Changchun City, Jilin Province: 17 Falun Gong Practitioners and Their Family Members Arrested in One Day

(Minghui.org) The police in Changchun City, Jilin Province arrested 17 Falun Gong practitioners and their family members on the morning of February 19, 2023. Most of the practitioners had their homes ransacked and their Falun Gong books and informational materials confiscated. The police stayed at some practitioners’ homes, waiting to arrest more practitioners if they came to visit.

Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a spiritual discipline that has been persecuted by the Chinese communist regime since 1999.

According to an insider, the police operation was ordered by the Changchun Political and Legal Affairs Committee, the 610 Office and Erdao District Domestic Security Office. Most of the practitioners had been monitored for months before the arrests. The police even installed surveillance cameras outside of Mr. Lu Jinhua’s home to monitor his daily activities and practitioners he had contact with.

Mr. Wang Qixue was arrested while visiting Ms. Liu Xiaohua. When Mr. Wang’s son, who doesn’t practice Falun Gong, went to Ms. Liu’s home to look for his father in the afternoon, he was also arrested. The younger Mr. Wang has been released and his father was given ten days at the Weizigou Lockup. 

Four officers broke into Ms. Zhang Chunjie’s home and arrested her and her husband. Their over 40 Falun Gong books, a photo of Falun Gong’s founder, informational materials, and a media player were confiscated. Ms. Zhang’s husband has been released.

Ms. Zhang Chunli’s husband was shocked to see seven officers standing outside of their home when he opened the door in the morning. The officers barged in and ransacked their home. Ms. Zhang was arrested and given ten days of detention.

Ms. Wang Min was arrested at work and her cellphone was confiscated. Several Falun Gong practitioners were taken away at the same time.

Other people who were arrested on the same day include Ms. Tang Xiaoyan, her mother and sister Ms. Tang Xiaohong (non-practitioner), Ms. Zhao Guizhi, Mr. Lu Jinhua’s sister, Ms. Liu, Zhang, Lian, and a male practitioner whose name is unknown.

Earlier Arrests

Prior to the latest police sweep, the Changchun police had also arrested another eight practitioners since last December.

Mr. He Yan, Mr. Zhang Wengui, and Liu were arrested while visiting Ms. Ma Guiqing on December 5, 2022. They were released shortly after and placed on house arrest. 

While the police didn’t arrest Mr. Wang Min, a 70-year-old retired college professor who was also at Ms. Ma’s home, they arrested him days later and released him on the same day. Mr. Wang was taken away from his home on February 13, 2023, and held in a detention facility in Jiutai District. His cellphone and several Falun Gong books were confiscated.

Mr. He was also arrested again on February 13 and put on criminal detention. He was later released due to his health condition. He is now facing prosecution as the police had submitted his case to the procuratorate.

Ms. Wang Lihua, in her 60s, was arrested on the evening of February 17.

Ms. Fu Lanfen and another practitioner (name unknown) were arrested on February 17 while talking to people about Falun Gong on the street. Ms. Fu’s Falun Gong books and photo of Falun Gong’s founder were confiscated. Both practitioners are now held at the Jiutai District Detention Center. 

Perpetrators’ contact information:

Li Weilin (李维林), director of Changchun City Police Department: [phone]Li Xingtao (李兴涛), director of Erdao District Police Station: [phone]Li Chengwei (李承伟), head of Weizigou Lockup: [phone]

(More perpetrators’ contact information is available in the original Chinese article.)