By a practitioner in Hebei Province, China

(Clearwisdom.net) In 2002, government officials from Hezhuang Township, Taocheng District, Hengshui City, Hebei Province visited the home of Falun Gong practitioner Ms. Liu Rongxin twice. On both occasions, they tried to use money to persuade Ms. Liu's family to slander Falun Gong's founder, Mr. Li Hongzhi, on television. Ms. Liu's family categorically refused their offers.

Falun Gong practitioner Ms. Liu Rongxin is a resident of Ma Village, Hezhuang Township, Taocheng District, Hengshui City, Hebei Province. She had previously suffered from inflammation of the gallbladder and liver problems. Although she sought treatments everywhere and spent a lot of money, her condition did not improve. After she started practicing Falun Dafa, Ms. Liu diligently cultivated her character and practiced the Falun Gong exercises. By conducting herself according to the principles of Falun Dafa, she got rid of her illnesses and became healthy again. Moreover, her moral standard also improved.

On July 20, 1999, out of jealousy, Jiang Zemin started the persecution of Falun Gong. On that day, Ms. Liu went to the provincial government to appeal for Falun Gong. On the evening of July 21, the police arrested Ms. Liu and sent her to Xinji Police Department, where she was illegally detained inside a garage. Hezhuang Township officials later took Ms. Liu back to her hometown.

On the evening of July 25, 1999, a group of police officers led by Li Jiquan from Hezhuang Police Station went to Ms. Liu's home. They asked her if she would keep practicing Falun Dafa. She answered yes and they left. Around eight o'clock the next morning, Li Jiquan and others went back to her home and took Ms. Liu to the police station. They illegally detained her for two days under the pretence of attending a "study session." On the afternoon of July 27, a local official notified Liu Rongxin's family that Ms. Liu would be released only if the family agreed to pay 2,000 yuan (1) for bail and 50 yuan for the study session. After this incident, the officials of Hezhuang Township went to Ms. Liu's home to harass her many times.

In December 1999, Liu Rongxin exercised her legal rights and went to Beijing to appeal for Falun Gong. She was arrested and brought back to Hengshui City. She was then detained for one month. According to regulations, detainees are required to pay 5 yuan per day for food expenses. The director of the detention center, Geng Zhanwu, however, charged Ms. Liu 20 yuan per day, so the total expense was 600 yuan. After Ms. Liu was taken back to her hometown. The town officials again notified her family to pay another 2,000 yuan in bail for her release.

One day in 2002, officer Li from Hezhuang Township went to Liu Rongxin's home and said, "The township government still has the 2,000 yuan bail money you paid. If you agree to slander Li Hongzhi (founder of Falun Dafa), and let some journalists take pictures and videos, we will return the money to you." Ms. Liu's family member was very angry upon hearing that; "I won't do it if you returned the 2,000 yuan; I wouldn't do it even if you give me 2,000 yuan extra."

Later, the Communist Party Secretary of Hezhuang Township, Zhao Shiyong, went to Ms. Liu's home and said, "How about we return your 2,000 yuan and add some more?" Ms. Liu's family member replied, "Don't mention the amount of money, I won't even do it for 20,000 yuan." Liu Rongxin also said, "Who taught you that cursing and slandering people is okay?!" Zhao had nothing to say and left.

In 2002, when the former president of China, Jiang Zemin, went to Hengshui City, the local officials put Ms. Liu and her family under surveillance. They also went to her home and harassed her, disrupting the family's life. Then Li Jiquan from the local police station led a group of riot police to Liu Rongxin's home and tried to intimate her family. After that, the local "610 Office" members went to Ms. Liu's home on many occasions to harass her.

(1) yuan - Chinese currency. 500 yuan is the average monthly income for an urban worker in China.

Posting date: 8/29/2004
Original article date: 8/29/2004
Category: Latest News from China
Translated on 8/17/2004
Chinese version available at http://www.minghui.org/mh/articles/2004/8/11/81533.html

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