Police Officer Claims He Can Enforce the Law Using Violence

“We have privileges, so we can enforce the law using violence,” said Chen Ming as he threatened Ms. Hou Wanli. Chen is a political instructor for the Dongchuan District Domestic Security Division in Kunming City, Yunnan Province.

Ms. Hou, in her 50s, is a housewife and has often been harassed and persecuted by police officers from the Dongchuan District Domestic Security Division.

Chen Ming and Zhang Kaili, police officers from the Dongchuan District Domestic Security Division; Chen Guanglian, a police officer from Xincun Police Station; and Duan Shunliang, a female assistant officer broke into Ms. Hou's home around 2:00 p.m. on the afternoon of June 25th, 2012. Immediately after breaking into her home, Zhang Kaili started to take photos of Ms. Hou, who warned him, “Don't do that. I won't let you take photos. If you do, you will be violating the law.”

Chen Ming said, “It doesn't matter whether or not we violate the law. We have privileges, so we can enforce the law using violence if necessary. We came here today for two things: The first is to check whether you are still practising Falun Gong, and the second is to tell you that Falun Gong has been officially classified as a cult; therefore, you can't advertise it in public.”

Ms. Hou disagreed, “Falun Gong is legal in China. It is the persecution of Falun Gong that is wrong. Falun Gong has spread to over 100 countries, and only the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) persecutes it.”

Chen Ming replied, “If so, go abroad to practise. This is China, where the CCP is in power.” Zhang Kaili said, “Stay at home to practise, and don't force it on others.”

Ms. Hou replied, “Anyone is free to practise Falun Gong. If anyone wants to practise, then they can, but if not, then they can leave when they want to. Only a cult forces people to believe in it.”

Zhang Kaili asked, “What is a cult?” Ms. Hou said, “Cults negate morality and ethics, advocate atheism, are hostile toward divine beings, and attack Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance...” The police then stopped her.

Chen Ming told Ms. Hou to bring him a copy of the Falun Gong book, Zhuan Falun. Ms. Hou said, “If you really want to read it, I can lend it to you. But if you have malicious intent, I won't give it to you.” Chen Ming then asked, “Who do you practise with?” Ms. Hou said, “It is legal wherever we practise, and we can practise whenever we like.”

Before the police left, they tried again to take photos of Ms. Hou but failed.

For their threats and harassment, Ms. Hou has reported Chen Ming, Zhang Kaili. Chen Guanglian, and Duan Shunliang to the Procuratorate. She has requested a hearing to prosecute the police officers for criminal liability, including bending the law for personal gain, abuse of power, trespassing on private land, and i suppressing the freedom of religious belief.

The following is Ms. Hou's personal account of being harassed and persecuted for many years.

I have been a housewife since I married. In 1990, I had my gallbladder removed, but due to complications, my whole body swelled up, I had constant migraines, and I also had an irregular heartbeat. I would often faint while walking. I also suffered from a displaced cervical vertebra and serious spinal erosion. I was at death's door.

Right before the Chinese New Year in 1998, one of my husband's colleagues told me, “Falun Gong is marvellous. I used to be addicted to drinking and always put a bottle of alcohol beside my pillow so that I could drink whenever I woke up. But immediately after I began practising Falun Gong, I got rid of this bad habit.”

My hopes were raised. I was so excited that I couldn't fall asleep that night, and in the early morning, I went out and found the practice site where 30 people were doing the fifth exercise – meditation. A practitioner brought me a cushion, and I sat down and tried practising with one leg crossed for half an hour. After I returned home, my feet were sweating, which had never happened before, and I felt relaxed and comfortable. That was when I began practising Falun Gong. I began studying Zhuan Falun and doing the exercises. All of my diseases disappeared in just over a month. My husband and son were both excited, and they took me to the practice site every evening.

When the CCP began persecuting Falun Gong on July 20th, 1999, my husband's boss exerted pressure on him. His boss said, “If your wife continues to practise, we won't pay your wages.” Our family was dependent upon my husband's salary, and if he wasn't paid, how would we survive? Due to CCP pressure, I stopped practising Falun Gong. And before long, I had a relapse, and our family was once again trapped by my pain.

In great desperation, I began practising Falun Gong again in April 2003. Little by little, I became better and better. I know very well that Teacher gave me life, and I am determined to let more people know about the greatness of Falun Gong.

I went out to purchase some goods for the Chinese New Year on December 8th, 2006, and when I returned home in the afternoon, my son told me, “Zhao Tianshun and some other police officers from the Dongchuan District Domestic Security Division ransacked our home this morning. They confiscated our Falun Gong lecture books, an MP3 player, and a speaker, and they also arrested Dad.” I said, “Let's go to the police station. We haven't done anything wrong.”

We went to the police station, and I said to chief Xu Yonglin, “I am the one who practises Falun Gong. Why did you arrest my husband?” Xu said, “Do you know how many things we confiscated from your home?” I replied, “But those materials teach people to be good so that they can be saved.” Xu said, “It is too late today. Come back next Monday with your husband.”

A month later, Xu called and told my husband and me to come to the Xincun Police Station. After we arrived, Xu put us into two separate offices. An officer named Zhao Tianshun, a clerk, and a cameraman interrogated me. They asked me where the confiscated materials came from and threatened me not to clarify the truth or advertise Falun Gong.

I told them, “It is you who helped me advertise Falun Gong and clarify the truth. You broke into my home and confiscated many things. When all of my neighbours asked me what happened, I told them about Falun Gong and how I have benefited from practising. So now they all know that Falun Gong is good. Later, you went to my husband's workplace and forced his boss to threaten me not to practise. However, I explained to him that I have become well since I began practising, which has saved me a lot in medical expenses. I told him that I used the saved expenses to have my house renovated. In this way, my husband's coworkers also came to know that Falun Gong is good. That's how you have advertised Falun Gong for me!” After the interrogation, Zhao Tianshun asked me to sign an inquiry record.

On the night of October 16th, 2009, banners reading “Falun Gong Is Good” appeared on an overpass and on a billboard in the city. In an attempt to find who hung the banners, police officers from the Dongchuan District Domestic Security Division broke into many practitioners' homes. Xu, along with many other officers, broke into my home without a search warrant and confiscated many personal items, including Falun Gong lecture books.

In May 2012, I encountered two police officers from the Domestic Security Division, Zhang Kaili and Chen Ming. Zhang threatened, “Once three of you practitioners get together, I will arrest you and put you in prison!”

On June 25th, the officers broke into my home and threatened me.

Falun Gong is legal in China, but the persecution is illegal. Falun Gong has spread to over 100 countries and only the CCP persecutes it. We hope the police will come to understand the truth and abandon the CCP, or they will go down with it.