(Minghui.org) When Mr. Zhang Shushen and his wife, Ms. Zhou Tuo, both Falun Gong practitioners from Jiucheng Town, Xinji City, Hebei Province, returned home on the evening of May 17, 2011, they were illegally arrested by police, who were waiting outside their home. The police searched their home and confiscated the couple’s TV, DVD player, and computer. They were detained at the Xinji Detention Center (Xiyao), and in May 2012, Ms. Zhou was sentenced to three years of forced labor. Her family were not notified of her sentence. She is now being held at the Shijiazhuang Women's Forced Labor Camp.
When Ms. Zhou was being held at the Xinji Detention Center, her family was refused visitation. In late autumn, the 82-year-old grandmother asked Mr. Zhang's brother to take some clothing to the couple. Xinji Detention Center accepted the clothes for Mr. Zhang but returned those for Ms. Zhou. The brother was told that she was not there. When he inquired about her whereabouts, they replied that they didn't know. Ms. Zhou had written a letter to her family from the detention center asking her sister to send her some money. On May 11, 2012, her elder son, who was at a university, went to Shijiazhuang to see his mother. On his return, he said his mother's hair had turned white and she was very skinny, spoke in a very low voice, and she looked very old.
In May 2012, while the couple was still at the Xinji Detention Center, Ms. Zhou wrote a note to her husband saying, “Happy Birthday to my Husband!” The guard found it and swore at them, saying, “You are still very happy even though you are in detention.” The family is not aware what the guards did to the couple, but one inmate said that Mr. Zhang was taken away and didn't return to his cell for two days, after which he just lay on his bed and slept without waking. When he had recovered just a little, he was again taken away. After he was again returned to the cell, he just lay on his bed and slept. Several days later, it was heard that Ms. Zhou had been sentenced to three years of forced labor. Mr. Zhang’s whereabouts are currently unknown.
There is now no one to take care of the couple’s 10-year-old son. He doesn’t go to school, climbs trees and houses, and steals. He stole money from his grandmother and bought alcohol, cigarettes, and toys. Sometimes he didn't return home at night. His family and neighbors are very worried about him. The 82-year-old grandmother finds it difficult to manage him. She went to the Jiucheng Police Station many times requesting the release of her daughter-in-law so that she could look after her son, but the police officers refuse to see her.
Trying to Locate Mr Zhang Shushen--The Police Department, Court, and Detention Center Deny Any Knowledge
On July 4, 2012, a family member telephoned the local police department and tried to find out Mr. Zhang Shushen's whereabouts. The family member was told that Mr. Zhang’s case had been transferred to the court and was advised to make inquiries at the Criminal Department. When asked for a contact name at the Criminal Department, the reply was, "I don’t know. Go and see whoever took the case." The family member said, "I don't know who took the case." The the official replied, "Ask the criminal department and then you will know."
The family member then went to the Xinji City Court. The main gate was locked and only a door on the second floor was open. The family member said to the guard that they didn’t know who in particular to see about Mr. Zhang Shushen's case. The guard refused to let them in. The family member asked for the telephone number of the criminal department. When the family member called the number, a person answered after the second attempt. The family member was asked who they wanted to speak to, and said that they didn't know who to talk to and that they were looking for Mr. Zhang Shushen. She replied, “He was sentenced a long time ago.” The family member said, “Why didn't you notify his family if he was sentenced?” She replied, “I don’t know.” The family member asked, “If he has been sentenced, where is he now?” She replied that she didn’t know. The family member said to her, “Please tell me who I can ask.” She replied, “Whoever arrested him, you should go and ask them.” The family member said, “It is the police department who arrested him. But the police department told me to come to you.” She replied, “Well then ask the detention center. We don't know.” The family member then went to the detention center. They told the guard that they wanted to see Mr. Zhang Shushen. He said, “No, you can't. If you want to see him, you have to have notice from the detention center.” The family member said to him, “A year has passed. I don't know what he needs now or what I should bring to him. Can you please ask him for me?” The guard said, “If you have something for him, just leave it here and I'll give it to him for you.” The family member said, “I don't know what he needs.” The guard said, “Then write him a letter and ask him what he needs.”
The family member then asked the guard if they could leave some money for Mr. Zhang. He said, “Yes, you can. Please come in.” So the family member pushed open the door and went in. They took out the money and the guard casually asked, “What case is he involved with?” The family member said, “Falun Gong.” He was surprised, raised his head and looked at the family member. He picked up the phone and said, “Somebody wants to see Zhang Shushen. Is there such a person?” The other party on the phone talked for quite a while. Then the guard said, “There is no such person. You must leave here now.” The family member said to him, “The court told me to come here and said I should beg you to let me see him. How come there is no such person?” He replied, “No such person. That's it. Hasn't he been sentenced?” The family member said, “Why was the family not notified if he has been sentenced? Where is he now?” The guard said, “I don't know.” The family member kept talking to him. The guard was a bit annoyed and said, “I don't know. Go and ask whoever arrested him.” The family member said, “The police department told me to ask the court, while the court told me to ask the detention center. But you told me to ask the police department.” The guard pushed the family member and said, “I can't explain it to you. Go and ask whoever you want to ask. Leave here. Leave here.”
Policewoman Li, in charge of Zhang Shushen's case in the State Security Division under the police department: +86-13785176886 (Cell)
Wei Chaohui, director of State Security Division: 86-13930125316 (Cell)
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