(Minghui.org) Seventeen Falun Gong practitioners in Benxi City, Liaoning Province, were illegally arrested on April 25, 2013. They included Ms. Wang Xiuyan, Ms. Sun Yuxia, Ms. Wang Qing, and others. The arrested practitioners have been incarcerated in the Benxi City Detention Center.
Citizens Support Practitioners, Condemn Communist Regime
Many local people have expressed their support for the practitioners, condemning the authorities and the senseless persecution of Falun Gong.
One citizen said: “Today you are persecuted; however, tomorrow maybe it's our turn to be persecuted [by the communist regime]. So, I would like to support you.”
A lawyer said: “Once a government loses its moral ground, it will expand its sphere of violence infinitely. In the face of persecution, citizens will definitely learn to fight against evil forces and protect their basic and legal rights by using laws.”
Another person said: “To tell you the truth, I didn't understand Falun Gong practitioners at first, but now I admire them from the bottom of my heart! They also have flesh bodies, but they didn't give up their belief, even though they were beaten so violently. Maybe that's divine power.”
A mother said: “I have always been told that police never obey the law when dealing with Falun Gong practitioners. It's unimaginable that they even took away money from them. My daughter will never marry a policeman.”
A family member of an arrested practitioner said: “I just can't understand it. They leave alone those corrupt officials, gangsters, murderers and rapists; however, they arrest those unarmed, innocent people and detain them in detention centers. They broke apart our family and made us penniless. This is what's called, 'an oppressive government drives people to revolt.' ”
A person working at the Benxi City Police Department said: “Alas, they [officials from Domestic Security Division] are so bad! How come they arrest Falun Gong practitioners?!”
An employee of a private company said: “Who gave them [police] the right to be so rampant?! So corrupt, so corrupt. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is really dying.”
Another person said: “I read reports online about the Masanjia Forced Labor Camp. I dared not believe my own eyes.”
A former employee of the state-run transportation system said: “I worked for it [CCP] all my life. I believed it all my life. But now it has fired me. Now it's cracking down on spiritual belief. If I had a next life, I would not want to reincarnate into a society governed by the CCP.”
A policeman said: “To tell you the truth, we all curse it [the CCP] in private. Who doesn't curse it today? Everyone does! I know its darkness more than you do. However, today in China, you have nowhere to appeal the injustice. We can only rely on the heavens to maintain justice.”
A citizen said: “In such a society, where the moral standard has declined, who dares to say he still listens to his consciousness? When there is personal gain at stake, who can still listen to his consciousness? When temptation arises, who can still listen to his consciousness? Only Falun Gong practitioners can! Under such violent oppression, they are still holding on because they have belief in their hearts! That's the power gifted by the heavens. I believe they are the hope for the future of China.”
Details of the Arrest
On April 25, 2013, captain of Benxi City Domestic Security Division's Team No. 2 (surname Qu) and Lu Gang from Domestic Security Division of the Mingshan Police Department conspired with local police to arrest 17 Falun Gong practitioners in Benxi City. They were authorized by Yang Jianjun, head of the Benxi City Police Department.
The police participating in the arrests did not wear uniform. Nor did they show IDs or follow any legal procedures. They didn't have search warrants, but broke in and ransacked practitioners' homes. They also did not notify the practitioners' family members of the arrests.
After detaining the practitioners, Lu Gang submitted the case to the Benxi City and Mingshan Procuratorate in order to put the practitioners on trial. Sun Lei is in charge of the case.
In detention, practitioners have been frequently interrogated through torture by police from the Benxi City Domestic Security Division and the Mingshan Police Department.
Property Confiscated from Practitioners
Below is a partial listing of the property confiscated from the arrested practitioners by police:
Mr. Gao Gang: one notebook PC, Falun Gong books, several cell phones.
Mr. Li Chunzheng: one notebook PC, one desktop PC, one cell phone, one watch, 9,500 yuan in cash, Falun Gong books, the photo of Falun Gong founder, one incense burner.
Mr. Yu Lixin: one desktop PC, one MP5 player, several bank checks worth over 40,000 yuan, a gold necklace, a gold ring.
Ms. Sun Yuxia: one desktop PC, three to five cell phones, an MP3 player, Falun Gong books, the photo of Falun Gong founder, 70,000-80,000 yuan in cash, four bank cards, a couple of bank checks worth hundreds of thousands of yuan.
Ms. Jing Yan: a desktop PC, one notebook PC, one USB drive.
Ms. Gao Chong: one desktop PC, Falun Gong books.
Ms. Zhang Meizhen: one desktop PC, 8,000-9,000 yuan in cash.
Ms. Wang Xiuyan: two notebook PCs, Falun Gong books, 30,000-40,000 yuan in cash, the photo of Falun Gong founder, an MP3 player and an MP5 player.
