Additional Persecution News from China – May 5, 2016 (18 Reports)

(Minghui.org) Today's news from China includes incidents of persecution that took place in 18 cities or counties in 10 provinces. According to this report, 7 Falun Gong practitioners were subjected to mistreatment during their detention, and at least 18 practitioners were illegally arrested.

1. [Dezhou City, Shandong Province] Mr. Liu Zhiyong Detained
2. [Meizhou City, Guangdong Province] Mr. Lai Jiefu Taken Into Custody
3. [Xining City, Qinghai Province] Ms. Xu Chunfang Passes Away Due to Persecution
4. [Weifang City, Shandong Province] Ms. Wang Xiulan Arrested
5. [Liaocheng City, Shandong Province] Mr. Chen Tingxiang Detained
6. [Harbin City, Heilongjiang Province] Mr. Cao Qicai Suffered Chest Pain
7. [Shanghai] Mr. Gu Yueling Detained
8. [Dalian City, Liaoning Province] Ms. Qin Shulan Detained
9. [Yu County, Hebei Province] Three Practitioners Detained
10. [Jinzhou City, Liaoning Province] Mr. Zhang Baodong Detained
11. [Zaozhuang City, Shandong Province] Mr. Ma Hongpu Missing for More Than Ten Years
12. [Beijing] Ms. Zhang Yinying Detained
13. [Panjin City, Liaoning Province] Two Practitioners Appealed
14. [Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province] Ms. Liang Meihua Tried
15. [Wuhan City, Hubei Province] Three Practitioners Facing Trial
16. [Karamay City, Xinjiang] Ms. Zhao Shuyuan Original Sentence Upheld
17. [Chifeng City, Inner Mongolia] Four Practitioners Sentenced
18. [Dandong City, Liaoning Province] Ms. Kang Li Sentenced

1. [Dezhou City, Shandong Province] Mr. Liu Zhiyong Detained

Mr. Liu Zhiyong was arrested at home by officers from the Encheng Domestic Security Division in Pingyuan County on April 26, 2016. He was detained for seven days in the Dezhou City Detention Center.

2. [Meizhou City, Guangdong Province] Mr. Lai Jiefu Taken Into Custody

Mr. Lai Jiefu, 58, was arrested by officers from the Wuzhoucheng Police Station when he posted Falun Gong informational materials in the Wuzhoucheng Plaza on the evening of May 1, 2016. Officers from the Baohua Police Station in Mei County and the Wuzhoucheng Police Station ransacked his home and confiscated a motorcycle, a cell phone, and a tape recorder. Mr. Lai was taken to the Meizhou City State Security Department the following day.

Prior to his latest arrest, Mr. Li was arrested around June 2001 and persecuted at a brainwashing center for three months. Five years later, he was arrested again and persecuted for another 7 months at the brainwashing center.

3. [Xining City, Qinghai Province] Ms. Xu Chunfang Passes Away Due to Persecution

Ms. Xu Chunfang, nearly 70 years old, was arrested and taken to a brainwashing center in October 2015. Officials in the brainwashing center tortured, intimidated, and threatened her, and forced her to give up her practice, which resulted in serious physical discomfort. After returning home, family members took her to a hospital. Ms. Xu passed away on April 22, 2016.

4. [Weifang City, Shandong Province] Ms. Wang Xiulan Arrested

Ms. Wang Xiulan from Fangzi District was arrested by officers from the Jingshankou Police Station on February 23, 2016 for suing Jiang Zemin. She was taken to a detention center. The detention center refused to admit her because she started vomiting. She was taken back home that night.

5. [Liaocheng City, Shandong Province] Mr. Chen Tingxiang Detained

Mr. Chen Tingxiang, from Guozhai Village, Qingshui Town, Guan County, was arrested by officers from the Beitao Police Station when he distributed Falun Gong informational materials in Zhangzhuang Village in Beitao Town on April 24, 2016. He was taken to the Guan County Detention Center.

6. [Harbin City, Heilongjiang Province] Mr. Cao Qicai Suffered Chest Pain

Mr. Cao Qicai from Wujia Town in Shuangcheng District was arrested for suing Jiang Zemin. He was sentenced to four years in prison by the Shuangcheng District Court, and was taken to the Hulan Prison. Mr. Cao's family members visited him in the prison on May 2, 2016. They noticed that he had become very weak and thin. He is suffering chest pain.

7. [Shanghai] Mr. Gu Yueling Detained

Mr. Gu Yueling from Gaohang Town in the Pudong New Area was arrested at home by officers from the Domestic Security Division in the Pudong New Area Police Department on the morning of May 4, 2016. He was detained for 10 days in the Lujiazui Security Police Station.

Parties involved in persecuting him:Pudong New Area Police Department: [phone]Liu Yilei (刘忆雷), deputy head of the Domestic Security Division: [phone], [phone], [phone]Huang Liang (黄良), section head: [phone], [phone]

8. [Dalian City, Liaoning Province] Ms. Qin Shulan Detained

Ms. Qin Shulan from Dengshahe Town in Jinzhou District was arrested by officers from the Harbin Road Police Station in the New Development Zone on April 21, 2016. She is held in the Yaojia Detention Center.

