The Recent Cases of Persecution in Daqing City

Before the Olympics Games started, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) authorities in Daqing City issued secret instructions concerning Falun Gong practitioners. The instructions were "Keep the principle: in sentencing Falun Gong practitioners, round up to the maximum term allowable." Thus, an original sentence of "one to three years" was rounded up to three years. A sentence of "three to seven years" was rounded up to "seven to eight years." For example, in Daqing area, practitioner Jiang Fengqin was sentenced to eight years; Gao Yanxia, five years; Yuan Qing, three to five years; Gao Fengling, three years; and Du Deping, two years.

During the period of the Olympic Torch Relay, streaming news headlines at the bottom of TV screens in the Daqing area showed messages from the CCP encouraging people to expose Falun Gong practitioners. Many people told Falun Gong practitioners, "We know you are all nice people. Please watch out, don't be caught by the police."

Around July 20, the police from Babaishang District Branch arrested Falun Gong practitioner Ms. Ding near the Daqing Jiuchang family housing area. Personnel from the Jiuchang Street Administration Office helped with the arrest.

At about six o'clock in the evening on July 31, Zhao from Yinlang Police Station led five or six policemen from Chengfeng Branch and broke into practitioner Ms. Zhang Shuhua's house. They took her into custody at once and confiscated her printer and papers, among other things. Zhang Shuhua is still being detained at Chengfeng Police Branch.

One practitioner moved to Beijing from Daqing after her husband passed away. However, "in preparation for the Olympics," the CCP forced her to move back to Daqing. She had to give up her house in Beijing and stay in a hotel in Daqing. She is also required to call and report to the officials from time to time.