(Clearwisdom.net) The 2010 World Expo is to be held in Shanghai. Zhou Yongkang, former Minister of Public Security of the People's Republic of China and head of the Central Political and Legislative Committee, and a major persecutor of Falun Gong, arrived at the Shanghai World Expo Coordination Bureau on June 20, 2009. Zhou made a number of statements in Shanghai, including, "The Shanghai World Expo is another important international event similar to the Beijing Olympics," "Safety is the most important element to hosting a successful World Expo," and, "We must protect the safety and security of the World Expo." He then ordered a crackdown on any perceived dissent, thereby beginning yet another intense campaign of persecution of the Chinese people.

Headquarters of the Shanghai World Expo Coordination Bureau at 3588 South Pudong Road

After the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the Shanghai government, in preparation for the Expo, spent a huge amount of money on a "beautification project" to create the illusion of prosperity for the Expo visitors. At the same time, just as in the run-up to the 2008 Olympics, a brutal crackdown began on many innocent people. People have been monitored and arrested; homes of Shanghai residents have been torn down to make way for new buildings, and human rights advocates are being detained and persecuted.

At the beginning of 2009, Jiang Zemin, the chief criminal who orchestrated and maintains the persecution of Falun Gong, returned to Shanghai where he issued the slogan, "Successful Olympics, Splendid World Expo." He also instigated another crackdown on Falun Gong practitioners under the pretext of "ensuring the safety of the World Expo."

On December 13, 2008, the core committee of the Shanghai CCP issued a decree called the "Four Guarantees." Liu Geng, former director of Shanghai Tilanqiao Prison and former chief of the Political and Legal Committee of Shanghai, claimed that the most import guarantee of the "Four Guarantees" is to use all means necessary to protect their preparations for the World Expo. On December 18, 2008 with 500 days were left to go, all the CCP organizations in Shanghai, including the police, began to "eliminate" and "resolve" what they consider as "potential embarrassments" for them.

Immediately after the 2009 Chinese New Year, Falun Gong practitioners in Shanghai started to experience a new round of persecution. Many practitioners were harassed or arrested by the police. In February 2009, seven arrests were reported and seven Falun Gong practitioners were transferred to brainwashing centers or detention centers. The Shanghai Police Department is running a "Safety Project," which includes the installation of video cameras all over the city. Even in the Pudong District, police patrols are everywhere, with 24-hour patrols in many areas. Cameras were also installed in several of the older and smaller surrounding districts.

Security and Patrol Police

In March 2009, the Shanghai Police Department started yet another round of persecution of Falun Gong practitioners. In the Pudong District, where the World Expo will be held, many practitioners were harassed at home. A traffic policeman told his relative who practices Falun Gong that even traffic police were instructed to question Falun Gong practitioners and search their homes for Falun Gong flyers and books. In March, another nine practitioners were illegally arrested.

In April 2009, nine Falun Gong practitioners were arrested. Incentives were offered in Yangpu District and Pudong District, with amounts of 10,000 yuan for arresting a Falun Gong practitioner caught in the act of distributing materials, 200 yuan for reporting a Falun Gong practitioner, and 5 yuan to turn in a copy of truth-clarification materials.

On May 1, 2009, one year away from the World Expo, the persecution began in earnest. Within one month, 21 Falun Gong practitioners were arrested, including an entire family arrested after their home was broken into.

In June, 20 more Falun Gong practitioners were arrested.

I would like to call on the international community to please pay attention to the ongoing persecution that the CCP regime is inflicting on the people of Shanghai. Please investigate the crimes of the CCP, which is now using the upcoming World Expo as an excuse to continue violating basic human rights and the freedom of religion.

High security, including a strong police presence at the site of the World Expo. All vehicles need to be documented while passing the gate.

Address of Bureau of the Shanghai World Expo Coordination: 3588 South Pudong Road. Zip Code: 200125
Tel: 86-21-22062010
Email: juzhang@expo2010.gov.cn

Bureau International Des Expositions:
Address: 34, Avenue d'Iena, Paris 75116 -France
Tel: +33 (0) 1 45 00 38 63
Fax: +33 (0) 1 45 00 96 15
Email: bie@bie-paris.org

Shanghai Falun Gong practitioners persecuted in the first half of 2009:

