(Minghui.org) Ms. Liu Yanyi, Mr. Zhao Haijun and 51 other Falun Gong practitioners living in Harbin City's Shuangcheng District were arrested on May 6, 2016. They had filed criminal complaints against Jiang Zemin, the former head of the communist regime, for launching the violent suppression of Falun Gong.
Ms. Liu and Mr. Zhao have been illegally detained for more than two months. Because they practice Falun Gong, neither their families nor their attorneys are allowed to visit them.
Their families are very worried about their safety, which is why they hired defense attorneys.
Ms. Liu's attorney submitted documents requesting her release to Liu Bo, the officer placed in charge of handling the case in the Shuangcheng District Police Department. His request was ignored. Ms. Liu's case was sent to the Shuangcheng District Procuratorate a week later.
Mr. Zhao's case has been turned over to the Shuangcheng District Court. His attorney submitted related documents to the court. Hu Yelin, deputy chief judge of the criminal court, refused to see Mr. Zhao's family afterwards.
Ms. Liu's Family Given Different Excuses for Being Denied Visits
Ms. Liu was initially taken to the Harbin City Detention House. Her family went there twice on visiting day, requesting to see her. However, they were refused each time.
“It is an order from higher-ups that Falun Gong practitioners are not allowed to meet with their families,” the staff told them.
Ms. Liu was transferred to the Yaziquan Detention Center (also called Harbin No. 2 Detention Center) on May 14 without notifying her family. Her family hired an attorney and went to the detention center with the attorney.
“To meet with a Falun Gong practitioner, you must get the signature from the person who handles the case,” the detention center staff told them.
Ms. Liu's family went to the Shuangcheng District Police Department to see officer Liu Bo, who is in charge of the case. Liu said that giving permission for visits was not within his jurisdiction and told them to go to the Domestic Security Division.
Ms. Liu's husband told the Domestic Security Division officers, “My wife practices Falun Gong to be a better person. She has been taking care of my bedridden mother for seven years. She has broken no laws. Why do you arrest her? You won't let us meet with her and you keep her detained. Freedom of religion is protected by the constitution. No law states that practicing Falun Gong is a crime.”
The Domestic Security Division chief replied, “It doesn't matter. Sue me if you think the arrest is wrong. Sue whoever you want to sue. We won't release your wife.”
The chief and deputy chief kept making various excuses, so Ms. Liu's family has not been able to meet with her since her arrest.
Mr. Zhao's Family Has Not Been Able to Visit Him Despite Repeated Efforts
Mr. Zhao Haijun has been held at Shuangcheng Detention Center since his arrest. His family was not allowed to visit him. One police chief said that only an attorney was allowed to visit him. However, later the family learned that even an attorney is not allowed to visit detained Falun Gong practitioners.
“I'm not allowed to see Mr. Zhao. I am able to visit defendants even in murder cases, but given that this is a Falun Gong case, there is nothing I can do to help,” one attorney told Mr. Zhao's family.
Over 400 villagers signed a petition stating that Mr. Zhao is a good person and demanded that he be released. The police refused to release him and instead submitted his case to Shuangcheng District Court.
Mr. Zhao's family went to the Domestic Security Division to request his release. They told the officers that Falun Gong practitioners do not commit any crimes and are good people. They also reminded them that what goes around comes around.
Xiao Jitian, the Domestic Security Division chief swore at them and said, “I have been arresting Falun Gong practitioners for many years and there have been no repercussions. Who will punish me? I've never been punished.”
Mass Arrests
The large-scale arrest was ordered by upper level authorities, including Wang Xiankui, vice governor of Heilongjiang Province; Sun Yongbo, director of the Heilongjiang Province Police Department; and Ren Ruichen, director of the Harbin City Police Department.
Officers from the Shuangcheng Police Department and 610 Office arrested 53 practitioners on the same day. The arrest was a retaliation against the Falun Gong practitioners for filling criminal complaints against Jiang with the Chinese Supreme Procuratorate.
Chinese law allows its citizens to be plaintiffs in criminal cases, and many practitioners are now exercising that right to file criminal complaints against the former dictator.
Earlier reports:Mr. Zhao Haijun from Harbin City Arrested Along with Over 50 Other PractitionersOver 50 Falun Gong Practitioners Arrested in One Night after Filing Criminal Complaints against Former Chinese Leader
