(Minghui.org) 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 illegally arrestedand sentenced. The persecution became especially severe after March 5, 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 illegally arrested many practitioners and confiscated their personal belongings.
It was learned that the police had been monitoring practitioners' cell phones in order to find them quickly. The Jilin Province 610 Office was also involved in the recent arrests.
Mr. Wang Wei illegally arrested in Jiangbei
Around 2 p.m. on April 23, 2012, Falun Gong practitioner Mr. Wang Wei from Songyuan City was illegally arrested in Jiangbei. His wife, also a practitioner, disappeared on the night of April 23. No one answers when her cell 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 illegally arrested in Kalunfangzi Village
On the afternoon of April 23, 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 trash and doing odd jobs. Now Ms. Bao has been illegally arrested and we do not know how the family will survive.
On April 23, practitioner Xiao Xiang was arrested in Kalunfangzi Village.
Ms. Zou Guixiang arrested at home having dinner
Around 4 p.m. on April 23, Ms. Zou Guixiang was having dinner when officers from the Songyuan Police Department came to illegally arrest her. The police also took away portraits of the founder of Falun Gong and Falun Gong books.
Ms. Geng Ruifen from Jiangbei illegally arrested
On April 24, 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 23 and 24, practitioners Liu Dianjun and Zhu Defang were also arrested. It is yet to be confirmed whether more practitioners have been arrested.