February 8 - Liu Guizhen from Zhabei District was arrested and transferred to Qingpu Brainwashing Center.
February 9 - Lu Xiuli from Putuo District was arrested by the policemen from Shanghai Police Department.
February 9 - Ma Chunmei from Liantang Town, Qingpu District was arrested and transferred to a brainwashing facility.
February 10 - Li Gendi from Zhabei District was arrested and transferred to Qingpu Brainwashing Center.
February 10 - Zhu Liju from Changning District was arrested
February 12 - Wang Chunyan from Nanhui, Pudong District was arrested by the local policemen and transferred to Nanhui Detention Center.
Mid-February - Cao Qiongzhi from Changning District was arrested and sent to Changning Detention Center. Her home was ransacked.
March 10 - Luo Wei and Chi Bo from Xuhui District was arrested by the policemen from Jinshan District and sent to Jinshan Detention Center.
Mid-March - Wang Jiaying from Luwan District was arrested by Shanghai Policemen.
March 17 - Lu Lingdi and Huang Guizhen from Gaoqiao Township, Pudong District were arrested by policemen from Lingqiao Police Station in the Pudong District. They were sent to Pudong Detention Center later.
March 17 - Hu Linggen from Yangpu District was arrested by Shanghai policemen in the morning and his (or her) home was ransacked.
March 17 - Xu Yongfang from Yangpu District was arrested by Shanghai policemen in the morning.
March 22 - Gu Qunzhu from Pudong District was arrested at home in the evening. In the early morning of the next day, her two homes were ransacked.
March 28 - Ge Yongzhen from Baoshan District was arrested by policemen from Hongkou District and sent to Hongkou Detention Center.
Beginning of April - Wang Zhen from Jing'an District, a part-time computer teacher in a university, was arrested for sending cell phone messages.
April 6 - an elderly (female) Falun Gong practitioner was arrested in Kangjian Park, Xuhui District and sent to the Kangjian Police Station.
April 13 - Xu Linmei from Xuhui District was arrested at home by National Security Policemen.
Around April 22 - Li Shuqin, a retired teacher from the Shanghai Second Medical University, was arrested and sentenced to one year in a forced labor camp.
April 25 - Qian Yuhua from Baogang Third Village of Baoshan District was arrested at home by seven policemen and CCP members. Her home was ransacked and she was sent to Baoshan Detention Center.
April 25 - Ying Zhiming, Zhang Xiufang and Ying Yeqi (a family) were arrested. Their home was ransacked and they were sent to Baoshan Detention Center.
End of April - Li Guifang went missing. She probably was arrested by the Shanghai Police.
May 5 - Xu Jianxing from Qibao Township, Minhang District and another Falun Gong practitioner whose last name is Ni were arrested by Shanghai policemen.
May 8 - Xia Zhiying from Sanlin Township, Pudong District was arrested in the morning and sent to a brainwashing facility.
May 18 - Zhang Fuxian from Nanhui Township, Pudong District was arrested by the local police and sent to Nanhui Detention Center.
May 21 - Ding Taozhen from Jiading District was arrested by policemen from the Nanxiang Police Station. Her whereabouts are currently unknown.
May 21 - eight Falun Gong practitioners from Pudong District were arrested and sent to a brainwashing facility.
May 25 - a 78-year-old lady surnamed Yan was arrested. Her home was ransacked.
May 25 - elderly Ms. Guo and both of her sisters Guo Yuefen and Guo Yuefang were arrested at home by policemen from the Putuo District. Their homes were ransacked and they were sent to a detention center.
May 25 - Ying Yu was arrested by policemen from the Putuo District and sent to Putuo Detention Center. The practitioner's home was ransacked.
May 25 - Meng Fanzhen and her son, Xie Heng from Jiangqiao Township, Jiading District were arrested by the local police and sent to Jiading Detention Center.
May 25 - Wang Renxiang from Putuo District was arrested and sent to the detention center of Shanghai Railroad Police.
May 25 - Ms. Ren Qiuling, 78 years old, from Putuo District was arrested.
June 4 - Li Yaohua, her daughter Zhang Yibo, and Zhang Qin was arrested by policemen from the Xuhui District. They were sent to Xuhui Detention Center.
June 4 - Lu Yuzhi (50 years old) and Ye Ying from Pudong District was arrested by policemen from Xuhui District.
June 5 - Ms. Chen Xinli (more than 60 years old and originally from Mianyang County, Sichuan Province) was arrested while posting truth-clarifying stickers. She whereabouts are currently unknown.
Beginning of June - Dr. Du (over 50 years old) from Pujiang Township, Minhang District was arrested while clarifying the truth.
June 6 - Lu Xiuli from Putuo District was arrested and jailed in the Putuo Detention Center.
June 6 - Yang Manye from Putuo District was arrested by the local police and jailed in the Putuo Detention Center.
June 6 - Li Wenjuan and her son-in-law Hou Yagang from the Putuo District were arrested at home and sent to a detention center.
June 6 - Lu Meiying, Ms. Zhong, and Yu were arrested and detained.
June 6 - a 70-year-old Falun Gong practitioner, Ms. Quan Ying, from Luwan District was arrested and jailed in a detention center.
June 7 - Ms. Zhong from the Putuo District (more than 60 years old and originally from Changchun) was arrested
June 12 - Jiang Yong from Xuhui District was arrested by CCP members and the policemen from Shanghai.
June 16 - Falun Gong practitioner Xu Yafang from the Songjiang District was arrested by CCP members and the police for clarifying the truth of Falun Gong. This practitioner's home was ransacked.
June 18 - Huang Naiwei from Luwan District was arrested. This practitioner's home was ransacked. This the third time that Huang Naiwei has been arrested.
June 22 - a Falun Gong practitioner was arrested around Zhongshan Bridge of Zhongshan North Road, Shanghai.

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Category: Accounts of Persecution