Twenty-three Falun Gong Practitioners Arrested by Police in Yentai City, Shandong Province

On the morning of March 20th, 2012, the 610 Office (an organisation of special agents just for persecuting Falun Gong) of the Political and Legislative Affairs Committee of Yentai City, Shandong Province ordered police officers in Zhifu District to harass and arrest 23 practitioners who have refused to give up their beliefs. The average age of the arrested practitioners is about 60 years old, with the oldest being 75. All were women except for one man.

Practitioners arrested on March 20th, 2012:

Ms. Liu Wenfang, 65, lives on Minsheng Street. She previously suffered from intestinal tuberculosis, heart and neuropathic disorders, headaches, and high blood pressure, and was often hospitalized. After she began practising Falun Gong, all of her illnesses disappeared and she became healthy again. Officers from Ermalu Police Station broke into Ms. Liu's home, ransacked it, and arrested her. They also confiscated her computer, 3000 yuan¹ in cash, and other personal belongings. That same evening, Ms. Liu was released and only her computer was returned.

Ms. Zhang Xiuyun, 71, lives on Daxing Street. Before she practised Falun Gong, she used to carry her pain medication (for back and leg pain) with her wherever she went. She didn't work, and her husband made only a little bit of money, so she relied on her children to pay for her medical expenses. After she began practising Falun Gong, she regained her health and could do some work. She helped clean her neighbourhood street and shovel the snow. Her neighbours were very touched by her thoughtfulness, and publicly praised her on TV. Approximately eight officers from the Ermalu Police Station went to her home at around 7:00 a.m. To get her to open the door, they lied and said they were from a gas company. After she opened the door, they forced their way into her home and tried to forcefully take her to the police station. However, Ms. Zhang fiercely resisted and the police had no choice but to leave.

Ms. Yang Xingrong, 65, lives on Zhoule Street. She used to suffer from insomnia, and back and abdominal pain. She was bedridden most of the time. The pain also caused her to feel angry, and she took out her frustration on her family. After she learned Falun Gong, her illnesses disappeared and her relationship with her family improved. She helped her neighbours clean the stairways and left her door light on in the evenings so people could better see where they were going. Her neighbours were amazed by the positive changes in Ms. Yang. Officers from the Nanshanlu Police Station tried to arrest her at around 6:00 a.m. Her family resisted the police, so they left unsuccessful.

Ms. Sun Yuanhua, 45, lives in Dongtaizi. Ms. Sun and her family were persecuted simply because they practised Falun Gong. Ms. Sun's home was illegally searched and she was taken to a brainwashing centre, where she was forced to watch videos that slandered the practice and to sign a guarantee letter promising to stop practising Falun Gong.

Ms. Chen Guanglan, 49, was taken to a brainwashing centre and her home was ransacked. Before she was released, she was tortured until her legs became numb.

Ms. Sun Yonglan, 66, lives on Qingnian South Road. She previously suffered from severe, chronic asthma and was hospitalized for years. She was given a second chance in life after she began practising Falun Gong. Some of her former coworkers were surprised to see that she was still alive several years after she had retired. Her neighbours were also in awe when they saw the dramatic changes in her health. At around 6:00 a.m., Ms. Sun and three other practitioners, 62-year-old Ms. Li Fulan, 65-year-old Ms. Shang Yuzhu, and 75-year-old Ms. Ma Cuifen, were forcibly taken to a brainwashing centre. All of their homes were ransacked and their belongings stolen.

Ms. Yang Guorong, 49, lives on Dahaiyang Road. Four plainclothes officers from the Zhifu District Public Security Bureau deceived her into opening her door and arrested her at around 6:30 a.m. They also ransacked her home and confiscated her laptop computer, a DVD burner, and a printer.

Mr. Sun Zhenyao, 45, lives on Xipaotai East Road. More than 20 local police officers broke into his home at around 6:00 a.m. and forcibly took him to a brainwashing centre. They also confiscated his father's computer and his van. His parents, both in their seventies, were shocked by the sudden arrest. They are unable to care for themselves without Mr. Sun's help.

Ms. Ren Aihua, 55, lives on Wenhua Road. The police broke into her home and arrested her at around 6:30 a.m. They confiscated her personal belongings and sent her to a brainwashing centre. At the brainwashing centre, Ms. Ren shouted, “Falun Gong is good!” when she was being tortured. A guard surnamed Zhang then viciously hit her face and head with the bottom of a shoe, injuring her. Liu Guoyao, head of the brainwashing centre, also beat and kicked Ms. Ren relentlessly, especially on her head, face, and back. Guard Zhang handcuffed her tightly and dragged her around, causing severe bruises and cuts on her wrists. As a result of the excruciating pain, Ms. Ren lost consciousness. To protest the persecution, she went on a hunger strike. She was released three days later because of her deteriorated health.

