70-Year-Old Man from Rongcheng City, Shandoing Province Defends Himself in Court - Judge Left Speechless

Name: Ning Shijiang
Gender: Male
Age: 70
Address: Chengshan Township, Rongcheng City, Shandong Province
Occupation: Unknown
Date of Most Recent Arrest: February 17th, 2012
Most Recent Place of Detention: Rongcheng City Detention Centre
City: Rongcheng
Province: Shandong
Persecution Suffered: Home ransacked, detention

Mr. Ning Shijiang, a 70-year-old Falun Gong practitioner from Chengshan Township of Rongcheng City, Shandong Province, was arrested and has been detained for more than five months. The Rongcheng City Court authorities were instigated by Chinese Communist Party (CCP) officials to hold a hearing on July 25th without notifying Mr. Ning's family or allowing anyone to attend the hearing. The courthouse was filled with criminal police from the entire county, and plainclothes police were everywhere in the plaza where the city government is located. This was to ensure no one tried to interfere with the hearing.

Upon hearing the news, members of Mr. Ning's family immediately went to the courthouse. They were searched upon entering the courthouse and weren't allow to take their mobile phones in. During the hearing, the prosecutor listed many groundless charges, which were denied by Mr. Ning one by one. Mr. Ning stated vehemently, “I practise Falun Gong to improve my moral character, which does not break the law. The items I have at home are strictly personal belongings and they have nothing to do with this case. The People's Republic of China's Constitution stipulates that citizens have the freedom of religion. I practice Falun Gong to eliminate illnesses and to keep fit, and I am not guilty of any crimes.” Mr. Ning said, “Falun Gong is not one of the 14 cults that the Ministry of Public Security of China listed in 2005, therefore Falun Gong is not a cult.” The presiding judge was speechless.

Everything that Mr. Ning said was reasonable. He pointed out to the judge the fact that the persecution of Falun Gong by the CCP's public security system is what truly violates the law. The judge couldn't respond and had to adjourn the hearing.

Police officers of the Shandong Province Rongcheng City Police Department's Domestic Security Division joined forces with the Armed Police of the Border Defence Force on February 17th, 2012. They acted simultaneously around 1:00 p.m. to arrest more than ten Falun Gong practitioners, including Mr. Ning. Many local practitioners were forced to leave their homes to avoid further persecution. It is said that this arrest was an act of reprisal after the Rongcheng City 610 Office (an organisation of special agents just for persecuting Falun Gong) agents, including Xing Jianping, were sued for persecuting an innocent and kind woman nearly to death.

On that day, five police officers suddenly rushed into the Fifth Village of Chengshan Township and arrested Mr. Ning and ansacked his home. One of the five officers' police badge number is 068810. Mr. Ning's family members went to the police station to inquire as to the reason for the arrest, but they were not allowed to enter. The officers concocted various reasons.

After being detained for more than three months, the police station authorities sent an “arrest warrant” to Mr. Ning's family, attempting to legalize their action of continuously detaining Mr. Ning.

Parties Responsible for the Persecution of Mr. Ning Shijiang:

Lin Peng, director of Rongcheng City Detention Centre: +86-631-7569589 (office), +86-138630520055 (mobile) , +86-631-7560055 (home)
Xing Jianping, deputy commander of Rongcheng City Detention Centre: +86-631-7562944 (office), +86-13792777166 (mobile)
Lin Qiuhua, director of Rongcheng City Police Department: +86-631-7565599 (office), +86-13863156699 (mobile)