(Clearwisdom.net) Prior to July 20, 1999, Falun Dafa practitioner Mr. Shang was head of Zhengding County. After July 20, because of his practice of Falun Gong, he was demoted and assigned the position of President of Zhengding County's Political Consulting Conference, a position without any real administrative and political powers. He did not resent this turn of events or have any regrets, and still persisted in Falun Dafa cultivation with a firm heart. Using his special position, though, he quietly validated the Fa and clarified the truth through many actions, which saved scores of people from believing the lies and rumors spread by Jiang Zemin's political group. His deeds shook and frightened the local evil forces. In the beginning of July this year, he was betrayed by an associate. Learning of this, Mr. Shang had to leave his hometown and became one of the many Dafa practitioners, who could not return to their homes. Mr. Shang continued to play his role as a Dafa particle in the Fa rectification process in other ways.

The fact that he was forced to leave his home had a strong impact on the citizens in Zhengding County and became a hot topic of discussion. Some people said, "Mr. Shang came out on top, had the use of a private car and had a high salary as well as power. What is amiss here?" They did not understand that he would rather give up his high status than give up practicing Falun Gong. Some people said, "It looks like Falun Gong is really good; otherwise, why else would he want to give up the private car, the high salary and his social status and practice Falun Gong instead?" Some people said, "The CCTV (Chinese Central Television) said Falun Gong deceives people. Then, how could a person who has been a County leader be easily deceived? I think it is the television station that is deceiving people." Someone else said, "I have a knack for watching television news -- I understand it from the opposite side. When they attack Falun Gong harder, it means that Falun Gong is stronger and Jiang Zemin's suppression is less successful. When the television news claim that over 90% Dafa practitioners are being 'reformed' (away from Falun Dafa), it would in fact mean that over 90% of the people were not reformed; when the television said how the Dafa practitioners did not look after their household and family members, it would mean that the police were arresting people all over the place, forcing people to leave their homes; when the television said the police and prisoners treated the Dafa practitioners 'like mothers treating their children,' it would in fact mean that the hoodlum villains treated good, ordinary people viciously, 'as cruel as wolves treat lambs.'" Some people said, "The founder of Falun Gong must really be great to have so many outstanding practitioners." Some people said, "Zhengding County's police are intolerable. They go after such good officials as Mr. Shang. They really cannot tell good from bad and righteous from evil."

The persecution of Dafa practitioners by the wicked people in Zhengding County has been escalating. From June 27th to the beginning of July this year alone, over 40 Dafa practitioners were arrested, beaten and tortured to get confession. We sincerely hope people with a righteous mind from all walks of life pay attention to this matter.

Zhengding County police station's telephone: +86-311 -- 8021717