9. [Yu County, Hebei Province] Three Practitioners Detained

Ms. Song Jiangling, Ms. Wen Yu'e, and Ms. Wang Fengying, from Yangjuan Town, were arrested and taken to the Yu County Domestic Security Division by officers from the Yangjuan Town Police Station when distributing Falun Gong informational materials in Yangjuan Town on the afternoon of April 2, 2016. The officers confiscated printed materials. Later, the three practitioners were taken to the Zhangjiakou Detention Center for eight days of detention. They have returned home.

10. [Jinzhou City, Liaoning Province] Mr. Zhang Baodong Detained

Mr. Zhang Baozhong was arrested at home by officers from the Domestic Security Division of the Linghe District Police Department on the morning of April 27, 2016. The officers confiscated a photo of the founder of Falun Gong, Falun Gong books, and a notebook computer. Mr. Zhang is held in the Jinzhou City Detention Center.

11. [Zaozhuang City, Shandong Province] Mr. Ma Hongpu Missing for More Than Ten Years

Mr. Ma Hongpu from the Beishan Dormitories in Taozhuang Town has been missing for over 10 years. So far, no one has heard anything about him or his whereabouts.

12. [Beijing] Ms. Zhang Yinying Detained

Ms. Zhang Yinying from the Dongcheng District was arrested by officers from the Beiqijia Town 110 Response Unit and the Yanggezhuang Police Station when distributing Falun Gong informational materials on April 3, 2016. She was taken to the Haidian District Detention Center. After 10 days of detention she was taken to the Minghuang Resorts in the Changping District for brainwashing on April 13. She has now returned home.

13. [Panjin City, Liaoning Province] Two Practitioners Appealed

Mr. Han Zonghui and Ms. Wang Xiuying have appealed to the Panjin Intermediate Court after being sentenced. The court will set up a session in the near future.

The two practitioners have been held in the Panjin Detention Center for more than 16 months. Mr. Han’s blood pressure reached up to 200 and his physical condition is not normal.

14. [Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province] Ms. Liang Meihua Tried

Ms. Liang Meihua was tried on May 4 for refusing to renounce her faith in Falun Gong, a spiritual discipline being persecuted by the Chinese communist regime.

The 67-year-old retiree testified against the charges brought against her. She emphasized that she should never have been prosecuted for exercising her right to freedom of belief as there is no law that criminalizes Falun Gong.

The judge adjourned the session without issuing a verdict. Ms. Liang remains detained following her arrest on April 19 of this year.

Prior to her latest arrest, she was once incarcerated for nearly 10 years, during which time she suffered brutal torture for holding firm to her faith.

15. [Wuhan City, Hubei Province] Three Practitioners Facing Trial

Mr. Deng Qingcai, his wife Ms. Zhu Yulan, and Ms. Cao Xiaomei were arrested and their homes weere ransacked on October 21, 2015, for telling people about the persecution of Falun Gong. Mr. Deng was sent to the Huangpi District Detention Center and the two women to the Wuhan City First Detention Center.

The procuratorate returned the case in March 2016 citing insufficient evidence, but the police resubmitted it several weeks later after fabricating more "evidence" against the practitioners. The case now rests with the court, which plans to try the three practitioners in the near future.

Ms. Zhu is suffering from high blood pressure and her lawyer noted she couldn't stop shaking and had trouble walking steadily. The police, however, refused to release her on medical parole.

16. [Karamay City, Xinjiang] Ms. Zhao Shuyuan Original Sentence Upheld

The Karamay District Court sentenced Ms. Zhao Shuyuan to five year’s imprisonment on March 7, 2016. Ms. Zhao appealed to the court of a second instance. The court of the second instance did not hold a hearing, using the excuse of Ms. Zhao’s poor physical condition. Both Ms. Zhao and her lawyer submitted defense comments. The court issued a decision to uphold the original sentence on April 29.

Ms. Zhao has been on a hunger strike since she was arrested on November 5, 2015. She was tied on a bed with iron chains around the clock and the guards forced fed her.

17. [Chifeng City, Inner Mongolia] Four Practitioners Sentenced

Ms. Wang Jinrong was sentenced to 5.5 years of imprisonment. Ms. Zhang Chunyan and Mr. Qu Yazhong were sentenced to 3.5 years of imprisonment. Ms. Wei Guoyu was sentenced to 3 years of imprisonment.

18. [Dandong City, Liaoning Province] Ms. Kang Li Sentenced

Ms. Kang Li was arrested on October 20, 2015 for filing a criminal complaint against Jiang Zemin, the former Chinese dictator. The officers ransacked her home. She has been held in the Dandong Detention Center.

Ms. Kang was sentenced to three years of imprisonment on April 20, 2016. She has submitted an appeal.