(Minghui.org) Two Luzhou City residents didn't know they were going to be tried until they were brought into a makeshift courtroom at the local Naxi Detention Center. Both were charged with “using a cult to undermine law enforcement,” a standard pretext used by the Chinese regime to frame Falun Gong practitioners.
Ms. Cheng Sigui and Ms. Zhao Zhaoquan, both in their 70s, expressed their shock and condemned the police threats and deception preceding the surprise trial on March 31.
Ms. Cheng was led to believe that the police were taking her to attend a community meeting, only to find herself in the courtroom. Ms. Zhao was deceived into going to a local government office, where she was illegally detained for a night before being taken to the detention center the next morning.
Both women argued that it is their constitutional right to practice Falun Gong, a spiritual discipline based on the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. They demanded acquittal. The judge adjourned the session after only 20 minutes.
It is unclear whether the two women are awaiting verdicts at home or in detention.
Brought into the Courtroom under Deception
The day before the trial, You Liang, head of Yudaiqiao Community, Longmatan District, Luzhou City, told Ms. Cheng Sigui, “Come to the community office tomorrow morning. Somebody from Jiangyang District is looking for you.” When she asked what this was for, You said, “You will find out once you are there.”
The following day, March 31 at 7:00 a.m., Qiao Jianhua, head of the Domestic Security Office in Jiangyang District, Lujiang City knocked on Ms. Cheng’s door and said, “Come with me. You'll be back soon.”
Ms. Cheng refused to go with him. Qiao said, “If you don’t go, policemen will be here to get you there!”
Ms. Cheng found the route to be far and kept asking where they were taking her. Qiao finally admitted that they were taking her to the court for a trial at the Naxi Detention Center.
Xiao and Yang, two agents from Dayiba Community, Longmatan District, Luzhou City went to Ms. Zhao Zhaoquan’s home at 7:00 p.m. on March 30, 2016. Xiao asked, “Do you still do the Falun Gong exercises? Do you want to do the exercises in our office and teach us?” When Ms. Zhao heard that they wanted to learn the exercises, she gathered some snacks to share, and went with them.
After they arrived at their office, they told Ms. Zhao, “You can sleep here and practice the exercises as you wish.” Then they locked her in the office and left her overnight.
The next morning at 6:30 a.m., police officers from the Jiangyang District Domestic Security Office took Ms. Zhao to the Naxi Detention Center.
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