Seven Datong Residents Arrested for Their Belief in Falun Gong

(Minghui.org) Seven local residents from Datong City, Shanxi Province were arrested for practicing Falun Gong in the first half of 2016, including Mr. Yang Guoguo, Ms. Wang Dianhua, Mr. Zhang Xianwen, Ms. Lan Qingmei, Ms. Chang Lijuan, Mr. Xia Runtang, and Mr. Zhang Yousheng.

Arrests on Two Separate Days

Mr. Yang, Ms. Wang, and Mr. Zhang Xianwen were arrested on January 13, 2016. The four other practitioners were arrested on May 26, 2016.

Mr. Yang was arbitrarily arrested on his way home from work after a night shift. His car was also confiscated.

Mr. Wang Xianwen was arrested in front of his home. His car was confiscated, and the police ransacked his home when no one was present. They confiscated his laptop computer, three printers, 2,400 yuan in cash, several jewelry items, and an antique.

Ms. Lan Qingmei didn’t return home after going out on May 26, 2016. Her family didn’t know she had been arrested until a detention notification was delivered to them the next day.

Ms. Lan’s Lawyer Met With Obstacles While Reviewing Case Files

Ms. Lan’s family and lawyer went to Yizhou Detention Center and asked to visit her on August 8, 2016. The detention center refused their request and asked them to present an approval letter from the Procuratorate. However, when they asked the Procuratorate, a staff member said that the case had been returned to the police department.

Ms. Lan’s lawyer returned to the Yifu District Procuratorate and requested a review of her case files on November 9, 2016. Director Li of the case administration office said that the case had been submitted to the Yifu District Court on November 1, 2016.

Ms. Lan’s family and lawyer then went to the court. The judge told her lawyer that the Political and Legal Affairs Commission (PLAC) ordered that the lawyer not be allowed to review the case files, and he could only take a photo of the accusation letter. The judge also told the lawyer that the case wouldn’t be tried in public. The trial was to be conducted on November 18, 2016.

The lawyer sent a formal complaint to the court requesting he be allowed his right to review the case files, and the right to a public trial.

Mr. Zhang Xianwen’s Lawyer Not Allowed to Review His Case Files

Mr. Zhang Xianwen’s wife and lawyer went to visit him in the detention center on August 25, 2016. They also requested that the items confiscated at the time of his arrest be returned. The police returned only 1,200 yuan in cash and denied having taken any personal belongings.

Mr. Zhang’s lawyer then went to the Yifu District Procuratorate to review his case files on September 12, 2016. Director Li of the case administration office asked the lawyer to file a report with the PLAC. The lawyer told the administration that they shouldn’t allow the PLAC to interfere in their jurisdiction.

The lawyer filed a complaint against Director Li with the PLAC the next day. The PLAC, however, shifted the responsibility for the case back to the Procuratorate. The lawyer then sent a complaint letter to the Yizhou City Procuratorate.

Mr. Zhang’s family went to Yifu District Procuratorate and inquired about his case on September 22, 2016. Director Li said that the case had been returned to the police department. The family then went to the public prosecution section of the Procuratorate and the police department.

All of the offices refused to provide any information and avoided taking any responsibility for the case.

The family and lawyer then went to the Yifu District Court on November 10, 2016, and requested to review Mr. Zhang's case files. Judge Lu Xiuli didn’t allow the lawyer to review the files, and said the case would not be tried in public.

She also refused to give the lawyer the accusation letter he requested. However, after the lawyer’s repeated objections, the judge allowed the lawyer take a photograph of the letter.

Relevant parties involved in persecuting the seven practitioners:Li Linshuang(李林双), Domestic Security Division of Yizhou City Police Department: [phone]Liu Changyong (刘长勇), Domestic Security Division of Yizhou City Police Department: [phone]Jiang Xinsheng (姜新生), section leader of Public Prosecution Section, Yifu District Procuratorate: [phone]Lu Xiuli (吕秀丽), judge of Yifu District Court: [phone], [phone]