(Clearwisdom.net) The persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in Linju County, Shandong Province, escalated during the past year, especially around the 2008 Beijing Olympics. According to incomplete statistics, nearly 100 practitioners were subjected to arrests, extortion, brainwashing, detention, and forced labor.

Practitioners subjected to forced labor included: Xue Qingguo, Yin Hua, Shi Mingchang, Wang Jinxian, Liu Fangxiang (released before term expiration due to health problems), Ma Xinying, Zhang Ying, Cong Mengyan, Liu Xinghua, Jing Guanghua, Ma Zhanqin, Liu Wangrong, Zhang Zhenglan, Wu Chunxia, Li Guolin, Ma Haiping, Wang Dechun, Ma Shicheng, Wang Xingkai, Liu Chenggang, and Ni Zhongping. Among them, Xue Qingguo, Shi Mingchang, Wu Chunxia, Wang Dechun, Liu Chenggang, and Wang Xingkai were serving forced labor sentences for the second time.

Peng Shiguo and Ma Zhanqin are a couple. Now that Ma is in a labor camp and Peng has been detained, there is no one to take care of their child.

Xue Qingguo had just launched his own pottery business in 2007. He had prepared lots of rice, flour, and cooking oil to give to his employees for the upcoming Chinese New Year. The police confiscated all of this plus his equipment. They also ransacked his home and took all his cash savings. He was later sent to a labor camp.

Many practitioners were detained, forced to go to brainwashing sessions, and had money extorted from them.

Wang Dehua was ordered to pay an extortion of 30,000 yuan. The police often went to his home to harass him and intimidate him so that he would not expose their crimes.

Shortly before the Olympics, Ms. Ma Jinfeng was ordered to pay 9,000 yuan. While ransacking her home, the police took away 1,500 yuan in cash. Her home has been repeatedly ransacked and she was arrested in the past. The total amount in extortion she has had to pay is 22,000 yuan.

Mr. Wang in Panyang Village was arrested and had his home ransacked twice in the months leading up to the Olympics. The first time the police took 5,000 yuan from his home. The second time the police confiscated his satellite dish, Falun Gong books, and truth-clarification materials. He was held in a brainwashing center for one month and ordered to pay a fine of 1,200 yuan.

Wang Huimei's home was ransacked, and the police looted 28,000 yuan in cash. They also took a certificate of deposit worth 20,000 yuan. They were unable to access the money because they lacked the PIN number.

Ms. Dou Yiling was arrested and detained before the Olympics. The police ransacked her home and took her Dafa books and satellite dish. She was told to pay a "fine" of 8,000 yuan. She previously had 3,000 yuan extorted from her because she went to Beijing to appeal.

Lu Jiangang was arrested and his home was ransacked twice in less than a year. The first time the police took away his CD burner, Dafa books, and truth-clarification materials. He was fined a total of 10,000 yuan. Shortly before the Olympics, police again raided his home. This time they confiscated his car, computer, Falun Gong books, and his salary deposit pay card. He had 20,000 yuan extorted from him. His wife, Liu Yanping, was arrested at the same time and fined 5,000 yuan. Two months after his release the police still went to harass and intimidate him so that he would not expose their crimes. They also tried to have him work for them as a spy.

Zhang Jian was arrested and detained for two months and had 10,000 yuan extorted from him. The computer his son bought was also confiscated. The police often harassed and intimidated him after his release.

In addition to the above-mentioned practitioners, the following were also arrested and had money extorted from them. The amounts are listed below:

Fu Guimin: his home was ransacked on July 9, 2008; his computer was taken away; 5,000 yuan was extorted from him
Cao Hongrong: 6,000 yuan

Guo Yongfen: 1,500 yuan

Zhang Jinxia: 1,500 yuan

Cong Mengyan: 30,000 yuan

Liu Wanrong: 10,000 yuan

Wang Xingkai: 2,000 yuan

Xia Xuemei: 1,500 yuan

Sun Shoulan: 5,000 yuan

Zhang Zhaoli: 10,000 yuan (his mother had 2,000 yuan extorted from her)

Beng Shiguo: 5,000 yuan

Xu Wenyu: 10,000 yuan

Wang Yuhua: 1,500 yuan

Zhang Fazhen: 8,000 yuan

Liu Guodong's wife was tortured for six days in the detention center. She was forbidden to sleep during those days and ended up mentally disoriented. Liu Guodong's brother, Liu Guozheng, was also tortured and couldn't even stand up as result.

Liu Guodong, Liu Guozheng, Liu Shimin, and Peng Shiguo are currently considered "primary targets." Linju County Court agents held a trial for the four practitioners at 10:00 a.m. the morning of January 5, 2009. All of them defended themselves and told the judges that Falun Gong is the righteous law. Everyone in attendance listened quietly to the practitioners' defense. The court adjourned without handing down any verdicts. Li Hao and Yin Changzhi were the presiding judges.

Linju County Police Department
Police Chief Xu Wenyuan: 86-536-3456678 (Office), 86-536-3456369 (Home), 86-13963686369 (Cell)
Police officer Liu Hongde, in charge of persecuting Falun Gong: 86-536-3457979 (Office), 86-536-3120188 (Home), 86-13791858666 (Cell)
610 Office head Chen Qiang: 86-536-3114610 (Office), 86-13864676172 (Cell)
Linju County Court: 86-536-321-2592 (Office )