Nineteen Practitioners Held at a Brainwashing Centre in Laishui County, Hebei Province

Police officers from the National Security Team, Police Department and the 610 Office¹ in Laishui County, Hebei Province staged mass arrests of Falun Gong practitioners, ransacked their homes, sentenced them to prison and detained them before the Beijing Olympics. After they were held at the Laishui County Detention Centre, some practitioners were taken to the brainwashing centre at the target practice field which is located in Xinzhuangtou Village, Wangcun Township, Laishui County. The target practice field was supposed to be a training place for the militia, but it has become an important site where Laishui County Chinese Communist Party (CCP) officials torture Falun Gong practitioners.

Ms. Liu Guangrong, 62 years old, is a practitioner from Dongguan Village in Laishui Town. At about 10 a.m. on July 20th, 2008, she was arrested by dozens of people from the Laishui Town Police Station and town government. Her home was also ransacked. Later Ms. Liu was held at Laishui County Detention Centre. She currently suffers torture in the brainwashing centre at the target practice field.

Ms. Liu Xiuhong is a practitioner from Caishichang in Xiguan, Laishui County. At about 4:00 p.m. on July 10th, 2008, five police officers broke into her home and attempted to arrest her by force. Ms. Liu refused. The police officers beat her and grabbed her by the hair. They failed to take her away because she suffered a heart attack, fell to the ground and lost consciousness. In the afternoon on July 14th, the police officers from the Chengguan Town Police Station took her from the hospital. She was held at the detention centre. Recently she was transferred to the brainwashing centre at the target practice field.

Ms. Wang Xiulan, 42 years old, from Huguozhuang Village, Loucun Township, Laishui County, began practising Falun Gong in 2007. At about 11 a.m. on August 2nd, 2008, she was arrested by eight police officers from the Laishui County Police Department and the Loucun Township Police Station. Her home was also ransacked. The police officers confiscated her Falun Gong books, a TV and some DVDs. Six police officers severely beat Ms. Wang Xiulan and forced her to reveal the source of her Falun Gong books and materials exposing the persecution of Falun Gong. In the County Detention Centre, the police attempted to force Ms. Wang to sign their interrogation notes, but when she refused, a group rushed over, slapped her face, and beat her with rubber batons and wooden clubs. They also beat her back with Coca-Cola bottles full of water. As a result of the beatings, her body was covered in bloody bruises. She was handcuffed, which caused her hands to swell. Food was withheld for 24 hours. She is now being held in the brainwashing centre at the target practice field.

Ms. Liu Hemin is a practitioner from Bancheng Village, Shiting Town, Laishui County. At 9 a.m. on July 11th, 2008, six people from the Shiting Town Police Station and the town government arrested Ms. Liu and detained her at the town hall. Later Ms. Liu was held at the County Detention Center. Although she suffered a recurrence of her heart disease, the 610 Office refused to release her. Recently she was transferred to the brainwashing centre at the target practice field.

On July 29th, CCP official Zhang Zhijun from Nanwazhai Village, Laishui County broke into practitioner Mr. Zhang Xiuqi's home. They attempted to arrest Mr. Zhang who was released from the labour camp less than two months prior to this. Because Mr. Zhang was not home, the police officers arrested his wife Ms. Song Yourong. Ms. Song is currently held in the brainwashing centre at the target practice field.

Mr. Liu Chengshun, 19 years old, is a practitioner from Beixinzhuang Village, Wangcun Township, Laishi County. He is working in Zhuozhou City. He was reported to the police when he spoke to others in his work unit about the persecution of Falun Gong. On July 11th, he was arrested by police officers from the Sunzhuang Police Station in Zhuozhou City and held at the Zhuozhou City Detention Centre. He is currently detained in the brainwashing centre at the target practice field.

Mr. Guo Fuyun is a practitioner from Wanggezhuang Village, Songgezhuang Township, Laishui County. He was arrested on August 8th, 2008. Currently he is being held in the brainwashing centre at the target practice field.

A total of 19 practitioners are currently held in the brainwashing centre at the target practice field including the above-mentioned practitioners and Mr. Niu Qingyun, Ms. Li Shuhong who was badly beaten by police officer Shi Jiangui from National Security Team, Ms. Cheng Yulan, Ms. Yang Baoxiang, Ms. Xin Shufen, Ms. Tan Huifang, Mr. Liu Hanyu, Mr. Zhu Changqi, Mr. Wang Hongshu, Mr. Zhang Shengxin, Ms. Xin Xiumin and Ms. Shi Shuzhen,

Officers involved in the persecution:

Head of Laishi County Detention Centre: Wang Aixiang
Wang Fucai, Head of Laishui County 610 Office: 86-453-4526973 (Home), 86-13932231936 (Mobile), 86-453-4532190 (Office)
Chen Shui, Chief of Laishui County Police Department: 86-453-4522052, 86-453-4523666 (Home), 86-13903369236 (Mobile),

Note

1. "The 610 office" is an agency specifically created to persecute Falun Gong, with absolute power over each level of administration in the Party and all other political and judiciary systems.

Chinese version available at http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2008/9/10/185644.html