(Minghui.org) Falun Dafa, an ancient meditation practice, was introduced to the public on May 13, 1992. It has been persecuted since July 1999 due to its fast growing popularity.
Since May 13, 2000, Falun Dafa practitioners around the world began to celebrate this day as World Falun Dafa Day for the practice’s public introduction. But this date was often considered a “sensitive day” by the regime and the authorities often intensify the persecution around this time in an attempt to prevent practitioners from stepping up their efforts to expose the persecution.
Police across China arrested or harassed at least 51 practitioners on this year's World Falun Dafa Day, May 13, 2000. One of the practitioners died in custody within 4 days of the arrest.
Woman in Her 60s Dies 4 Days After Arrest
Ms. Zhang Zhiwen, of Yuzhou City, Henan Province, was arrested at home on May 13. Her family learned on the next day that she was locked in Xuchang City Women’s Detention Center. When they brought Ms. Zhang, who was diabetic, her insulin and clothes on May 15, authorities at the detention center turned them away, claiming that she had everything she needed. Her family called on the 17th to inquire about Ms. Zhang’s condition and was told that she had passed away earlier that day. Her body was transferred to Xuchang City Morgue.
Professor Near 80 Remains in Detention
Five officers and local officials broke into Ms. Yang Shuxian’s home in Kunming City, Yunnan Province on May 13, accusing her of distributing Falun Dafa fliers the day before. Ms. Yang was a professor at Kunming University of Science and Technology in Yunnan Province. The authorities turned her place upside down and confiscated all of her Falun Dafa books and materials. She remains in custody at the time of writing.
Six Arrests in a Small County
Six practitioners in Shenze County, Hebei Province, were arrested between May 13 to May 15. Their homes were ransacked. Ms. Yuan Huilian was beaten by the police. All of them have been released.
Elderly Arrested Again After Serving 3 Years
Ms. Liao Shulan, in her 70s and of Chongqing City, was at a market on May 13 when two officers from Duzhou Police Station arrested her. Prior to her latest arrest, she was sentenced to three years in 2012 for giving out Falun Dafa informational materials.
Two Dozen Policemen Break into Practitioner’s Home
While Ms. Xu Renxian and other practitioners gathered in her house in Yantai City, Shandong Province, on May 13, over 20 officers charged in without warning. The police arrested all six practitioners and ransacked the place. Four of them were later released. Ms. Xu and another practitioner Ms. Bi Jiancai’s whereabouts remain unknown.
Arrest Based on Surveillance
The police in Jinan City, Shandong Province, saw Ms. Liu Guifang give out Falun Dafa fliers on a surveillance camera on May 13 and intercepted her on her way home. At the police station the police took her blood and urine sample without her consent. She was released around midnight, only to find her home ransacked. All of her cash and Falun Dafa materials were confiscated by the police.
Mass Arrests of Seniors in Small Town
Seventeen practitioners, mostly in their 70s, in Yuechi County, Sichuan Province, were arrested between May 12 and May 13. One of them was released while the rest remained in custody. The police ransacked the house of one of them, Mr. Zhao (first name unknown), three times.
Monitoring and House Arrests
The police and officials harassed and monitored many practitioners in Jinfeng Town, Chongqing, on May 12 and May 13. The authorities ordered the practitioners not to leave their sight on May 13.
The public security in Yangpu District, Shanghai, hired a man to watch Ms. Xu Fengqing, in her 80s, from May 11 to May 13.
The officers from Nanshan Police Station in Chongqing warned Ms. Zhou Liangrong on May 12 not to leave her home the next day. The next day several officers broke into Ms. Zhou’s home early in the morning and told her that she would be placed under surveillance for six months. Two men were assigned to monitor her.
On the same day authorities in Nanping Town went to Ms. Zhou’s sister Ms. Zhou Liangzhi’s home to harass her.
Threats and Harassment
Five men visited Ms. Yang Peirong in Zhangjiakou City, Hebei Province, on May 13 and asked her to sign the statements to renounce Falun Dafa. These men were policemen and the village officials of Zhoujiahe Village. They took photos and left after Ms. Yang refused to sign.
Three police officers from Chengshousi Police Station went to Ms. Zuo Yan’s home in Beijing on May 13. Ms. Zuo, a 49-year-old English teacher, refused to open the door or answer any questions.
