May 7, 2004

Hongmei Jiao of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, reports a cousin and Falun Gong practitioner being kidnapped or detained in Datong City, Shanxi province in China. Ms. Jiao said: "I would like to raise more public awareness about my cousin Ms. Shulan Yang's situation to the public in hopes of improving the fate of Ms. Yang."

Reportedly, in the early morning of February 13, 2004, a group of people entered Ms Yang Shulan's home, ignoring her paralyzed 96-year-old father-in-law, whose care was her responsibility, and forcefully removed her with no word of her whereabouts to anyone.

The same people confiscated Ms Yang's Falun Gong materials, but also objects that had nothing to do with the banned spiritual form of exercise in China. Reportedly, plainclothes officers remained in the house and detained other family members as they arrived at home. Two fellow practitioners who visited her were beaten. In addition, they made calls to trap other Falun Gong students by calling them to her house. They finally left when it became dark.

Ms Yang's husband was also taken when he returned from shopping. His head was covered and he was taken to a hotel room to be searched, interrogated, and threatened.

The husband was reportedly not a practitioner and asked why was he arrested? He was told that since he did not prevent or report his spouse from practicing Falun Gong that he was also guilty of a crime. He was then ordered to cooperate with police and report all Falun Gong practitioners who come to his home to the authorities. They said that if he were not taking care of his 90-year-old father, he would be arrested.

"At present it has been confirmed that the police who kidnapped them are from the National Security Production Brigade, Saihan sub-bureau, Huhhot Police Station, Inner Mongolia," states Hongmei Jiao. "The place Ms Yang is being detained is unclear. Two month passed, we haven't heard anything from the police station. Her family members, relatives and friends worry about her very much. We sincerely hope all media, every organization that support justice and every government in the world can condemn the unlawful actions and human rights violation of Saihan sub-bureau, Huhhot Police Station, Inner Mongolia. We also ask Saihan sub-bureau, Huhhot Police Station in Inner Mongolia to free my cousin Ms Yang unconditionally."

Source: http://www.aapress.com/webmay7/n-dakota.htm