Interior Decorator Gao Zhaochen Arrested in Tangshan City

Name: Gao Zhaochen (高兆臣)
Gender: Male
Age: 52
Address: Dadaizhuang Village, Liyuan Town, Kaiping District of Tangshan City
Occupation: Interior renovation worker
Date of Most Recent Arrest: February 25, 2012
Most Recent Place of Detention: Tangshan City First Detention Center (唐山市第一看守所)
City: Tangshan
Province: Hebei
Persecution Suffered: Home ransacked, detention

(Minghui.org) Mr. Gao Zhaochen started practicing Falun Gong in 1997. Prior to starting the practice, he smoked and drank, was quick tempered, and also suffered from poor health. After practicing Falun Gong, he eliminated all of his bad habits and became a good citizen.

Mr. Gao works in the interior decorating profession. In his 12 years in the profession, there has not been a single customer who requested that he redo his work. A lot of his work has lasted many years because he never uses low quality or fake materials, and his skills are very professional. He has been holding himself to a high standard, and is completely honest with the customers. His family and friends all know him as a sincere and honest person. All these are a result of his practicing Falun Gong. As his work and character are widely praised by his customers and friends, he is always employed. On February 25, 2012, he was suddenly arrested by the authorities, and he has since been detained in the Tangshan City First Detention Center. His arrest has now been officially approved by the Kaiping District Procuratorate.

At around 6:00 a.m. February 25, 2012, a dozen officers from the Liyuan Town Police Station and the Malu Police Station, led by Zhang Zhi, captain of the Kaiping District Police's criminal team, surrounded Mr. Gao's home at No. 6 Community of Majiagou. They knocked on the door saying “My car accidentally hit yours” attempting to deceive Mr. Gao and his family into opening the door. Mr. Gao replied, “It is not a problem at all. You can leave.” The police still insisted that Mr. Gao come out to resolve the car collision. Realizing that their attempt failed, several policemen started kicking the door like a group of thugs. All the neighbors were awakened by the loud noise. The police shouted in the hallway, creating a terrorizing atmosphere, “You can't go anywhere. We have called the fire department and they are coming to break your windows from an aerial ladder.” They also cut the electricity and the broadband Internet connection to the entire building.

After over an hour of stalemate, Zhang Zhi led all the police officers and broke into Mr. Gao's home. Without producing any warrant or official identification, they ransacked the home and confiscated a a television set, a printer, a mobile phone, tape cassettes, blank compact discs, calendars, ID cards, watches, and other personal belongings, as well as a large van. The furniture was left in a mess and all the clothes were tossed on the floor. The authorities also ransacked Mr. Gao's unoccupied residence in Dadaizhuang Village and confiscated some blank CD cases and two suitcases.

Mr. Gao is the mainstay of his family. His wife is not working. They have to support their child in college. As a result of his arrest, the entire family has been cut off from any financial resources. All of Mr. Gao's friends and relatives are worried and are expending a lot of effort to rescue him. His lawyer made a not guilty plea on his behalf. Some of Mr. Gao's relatives have thus come to realize that it was the Chinese Communist Party that caused their relative's suffering. His family and relatives are brave, and determined to use legal tools to protect and rescue Mr. Gao, and to bring the responsible police officers to justice.

Yang Jinshan, head of Kaiping District 610 Office: [phone]
Dong Wei, deputy head of Kaiping District 610 Office: [phone]
Wang Weili, Kiaping District 610 Office: [phone]
Kaiping District Office of Stability Maintenance: [phone]

Kaiping District Police of Tangshan City: [phone], [phone], [phone]
Chen Yongwen, deputy police chief, Kaiping District Police Department, who has been active in persecuting Falun Gong practitioners
Domestric Security Team of Kaiping District Police Department: [phone]
Zhao Chunsheng, captain of Domestic Security Team: [phone]

Address of Tangshan City First Detention Center: Tangqian Road, Lunan District, Tangshan City, Hebei Province, Zip-code 063000
Sun Yansong, head of the detention center: [phone], [phone]
Yao Shujun, female, deputy head of detention center
Liu Xianghong, female, deputy division head of detention center
Chen Zhengtang, doctor at the detention center