(Minghui.org) After hundreds of Sichuan Province village residents signed their names in early June calling for the release of two detained Falun Gong practitioners, officials threatened them with fines and deprivation of their children’s schooling. This not only failed to intimidate local residents, but instead fueled more support. One resident said, “We are not afraid of the threats. Helping innocent people is something we must do.”

This series of events began when practitioner Ms. Gu Zucui from Hongyan Town went to a nearby marketplace in Aoping Town to tell people about Falun Gong on January 6, 2014. Two local 610 Office agents, Yang Shaoqi and Liu Guangfu, illegally arrested her and took her to the Aoping Town Police Station.

Upon hearing of this incident, practitioner Mr. Bai Guiyin went to the police station to request Ms. Gu's release. Officers Hu Zhiqiang and Wu Taichang detained him as well and ransacked his home. They confiscated a computer, printer, Falun Gong books, and other personal belongings.

Mr. Bai’s wife, who was working in Chengdu City, heard about this and went to the police station. She asked Hu, “My husband used to have many illnesses and all of them disappeared after he practiced Falun Gong, and he is well liked by everyone. How can you mistreat an innocent person?”

“It’s not my decision,” said Hu, “Jiang Zemin gave us orders.” Mr. Bai’s young brother also came to request Mr. Bai’s release, and he was also denied.

Police officers in the Pengzhou Police Station attempted to send Mr. Bai to prison. “We will let him die there,” one officer said. The Procuratorate rejected the case due to insufficient evidence, but the police still detained him.

When a local resident launched a signature campaign in June 2014 calling to support Mr. Bai, many signed the petition. However, Aoping Town officials threatened them: Whoever signs the petition will have to pay a fine and their children’s schooling will be stopped.

Signatures from Aoping Town residents calling for the release of Ms. Gu Zucui and Mr. Bai Guiyin

Because of these threats, more people have become clear on the communist party’s brutality, and they decided to sign the petition to lend their support.

Mr. Bai and Ms. Gu are still being detained at the Pengzhou Detention Center.