(Minghui.org) Once a respected police officer, Mr. Chen Zhongxuan (陈仲轩) is now persecuted by his colleagues, simply because he practices Falun Gong.
Because he is a former police officer, when he escaped after being arrested three years ago, Gansu Public Security Bureau formed a special task force to search for him. He was placed on the nationwide wanted list. Unable to return home, Mr. Chen had to stay on the move.
Mr. Chen and three other practitioners were arrested in his temporary residence in Baiyin City, Gansu Province on September 19, 2014. The procuratorate approved his arrest on October 23, which is a necessary step in the process of preparing for a trial.
This was part of a new wave of arrests orchestrated by Gansu 610 Office. 13 practitioners were arrested that day.
Fan Hongtao, the head of Domestic Security Division and dozens of officers broke into Mr. Chen's apartment around 3 p.m. According to a witness, police cars surrounded Mr. Chen's apartment building, and plainclothes officers were staked out near the building's exit.
Mr. Chen Zhongxuan, 53, Ms. Liao Anan (廖安安), in her 70s, Ms. Li Qiaolian (李巧莲), in her 60s, and Ms. Zhang Wenxiu (张文秀) were arrested. Mr. Chen asked to put on a jacket before being taken away, but was instead beaten, verbally abused and handcuffed by the police.
Mr. Chen was driving with his wife and three other practitioners on the evening of September 24, 2011. They planned to distribute Falun Gong materials in a nearby village, a typical grass-root initiative by Falun Gong practitioners inside China to counteract the persecution.
A car suddenly stopped in front of them, blocking them. Five plainclothes officers rushed out, each carrying a metal club. They surrounded Mr. Chen's car and wouldn't let the passengers out.
After over an hour of stalemate, the five practitioners were arrested and taken to Zhongchuan Police Station.
Mr. Chen managed to escape from the police station.
The other four practitioners, including his wife Ms. Han Xiufang (韩秀芳), Mr. He Yuhu (何玉瑚), Mr. Jin Yinwu (金银武), and Ms. Feng Caihong (冯彩红) were sentenced to three years of imprisonment.
Zhang Xiaoping (张小平), Mr. Chen's former student at the police academy, was promoted to head of Domestic Security Division in Huining County because of his active involvement in the persecution of Falun Gong. He took the lead in searching for Mr. Chen.
Mr. Chen's family members—especially the ones who also practice Falun Gong—were closely monitored.
Inside the apartment building in Lanzhou, where Mr. Chen's sister Ms. Chen Jie (陈洁) lived, a surveillance camera was installed. The security personnel videotaped everyone who came to visit Ms. Chen.
Ms. Chen Jie and Ms. Chen Shuxian (陈淑娴), both are Mr. Chen's sisters, were arrested at Ms. Chen Jie's apartment on June 30, 2012. The police ransacked her home and confiscated many items containing information about Falun Gong.
Ms. Chen Shuxian was released on August 24, 2012. The items confiscated at Ms. Chen Jie's home were used by the police as evidence to charge her. She was sentenced to five years of imprisonment.
The search for Mr. Chen continued.
On the morning of January 27, 2014, Zhang Xiaoping and a group of police officers and government officials broke into the home of Mr. Chen's brother-in-law, Mr. Liu Haixue (刘海学). They raided his home and confiscated his computer, printer, Falun Gong books and other items.
One officer told Mr. Liu, “The reason why we arrested you is to find Chen Zhongxuan. If you tell us where he is, we will release you.”
Mr. Liu was detained at Huining County Detention Center and released on March 7.
Responsible parties include:
610 Office: +86-931-2158970
Ze Bazu (泽巴足), head of Gansu Provincial Political and Legal Affairs Committee: +86-0931-8416011Ma Xiangxian (马湘贤), director of the provincial 610 Office: +86-931-8288273(Office), +86-13909318007 (Mobile)