Falun Gong Practitioners in Weifang Arrested Before the International Kite Exhibition

(Minghui.org) The Weifang 610 Office, Police Department, and area police stations coordinated a massive arrest of Falun Gong practitioners which started on April 15, 2013 in preparation for the International Kite Exhibition. Arrested practitioners included Mr. Tan Foli, Mr. Wang Shenghua, Mr. Wang Guangming, Ms. Yuan Qingxia and Mr. Fu Jian.

Mr. Wang Shenghua and Ms. Yuan Qingxia are currently detained at the Weifang Detention Center. Mr. Fu was sent to the Shouguang Brainwashing Center. Their families go to the responsible agencies every day to ask for the release of their loved ones. They demanded to know the reason for the arrests, and asked if it was because they practiced Falun Gong. The police refused to answer.

Police from the Domestic Security Division of the Weifang Police Department waited outside of Mr. Tan's home early on the morning of April 15, 2013. Mr. Tan was pushed into a car by two policemen when he left his home to buy breakfast. The police took away Mr. Tan's house key and ransacked his home. They also arrested Mr. Wang Shenghua, who was visiting. Mr. Wang and Mr. Tan were taken to the Beiguan Police Station and locked in the basement. Practitioner Mr. Wang Guangming was also detained there.

Mr. Tan is almost 80 years old, and the sudden arrest and intimidation made him confused and weak. Blood was drawn from Mr. Tan, Mr. Wang Shenghua and Mr. Wang Guangming. Mr. Wang Shenghua was taken to the Weifang Detention Center at 6 p.m. Mr. Tan's family took him home at 7 p.m. Mr. Wang Guangming's family took him home at 8 p.m.

Police from the Domestic Security Division at the Kuiwen Police Department attempted to arrest Falun Gong practitioner Mr. Wang Xinmin around 6 a.m. on April 15, 2013. They handcuffed him and started to drag him outside. Mr. Wang Xinmin's family resisted, asking the police: “Why are you arresting people for no reason?” The police replied: “We're afraid Falun Gong practitioners will tell foreigners about the persecution when the foreigners come to Weifang for the kite exhibition.” Mr. Wang's family strongly objected to the arrest and the 70-year-old Mr. Wang eventually lost consciousness. The police left quickly to avoid responsibility.

Led by officer Gu Zhiyong from the Kuiwen Domestic Security Division, two cars with license plates Lu G2053 and Lu G00097 parked outside of practitioner Mr. Dai Zongzhen's apartment building before 6 a.m. on April 15, 2013. Gu Zhiyong banged on Mr. Dai's door, claiming he just wanted to say a few words. Mr. Dai did not open the door. The noises disturbed neighbors and they asked the police what the problem was. The police said, “Something important.” The police made another family in the building open the door and announced that they were from the police department. The police intended to climb through this family's front yard up to Mr. Dai's apartment on the third floor. The neighbors said, “There are Falun Gong practitioners all over the country, and they are good people. They have been sweeping our building for free for years. You cannot do this. Climbing on the building is very dangerous, and who would be responsible if you fell?” The neighbors refused to cooperate. The police moved their car to the other end of the building and waited the entire morning.

Practitioner Ms. Chen Shuyun's home was ransacked. The police attempted to arrest her but gave up when Ms. Chen couldn't move her body all of a sudden.

Practitioner Ms. Yuan Qingxia, an employee at Weifang Hanting Synthetic Fiber Factory, was arrested at work. Her employer cooperated with the police. Ms. Yuan's husband, Mr. Sun Tianpeng, was sentenced to eight years in prison because he practiced Falun Gong. He is incarcerated at Ji'nan Prison in Shandong Province. Their son is a high school senior applying for college. Mr. Sun's father is 80 years old and needs care. Their family cannot get by without Ms. Yuan.

Mr. Fu Jian, 33, is a practitioner from Shouguang City, and is a factory worker. He was arrested on his way to work on April 16, 2013 by police from the Shouguang Domestic Security Division and the district police station. Mr. Fu is detained at the brainwashing facility organized by the domestic security division.

Many Falun Gong practitioners in Weifang had policemen knocking on their doors, but they did not open them and thus did not get arrested.

Policemen from Kuiwen knocked on practitioner Ms. Li Jianxin's door on April 21. Mr. Li's wife did not open the door and clarified the truth to the policemen behind the door. The policemen eventually left.

The Weifang Kite Exhibition is a gathering of people from all over the world who are interested in kites. However, practitioners in Weifang are arrested, harassed, detained and sent to prison because of the exhibition. We ask people inside and outside of China to extend their compassion and help rescue all the detained Falun Gong practitioners in Weifang, and to stop the persecution.

Responsible individuals:

Wang Ruoshui, Weifang Domestic Security Division chief, [phone] (C)

Weifang Police Department deputy chief, [phone] (C)

Liu Chongdao, 610 Office, [phone] (C) Ceng Zhaoliang, Weifang 610 Office chairman: [phone] (O)

Li Zhinian, Weifang Detention Center chief: [phone] (O), [phone] (C)

Wang Shuwen, Hanting 610 Office chairman, [phone]; [phone] (O); [phone] (H)

Zhu Lanxi, mayor of Shouguang City, [phone] (C)

Sun Yajiao, Shouguang Police Department chief: [phone]; [phone]