Bakery Owner on Hunger Strike to Protest Illegal Detention, Police Threatens 7-Year-Old

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Bakery Owner on Hunger Strike to Protest Illegal Detention, Police Threatens 7-Year-Old

July 09, 2014 | By a Minghui correspondent from Hebei Province, China

(Minghui.org) Mr. Wang Haijin, a small business owner and family man, should be working beside his wife in their family-owned bakery and taking his daughters to dance classes. However, he can no longer do the things in his daily life that brought him such contentment, as he was arrested in his shop in front of his wife and two daughters on April 22, 2014 and detained by police.

A practitioner of Falun Gong, the largest group persecuted by the Communist regime in China, Mr. Wang now faces sentencing by the authorities. He is holding a hunger strike to protest his illegal arrest and detention, and his family is worried about his well-being.

Police Harass Family During Dragon Boat Festival

June 2 is the Dragon Boat Festival, one of the most important traditional Chinese holidays. Instead of having a family celebration on this special day, Mr. Wang's wife (Ms. Lu Jiarong), daughters, and mother were harassed by police.

His daughters were getting ready for bed when two police officers knocked on the door. Officer Liu Shunlong yelled, “I'm in charge of this neighborhood. You'd better open the door or you'll be in trouble!”

“We won't open the door. This is our house. We don't have to let you in!” Mr. Wang's ten-year-old daughter replied. Infuriated, Officer Liu cut off the home's main electricity switch, plunging the house into darkness.

While Officer Liu talked to the family, Mr. Wang's sister came to visit. Seeing two police officers knocking on the door, she shied away from entering the building and left, worrying for Mr. Wang's family.

Downstairs, Officer Liu was still shouting. Mr. Wang's 78-year-old mother stood in front of a window and asked, “You've arrested my son and ransacked our home. Why are you here this time?”

Passersby started gathering at the scene. Officer Liu said he wanted to ask Mr. Wang's family a few questions, but didn't want to talk in front of the crowd. The other officer who came with Liu videotaped Mr. Wang's family during the confrontation.

Mr. Wang's mother told the officer, “My son didn't do anything wrong. We just want to freely practice Falun Gong and be good people. If you want to talk, let's just talk here.”

Ms. Lu recalls that Officer Liu didn't ask any specific questions. Before leaving, he threatened her daughter, “Just you wait. I will go to your school tomorrow!” The seven-year-old began to cry after the officers left. Ms. Lu had to take the frightened girls to a friend's home for the night.

Harassment from Neighborhood Security Officer

A week later, the neighborhood security officer Su Xuezhi, who was also responsible for collecting electric bills, knocked on the family's door and claimed there was a problem with their bill payments. Because it was late at night, Ms. Lu didn't open the door and asked the man to come back the next day.

Su returned at 6:00 a.m. and asked the family to pay their electric bill.

“We just paid the bill a few days ago,” Ms. Lu replied.

“But you didn't pay the full amount.”

“How much do we still owe?”

“5 yuan.”

She threw a 10 yuan bill from the downstairs window. Su took it and left.

The family later learned that when their relatives paid the electric bill for them a few days ago, they specifically asked Su if there was still any balance due, and he assured them the bill was paid in full.

It became clear to the family that Su probably had received some sort of order from the local police to check on them in the name of collecting an unpaid electric bill.

Wife Pressured to Disclose Information about Truth-Clarification Letters

Chen Yingli, head of the local Domestic Security Division, and another police officer went to Mr. Wang's bakery on June 13. He handed Ms. Lu an inquiry notice, summoning her to Haininglu Police Station to answer some questions. Chen said, “If you don't come, we'll use stronger measures.”

Instead of going to the police station, Ms. Lu called Chen that afternoon. Chen replied, “They [the questions] can't be discussed over the phone. You have to come here.” He still insisted that she visit him for a face-to-face talk, but she ignored him.

Ms. Lu suspected that Chen was desperate to find out who mailed letters to local residents drawing attention to his illegal arrest and detention of her husband. Shortly after Mr. Wang's arrest, some local practitioners wrote letters to other town residents informing them of the local police's, especially Chen's, crimes against their fellow citizen.

Wife's Open Letter Calling for Husband's Release

Mr. Wang has been detained at Funing Detention Center for more than two months, and his wife has been seeking his release. In an open letter to the authorities that was published on the Minghui website, she described the predicament her family faces. Below are excerpts from her letter:

“The police began to monitor our bakery and our home a few days following his arrest. Every time my girls go to school, they dare not open the door, because there are police officers outside.”

“Everyone is living in fear and dealing with a great amount of pressure. I had to close my bakery in order to have time to try to secure my husband's release. I couldn't even check on what exactly the police seized from our home.”

“I often go to the police station to ask them to release my husband. Sometimes, I bring my daughters and my mother-in-law with me. After a few visits, the perpetrators began to hide from me. They also don't allow me to visit my husband. He started a hunger strike right after he was taken to the detention center. I'm really worried for him.”

Wife's Recollection of Mr. Wang's Character

“Haijin is a good man,” Ms. Lu recalled, “He is always ready to help others, friends or strangers.”

Citing her husband's willingness to help others, she said, “A neighbor in his 80s often asked Haijin for help. One day, Haijin didn't come home for lunch. When he came back in the afternoon, there was dirt all over his clothes. Later he told me that he spent the entire day helping that old man move and didn't stop to eat.”

Ms. Lu also shared about her husband's generosity: “When my father-in-law passed away in 2010, many relatives came to the funeral and stayed for the distribution of the family's wealth. Haijin said, 'I'm willing to give up my share, and I will take care of my mother in the future.'”

Inspired by his example, his brothers all gave up their shares and became willing to take care of the elderly, a trait rarely seen in Haijin's hometown in the countryside. One of the elders in the family said, “This is all because he practices Falun Gong. I believe he can take good care of anyone.”

“Doing Good Deeds Does You Good”

At the end of her letter, Ms. Lu wrote, “The [Chinese] Constitution grants us the freedom of belief, and it's a universal right for all human beings. Falun Gong teaches Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. My husband did nothing wrong in following these principles to be a good person.”

“I hope my letter can awaken the conscience of the police officers involved in the persecution to release my husband and other detained practitioners. Doing good deeds does you good.” To officers motivated by bonuses and promotions to participate in the persecution, Ms. Lu said, “Don't be blinded by temporary petty interests. Don't leave yourself with lifelong regrets.”

Perpetrators Involved in Mr. Wang's Arrest:
Chen Yingli (陈英利), head of Funing County Domestic Security DivisionPan Quan (潘权), staff from Funing County Domestic Security DivisionWang Wei (王伟), head of Niutouya Police StationTeng Haiting (腾海廷), head of Haininglu Police Station

As one of main perpetrators in this case, Chen Yingli was promoted to the head of the Domestic Security Division in 2009 for actively participating in the persecution of many practitioners, including, but not limited to: