Practitioners Recently Arrested in Songyuan City, Jilin Province

Songyuan City is located near Changchun City, Jilin Province. Since July 1999, when the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) started the persecution of Falun Gong, large numbers of practitioners in Songyuan have been arrested and sentenced. The persecution became especially severe after March 5th, 2002, when practitioners tapped into the local TV network system to broadcast truth-clarification videos. They were able to do this again during the Beijing Olympics in 2008. Recently, police in Songyuan have arrested many practitioners and confiscated their personal belongings.

It was learned that the police had been monitoring practitioners' mobile phones in order to find them quickly. The Jilin Province 610 Office (an organisation of special agents just for persecuting Falun Gong) was also involved in the recent arrests.

Mr. Wang Wei arrested in Jiangbei

Around 2 p.m. on April 23rd, 2012, Falun Gong practitioner Mr. Wang Wei from Songyuan City was arrested in Jiangbei. His wife, also a practitioner, disappeared on the night of April 23rd. No one answers when her mobile phone is called.

Mr. Wang Wei, forty years old, is an electrician in Jiangbei District, Songyuan City. After the persecution escalated, to avoid harassment from the local police, his family moved to downtown Songyuan City. The couple survived by doing odd jobs. They have also been supporting their son, who is in school.

Ms. Gao Fengqin, Ms. Bao, and Xiao Xiang arrested in Kalunfangzi Village

On the afternoon of April 23rd, 2012, Ms. Gao Fengqin and Ms. Bao (given name unknown) were arrested in Kalunfangzi Village.

Ms. Gao Fengqin is in her fifties. She is very helpful and her friends fondly call her “big sister.” In order to avoid harassment from police, she had moved to Songyuan City. Her parents, also Falun Gong practitioners, are now imprisoned.

Ms. Bao, in her 60s, used to live in another city. In order to avoid the persecution, she moved back to Kalunfangzi Village. Her family has been persecuted by the CCP and their life has been very difficult. Her son, Mr. Bao Xuewei and his wife were sentenced to eight years of imprisonment and they are still in prison. Ms. Bao has to take care of the couple's four daughters. The smallest child just started elementary school. Their only means of support is the money that Ms. Bao's husband earns collecting rubbish and doing odd jobs. Now Ms. Bao has been arrested and we do not know how the family will survive.

On April 23rd, practitioner Xiao Xiang was arrested in Kalunfangzi Village.

Ms. Zou Guixiang arrested at home having dinner

Around 4 p.m. on April 23rd, Ms. Zou Guixiang was having dinner when officers from the Songyuan Police Department came to arrest her. The police also took away portraits of the founder of Falun Gong and Falun Gong books.

Ms. Geng Ruifen from Jiangbei arrested

On April 24th, practitioner Ms. Geng Ruifen from Jiangbei, Songyuan City was arrested at home. Officers from the Songyuan Police Department broke into her house and ransacked the place. They took away her computer, printer, cash, and Falun Gong books.

Liu Dianjun and Zhu Defang arrested

On April 23rd and 24th, practitioners Liu Dianjun and Zhu Defang were also arrested. It is yet to be confirmed whether more practitioners have been arrested.