(Minghui.org) Four Falun Gong practitioners were illegally tried in Zhuozhou City Court in Hebei Province on July 31, 2014. Applause filled the courtroom as the case was thrown out after a six-hour trial, and the defense attorney demanded his clients' immediate release.
The four practitioners from Zhuozhou City are Mr. Dong Hanjie, a staff member at the Kuang Shan Mine Bureau, and originally from Ping Village in Baichigan Town; Ms. Gao Chunlian from Dashakan Village in Qingliang Temple area; Mr. Zhang Haiyang from Shiqiao Village in Baichigan Town; and Ms. Wang Yun from Xiaozhujai Village in Baichigan Town.
The court wanted to illegally sentence the practitioners to 3-7 years in prison, but the practitioners refused to admit to any wrongdoing and instead defended their innocence. The lawyer also advised the judge not to make a false judgment against such exemplary citizens. The hearing was then adjourned for further review, yet the four practitioners were still detained and remain so today.
A fifth practitioner, Ms. Lu Guifen from Xinzhuangtou Village in Wangcun Township, Laishui County, was tried on July 4, 2014, at the Laishui County Court. During the trial the judge was rendered speechless, unable to rebut the lawyer's defense, yet continued to detain Ms. Lu at the Baoding Detention Center.
The five practitioners from Zhuozhou City were arrested on February 25.
Father's Arrest Leaves Family Traumatized
A group of police officers pretended to be businessmen to coax Mr. Zhang into opening his door after 10 p.m. They forced him to the ground, searched his home, and confiscated his cell phone. Mr. Zhang's wife demanded that the cell phone be given back, and despite their promises to return it at the end of their investigation, she never received it.
Mr. Zhang's family reported trauma during the arrest; moreover, Mr. Zhang's child was struck with terror during the ordeal. Some reports suggest that he still struggles through random fits of traumatic stress since his father's arrest.
Hunger Strike to Protest Persecution
Officers from the Zhuozhou City Police Department and Domestic Security Division, including Yang Yugang, entered Mr. Wang's home through a window at 10:40 p.m. They searched his home, confiscated personal property, and arrested Mr. Wang. Mr. Wang protested the mistreatment by immediately going on a hunger strike. His two daughters hired an attorney to defend him in May.
Daughters Threatened
Mr. Wang's daughters and their lawyer were harassed the first time they tried to see him at the detention center.
A staff member found it hard to believe that the daughters and attorney showed up to see him. “You've got a lot of nerve!” he said, “You dare to represent a Falun Gong practitioner?” He then refused to let them see Mr. Wang.
The lawyer demanded to speak with the staff's superior, and they were permitted to meet with Mr. Wang after his supervisor arrived.
Yang Yugang tried to reassure Mr. Wang's daughters of the care that their father had received in detention. “It doesn't matter,” he said. “We've taken good care of him.”
But when they saw their father, he appeared to be emaciated and injured from the torture he endured.
Yang called Mr. Wang's daughters after their visit and threatened them: “Don't tell anyone about the condition of your father, especially other Falun Gong practitioners.” All they could do was cry. Finally they could hold up no longer under the constant questions from their family members, and they told them about their father's condition.
The lawyer contacted Yang the next day, and Yang told them that Mr. Wang was arrested because he opposed the Chinese Communist Party
Mr. Wang's daughters and their lawyer were then denied access to the Procuratorate office the second time they went there. The staff member there was rude and dismissive of the visitors until the lawyer explained the purpose of their visit.
“Yang Yugang has violated the law,” he said. “He handed this case over to your office, so I want to see your supervisor. I will not discuss this matter with you.”
The staff member's attitude changed, and he told them to leave their materials and that he would give them to his superiors.
The detention center contacted Mr. Wang's family in June with the intention to discuss his case with them. The daughters referred them to their lawyer, but the staff member replied, “We won't let your lawyer meet with your father.”
The daughters then informed the staff that they and the lawyer had in fact already met with Mr. Wang.
When the family met with the detention center staff, they were told that Mr. Wang would get at least three to seven years in prison. The detention center staff then demanded 30,000-50,000 yuan to keep him out of prison.
“You've searched our home three times and confiscated everything that we have,” the family replied. “We don't have any more money.”
Mr. Wang's Life Changed Through Falun Gong
Mr. Wang started practicing Falun Gong in 1998. He was convinced his rhinitis disappeared because he practiced Falun Gong, which improved his overall health as well.
He soon stopped practicing because he was too busy helping his family establish a chicken farm. His headaches returned suddenly in 2005 and a medical exam determined that he had high blood pressure. The doctor prescribed a regimen of medication and intravenous feeding, but his condition did not improve.
Mr. Wang thought of Falun Gong, and he began practicing again. His high blood pressure disappeared, and he was soon strong and healthy; he also no longer needed any medication.
He and his wife started taking care of one of his uncles, who had no one to look after him. Other family members were very touched, and this act also drew the admiration of their fellow villagers.
Many people close to Mr. Wang do not understand why he has been arrested three times, had his home searched, and had his property confiscated under the repeated persecution by the Chinese Communist Party.
Parties Involved in the Persecution:
Jin Yuhai (靳玉海), Section Chief of the Department of Investigation and Supervision: +86-15933029983(Cell)Zhao Jianjun (赵建军), prosecutor: +86-312-3909915, +86-13102994827(Cell)
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