuo Village Li Zuoquan participated in the arrest. Yang Guoguang is currently being held at the Fengrun Detention Centre.

Responsible persons who participated in the persecution:
Ling Zeqi, Director of Chahe Town Police Station: +86-315-5196858, +86-13832989781 (Mobile)
Zhang Zhaodan, Deputy Director of Chahe Town Police Station: +86-13832985848 (Mobile)

Li Yushu lives in the 21st Residential Quarter, Fengrun District. On the morning of February 25th police from Tangshan followed him and arrested him while he was shopping in Yahongqiao. After 2:00 p.m., police broke into his home, arrested his wife Wang Rui, and ransacked their home. Wang Rui was released that evening. Li Yushu is being held at the Fengrun Detention Centre.

The responsible person who participated in the persecution:
Liu Lixin from the Fengrun National Security Brigade: +86-315-2534676, +86-13832985689 (Mobile).

He Suying, who lives in the 21st Residential Quarter, Fengrun District, was arrested on February 25th. She is still being detained at the Fengrun Detention Centre.

Two Falun Gong Practitioners Detained in Tanghai County Detention Centre

Zheng Xiangxing is an appliance store owner in Shichang Farm, Tanghai County. At 6:00 a.m. on February 25th Li Fuguo from the Tanghai County National Security Brigade, Shichang Farm Police Station, Liba Village Team leader Li Linshen, and Party Secretary Zheng Xiangquan arrested Zheng Xiangxing. His home was ransacked. He is currently being held at the Tanghai Country Detention Centre.

At 2:30 p.m. on March 3rd, the Tanghai County National Security Team Sun Jingsen, together with the Director of the Bachang Police Station in Huangtuzhuang, arrested Falun Gong practitioners Zheng Jinzhi, Zheng Xuehuang and Zheng Baokui, who were studying the Falun Gong teachings. Zheng Baokui is currently being held at the Tanghai County Detention Centre.

Three Falun Gong Practitioners Sent to Kaiping Forced Labour Camp

Zheng Xiuhuan and Zheng Jinzhi from Bachang were sent to the Women's Forced Labour Camp in Kaiping, Tangshan. Zheng Jinzhi was rejected by the labour camp because she did not pass the physical examination. She was released and sent home.

At 7:30 a.m. on February 25th Wang Weiping from the Taipinglu Police Station in Tangshan led five or six policemen and broke into the home of Falun Gong practitioner Li Chengshu. Li Chengshun was arrested and Falun Gong books and two mobile phones were confiscated. Li Chengshun was detained at the Fengrun Detention Centre and then was sent to the Kaiping Forced Labour Camp for a two-year term.

The responsible person who participated in the persecution:
Zhang Shusheng, Director of Taipinglu Police Station: +86-13832984778 (Mobile).

Wei Yuhui is a Falun Gong practitioner from Dingliuhe Town, Leting County. On March 19th police took him from his home directly to the Kaiping Forced Labour Camp in Tangshan for a two-year term.