Ms. Lan Shaoqin is in her fifties, and lives in Xingfuli. On the morning of March 20th, eight officers from the Lijiaoqiao Police Station broke into her home. They ransacked her home three times that morning and stole her savings bankbook that listed 100,000 yuan in the account, and 80,000 yuan in cash she kept at home. The money is Ms. Lan's life savings and she has two sick parents who need healthcare. The police officers also stole her computer and printer. Ms. Lan is currently being held and tortured in a brainwashing centre.

Those who were also arrested on March 20th, and had their homes ransacked include Ms. Cui Yuying, 66, from Fenghuangtai; Ms. Song Yurong, 62; Ms. Zhang Shufeng, 72; Ms. Yang Shifang, 42; Ms. Huang Shujuan, 66, from Qishan; Ms. Che Shulan, 53; Ms. Chen Ruilian, 62; and Ms. Yang Shaohuan, 48, from Dazhan. They have all benefited greatly from practising Falun Gong. Ms. Yang Shaohuan's computer, printer, and DVD burner were stolen by the police.

Ms. Song Wenrong, 58, lives on Fu'an Street. A dozen police officers took her away and didn't give her time to put on proper clothes. The police forced her family to pay 4000 yuan for her food and boarding at the brainwashing centre.

Ms. Wang Xiuli, from Xingfuli, was having lunch with her family when six officers from Xingfu Police Station broke into their home. They began taking pictures of her and her family. They also ransacked her home and confiscated her personal belongings after they failed to arrest Ms. Wang.

Government offices responsible for arresting practitioners:

Yentai Brainwashing Centre:
A two-story yellow building located north of Hu'an Electric Cable Factory
A blue sign reading, “Yentai Zhonghuan Mechanics” hangs on the iron gate.
Address: No. 219, Xingfuzhong Road, Zhifu District, Yentai City.

Neighbourhood committees in Zhifu District involved in the persecution:
Xitai Neighbourhood Committee: +86-535-6641762
Zhongtai Neighbourhood Committee: +86-535-6532951
Nantai Neighbourhood Committee: +86-535-6539170
Nankai Neighbourhood Committee: +86-535-6253024
Dongnantaizi Neighbourhood Committee: +86-535-6213728
Xingfuli Neighbourhood Committee: +86-535-6843435
Nanhongjie Neighbourhood Committee: +86-535-6255135
Shixuelu Neighbourhood Committee: +86-535-6254352

Police stations involved in the persecution:
Xinfu Police Station in Yentai City: +86-535-6812761
Fenghuangtai Police Station in Yentai City: +86-535-6532214
Shihuiyao Police Station in Yentai City: +86-535-6012090
Beidaxijie Police Station in Yentai City: +86-535-6255110
Baishilu Police Station in Yentai City: +86-535-6252329
Xidajie Police Station in Yentai City: +86-535-6676697
Ermalu Police Station in Yentai City: +86-535-6226241

Zhifu District Neighbourhood Committee in Yentai City: +86-535-6224141 (O)
Inspectorate division: +86-535-6225820
Political and Legislative Committee: +86-535-6224440

Public Security Bureau of Zhifu District, Yentai City:
Domestic Security Brigade: +86-535-6217744
Crime Police Brigade: +86-535-6651354

Public Security Bureau of Yentai City:
1. Sun Yunbo, Bureau Chief: +86-535-6297125 (O), +86-535-6297101 (O), +86-535-6885811 (H), +86-15905351777 (M)

2. Deputy bureau chiefs: +86-535-6297104 (O)
Han Liangbo: +86-13305359915 (M)
Yang Zhishun: +86-13805356666 (M)
Du Jianjun: +86-535-6633366 (H), +86-13306451399 (M)

3. Domestic Security Division (610 Office): +86-535-6297138 (O), +86-535-6297139 (O), +86-535-6297002 (O)
Lei Xinghua: +86-13306382099 (M), +86-535-6657296 (H)
Peng Zhaojia: +86-13863811966 (M), +86-535-6250296 (H), +86-535-6297138 (O)
Tao Zhifeng: +86-13806386935 (M), +86-535-6676955 (H), +86-535-6297138 (O)

610 Office of Zhifu District in Yentai City
Gao You: +86-18660078113 (M)

610 Office of Yentai City
Duty office: +86-535-6789925
Jiang Zhongqin, director: +86-535-6789698 (O), +86-13706458666 (M)
Sun Jiyun, deputy director: +86-535-6789929 (O), +86-13806389156 (M)
Li Shicui, deputy director: +86-535-6789626 (O), +86-15865647999 (M)
Du Yonggang, deputy secretary of Yentai City Political and Legislative Committee: +86-13805455066 (M), +86-535-6789896 (O)

Note
1. "Yuan" is the Chinese currency; 500 yuan is equal to the average monthly income of an urban worker in China.