(Minghui.org) Mr. Gao Xingdong, a teacher in Yunnan, was tried by the Hongta District Court (Yuxi City) on February 5, 2015. He was illegally arrested on October 10, 2014, for distributing copies of the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party, along with software that circumvents the Chinese regime's Internet firewall.
His wife, Ms. Li, also an elementary teacher, now faces unlawful persecution at work. She was demoted and not allowed to teach, because she insisted on supporting her husband for practicing Falun Gong.
Ms. Li teaches at Dianju Elementary School in Hongta District. After her husband's arrest, she was harassed and threatened by school authorities and officials from the Hongta Education Bureau and Daying Street Party Committee. These actions were instigated by orders from the 610 Office.
The officials attempted to coerce Ms. Li, and asked her to make a choice between Falun Gong and her job. She told them that she supports her husband practicing Falun Gong, and had witnessed firsthand how he recovered from debilitating arthritis after one month of practice.
The school authorities held a meeting on November 17. Afterward, the school's principal, Zheng Lixing, announced the decision to reduce Ms. Li's rank two levels. He cited her “violation of professional ethics.” The mandate took effect immediately and was set to last for two years. If Ms. Li does not change her mind about her husband and Falun Gong after that term, she will be fired.
Punitive Measures
Officials from the Hongta Education Bureau went to Ms. Li's school on December 1, 2015, with a document of the trumped-up measures, and forced her to sign it. Not only did she face the prospect of losing her right to teach, but her salary was reduced by several hundred yuan.
These punitive measures did not end with Ms. Li. The Hongta Education Bureau also retracted the bonuses of every teacher in the district by 1,200 yuan (~200 USD), anddemanded that they write articles defaming Falun Gong, or also face termination.
The district then announced that every student needed to write statements defaming Falun Gong, which has resulted in many complaints from teachers and parents.
Parties involved in the persecution:Hongta District Education Bureau: +86-877-2024973Education Section of the Hongta Education Bureau: +86-877-2015802
Earlier report:Yunnan Teacher Arrested for Telling Students How to Discover the CCP's True Colors
