(Minghui.org) After 700 citizens signed a petition to rescue Falun Gong practitioner Mr. Li Lankui in Zhengding County, Hebei Province, high level officials from the Hebei Province Political and Legal Affairs Committee were stationed in the area. They threatened and harassed the local residents. Currently, three Falun Gong practitioners have been sent to forced labor camps, and the arrests of four other people were approved. In recent months, however, local residents who are against the persecution have continued calling for the release of Falun Gong practitioners. There was a 306-signature petition and a 903-signature petition, followed by the most recent petition with 1108 signatures and thumbprints.

 
The fourth petition has 1108 signatures to support the “700-Signature Petition” and protest the persecution against the petitions and their signers

Since the United States Congress was informed about the 700-Signature petition, high level officials have been stationed in the Zhengding County area. They started the investigation by terrorizing the area. They broke up into teams of two and went from household to household, threatening civilians by saying, “Those who signed will suffer consequences.” Gao Guo, the Zhengding Police Department deputy chief and assistant county commissioner in charge of the local 610 Office, began to make large scale arrests. At least six arrests were reported. During one arrest, Falun Gong practitioner Ms. Yang Yinqiao fell from her apartment building and died at the scene. A total of 16 practitioners and their families were arrested. Their heads were covered with black hoods while they were transported to a secret location for interrogation. They were brutally tortured and forced to make confessions. They were handcuffed to an iron chair, not allowed to sleep, beaten, and shocked with high voltage electric batons. Ms. Bai Shuqin from Donganfeng Village of Zhengding County and Ms. Wang Yuexia and Ms. Yang Rongxia from Gaocheng have been sentenced to forced labor. The arrests of Ms. Gao Suzhen; her husband, Mr. Zhang Tianqi; Ms. Niu Minjie; and Mr. Jia Zhijiang were recently approved. Ms. Niu was released after his blood pressure went up to 296 mmHg. The rest of those who were arrested were released.

The 306-signature petition calling for the release of Falun Gong practitioner Mr. Li Lankui and protesting the persecution

 
703 civilians from Zhengding County in Shijiazhuang signed a petition to rescue Mr. Li Lankui

Voices of Support

As of now, another 1108 citizens have signed a petition to support Falun Gong. 622 included their fingerprints. Many touching incidents occurred as the signatures were being collected.

Hearing of the petition to support Falun Gong, a 60-year-old woman said, “I will sign, because it is a good thing to do. Saving others is saving oneself, harming others is against the will of heaven, I will sign!” She added at the end, “I know Dafa is good, and I support you.”

Five or so men working at a construction site already knew the truth about Falun Gong and had quit the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) organizations. They recognized a Falun Gong practitioner and called to him, “Aren't you practicing Falun Gong? Quick, tell us what's new.” The practitioner told them about the petition to rescue Mr. Li Lankui. One man said right away, “We know Falun Dafa is good, I'll sign.” The others also agreed to sign.

One afternoon, a 50-year-old farmer said, “This is to save people and it is a good deed, so I'll support it and sign it.” A man selling watermelons said, “I'll support and sign it, as this is a good deed.”

A farmer encountered a practitioner on the street collecting signatures and said, “All the Falun Gong practitioners in our village are good people and we have benefited from them. Our village always has the good fortune of avoiding natural disasters. I will sign to rescue this Falun Gong practitioner, and everyone in our village should sign this.”

The third petition with 903 signatures

After a retired Beijing government official listened to a practitioner explain the facts about Falun Gong he said, “The corrupt CCP will end soon—I know more than you do. It is very good that Falun Gong practitioners live by the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. Most of the government officials agree with that.”

When two men in their 40s heard about the petition, one said, “Sure, sure, I'll sign.” The other said, “I will sign, too. The Communist Party is very corrupt, and it should have been replaced long ago. I support Falun Dafa.”

A town official said, “Everyone knows that Falun Gong practitioners believe in Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance and they are good people, I wouldn't do anything harmful to Falun Gong. Those 610 Office personnel and policemen don't do what's right. I will sign to rescue Falun Gong practitioners.” He stamped his fingerprint on the petition as well.

Mr. Li Lankui's Health Renewed from Practicing Falun Gong; People Sign Petitions to Rescue Him from Unlawful Imprisonment

In June 2012, China's vice president, Xi Jinping, invited Iowa governor Terry Branstad for a visit in Zhengding County. For “security reasons,” local policemen arrested Mr. Li Lankui. Mr. Li buys and sells used goods for a living.

Prior to practicing Falun Gong, Mr. Li was bedridden and unable to work for over two years. Mr. Li regained his health within a month after practicing Falun Gong. He lives up to the standards of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance and is honest and humble. His quick temper faded away, and he stopped hitting his wife. His wife's epilepsy was cured, too, after she started to practice Falun Gong. They lived in harmony and their household prospered. Their story was well-known in their village and the neighboring community as well. As a result, at one time, over 200 people would go to the practice site in Mr. Li's village.

During a field report by New Tang Dynasty TV, local villagers said, “He is an honest and kind. I don't understand why he was arrested.” Villagers told the reporter that Mr. Li Lankui bought and sold used goods for a living and everyone considered him a good person because he treated everyone fairly, liked to help others, and did not take advantage of others. A middle aged woman said, “He is very kind to his parents. People in nearby villages all want to sell their used goods to him because he treats them fairly and doesn't cheat.”

During an interview by Sound of Hope Radio, a villager said, “The whole village is talking about it. Everyone says he is a good person and they don't understand why he was arrested. He is very honest, humble, and kind. He got along very well with people in the village. We hope he gets bailed out quickly. Everyone in the village wants him released soon.”

After Mr. Li Liankui's arrest, over 700 villagers signed the petition asking for his release. However, the government agency still sentenced him to one year and three months of forced labor.

Related articles:

Mr. Zhang Tianqi and His Wife Detained Following the Raids Surrounding the “700-Signature Petition Incident” in Hebei Province (Photo) http://en.minghui.org/html/articles/2012/10/11/135817.html 

Practitioners Arrested After the “700-Signature Petition Incident”
http://en.minghui.org/html/articles/2012/10/30/136097.html 

Ms. Gao Suzhen from Shijiazhuang City Detained for Signing a Petition to Rescue a Falun Gong Practitioner; Her Husband Arrested and His Current Whereabouts Unknown http://en.minghui.org/html/articles/2012/9/26/135594.html 

Mr. Li Lankui Arrested in Zhengding County, Hebei Province; Villagers Stand Up to Police
http://en.minghui.org/html/articles/2012/7/2/134230.html 

Communist Regime Agents Make More Illegal Arrests after Causing a Practitioner to Fall to Her Death in Hebei Province
http://en.minghui.org/html/articles/2012/9/27/135613.html