Ms. Zhao Chunxia Arrested, Her Two Daughters and Son Detained for Protesting the Persecution

Three children were walking along the busiest street in Lindong Town, Balinzuo Banner, in Chifeng City on the afternoon of August 14th, 2012. They were wearing banners which read, “I Want my Mum Back, I Want to Eat,” and held placards which read, “My Mum was Arrested by Police for Practising Falun Gong, My Dad's Whereabouts are Unknown, Our Money was Taken, and We are Homeless.” The three children included Ms. Zhao Chunxia's two daughters. One is 20 years old, the other is 12 years old. The other child was her 9-year-old son. They walked straight to the Balinzuo Banner government building.

When they were about to enter the building, Balinzuo Banner 610 Office (an organisation of special agents just for persecuting Falun Gong) agents, State Security Division head Tian Licheng, and political head Li Hongzhu, along with 30 other police officers, including special police and several police vehicles, surrounded the three children. The placards were taken from them, the banners torn off their bodies, and they were dragged to a room inside the government building.

The three children were so frightened that they trembled and cried. They were detained and were not given any water or food.

The children were held in the government building until 5:00 p.m. When the children's uncle learned about the incident he hurried to the government building. He reasoned with Tian Licheng and Li Hongzhu from the State Security Division, and strongly demanded the release of the three children and Ms. Zhao Chunxia. The three children were eventually released.

The State Security Division agents, led by Tian Licheng and Li Hongzhu, had previously broken into Ms. Zhao Chunxia's home on June 4th, 2012. They took away a computer, a printer, and many other personal belongings. They also took 14,000 yuan¹ in cash that the family had planned to invest in their small business. Ms. Zhao Chunxia and her sister, Ms. Zhao Fuxia, were arrested, and Ms. Zhao Chunxia's 12-year-old daughter and 9-year-old son were left alone at home. Ms. Zhao's husband, Mr. Jia Bin, wasn't at home. He had to live away from home to avoid being arrested.

Ms. Zhao Chunxia's oldest daughter returned home from the university she was attending for summer break. She and her younger sister and brother went to the local police department many times to demand their mother's release. Tian Licheng ignored the children, leaving them crying, while he and the other officers hid somewhere else.

Two months have passed, and the three children still haven't seen their mother. Not until July 29th did Ms. Zhao's 9-year-old son receive a notice of arrest for their parents. The three children have no money for living expenses or next terms's tuition. They had no choice but to sublet their rented house to others, and stay with relatives.

Ms. Zhao Chunxia's oldest daughter is worried about their parents, and has to take care of her younger sister and brother. She has been unable to eat and sleep well, and has become very thin. She had no alternative but to bring her younger sister and brother to the local government to request their mother's release, but they were subsequently detained, beaten, and intimidated.

Note

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