Macheng, Hubei Province: Five Practitioners Arrested Within One Week

(Minghui.org) Five law-abiding citizens from Macheng City, Hubei Province were arrested within one week in late August for their belief in Falun Gong. Except for one who was released due to poor health, the rest are still in police custody at the Macheng Detention Center and have been denied visitation rights.

The Macheng 610 Office, Macheng Domestic Security Division, local police stations and residential committees collaborated in the arrests.

Another Falun Gong practitioner has reportedly been arrested and sent to the Wuhan Brainwashing Center. Details are yet to be investigated.

Ms. Zhang Dewen (张德文) from Baiguo Township was arrested during the afternoon of August 26, 2014. Local authorities also ransacked her home and confiscated a computer, a printer, and Falun Gong books.

Ms. Tang Shixing (汤世星), another practitioner from Baiguo Township, was arrested when she went to visit Ms. Zhang. She was taken to the Baiguo Police Station. Four police officers from the Baiguo Police Station later broke into Ms. Tang's home and videotaped the interior. Ms. Zhang and Ms. Tang were transferred to the Macheng Detention Center on August 27.

The police arrested Ms. Liu Jiqing (刘继清) at her home on the morning of August 20. Ms. Tian Yinhua (田银花) was arrested in the afternoon of the same day at her home, along with another practitioner, Ms. Wang Shuwen (汪淑文). The police confiscated 4,400 yuan in cash and many personal belongings.

Ms. Tian, 57, suffered a heart attack while at the Macheng Detention Center and passed out several times. She was later released after being denied admission to the Shizishan Rehabilitation Center in Wuhan and also due to the strenuous protests of her family.

Recent Developments in Additional Case

Mr. Yi Jiahai (易家海) is facing an illegal trial. He has been detained for almost a year since his arrest in October 2013.

On October 15, 2013, police ransacked Mr. Yi's home and confiscated two computers, a printer, and cash. Mr. Yi was taken to the Chengmagang Police Station and transferred to the Macheng Detention Center on October 16, 2013.

Mr. Yi is a retired principle from the Wanyi Central Elementary School in Wangfudian Township.

Parties participating in the recent arrests in Macheng City:

Political and Legal Affairs Committee: [phone] (office)Feng Xiang (冯向), director of the Political and Legal Affairs Committee: [phone] (mobile)Peng Peng (彭鹏), deputy director of the Political and Legal Affairs Committee: [phone] (mobile)Liu Jun (刘俊), director of the Macheng City 610 Office: [phone] (mobile)Dong Jiapeng (董家鹏), deputy director of the Macheng City 610 Office: [phone] (mobile)Cao Guangyin (曹光银), deputy political commissar of the Macheng City Police Department: [phone] (mobile)Zhou Kaishu (周开书), director of the Macheng Domestic Security Division: [phone] (mobile)Ding Pengcheng (丁鹏程), police officer from the Macheng Domestic Security Division: [phone] (mobile)Wang Zhengjie (王正杰), director of the Macheng City Detention Center: [phone] (mobile), [phone] (office)