Detention of Hong Kong Reporter's Family Members Captures the Attention of the United States Consulate

(Clearwisdom.net) Hong Kong resident Ms. Liang Xiaofeng is a United States citizen. She is a reporter for New Tang Dynasty Television under the air name of Liang Zhen. Her mother Ms. Yuan Yuju, 62 years old, and her elder brother, Mr. Liang Jinhui, 36 years old, were illegally arrested in Luzhou City, Sichuan Province. This situation has come to the attention of the U.S. Consulate in Hong Kong. Ms. Liang has asked for help from the U.S. consulate and briefed them on the situation.

Ms. Yuan Yuju and Mr. Liang Jinhui were detained on July 19 by the Chinese Communist authorities for practicing Falun Gong. The police also confiscated property valued at approximately 20,000 yuan. They are currently detained at the Luzhou Detention Center. The incident was first revealed in the July 21 issue of the Epoch Times in Hong Kong, and it captured the attention of the Hong Kong people. Some VIP's in Hong Kong such as, Szeto Wah, the president of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movement in China, and Legislator Leung Kwok Hung, joined in the press conference on July 27.

On August 9, the U.S. Consulate officials in Chengdu City, Sichuan Province sent out diplomatic correspondence to the authorities in Luzhou City to express their concern. They also made phone calls to follow-up. They first called the Police Department of Sichuan Province, but the latter refused to reveal any information, saying the people involved in the case are Chinese citizens and they are not obliged to provide any information to the U.S. Consulate. The U.S. Consulate again made many phone calls to the Luzhou City Police Department, but their calls went unanswered. They said they would use other ways to contact the authorities of Luzhou City.

As a result of the attention by the U.S. Consulate and other organizations, there has been some improvement. On August 10, the Naxi District State Security Police Squad of Luzhou City Police Department called Ms. Liang Xiaofeng's father and promised to return some of their confiscated property, such as his computer and a digital camera. He claimed these belongings on the morning of August 11. However, without any legal documents, the police requested the accounting books of his computer shop for further investigation.

On that day, 24 days after Liang Xiaofeng's mother and brother were detained, news finally came forth that her mother Yaun Yuju was okay.

Presently, Liang's father is not allowed to visit them. The Naxi District State Security Police Squad of Luzhou City Police Department is investigating the case and just changed their phone numbers, which they are not revealing.

At 9:30 a.m. on July 19, Ms. Yuan Yuju (62 years old) and her son Liang Jinhui (36 years old) were arrested at Yinghui Computer Shop, their family business in Anfu Town of Naxi District, Luzhou City, Sichuan Province. Three or four policemen searched the shop and their home, confiscating belongings worth nearly 20,000 yuan (approximately $2,600), including three computers. Ms. Yuan and her son are now illegally detained. They are detained in Luzhou City Detention Center and visits from family are not allowed. Left alone at home is Ms. Yuan's 70-year-old husband who has hypertension.

More than ten other Falun Gong practitioners were arrested on the same day. It was said that later on, more practitioners were arrested. No one has been released. The police sought to substantiate their fabricated charges by gathering evidence through pressure and torture. It is said that the Luzhou City Police Department directly gave the order for the arrest. The practitioners' work units did not receive any notice in advance. The people in charge of the case refused to reveal details for the sake of "state security."

The arrest was likely planned a long time ago, as the warrant was issued on July 15. According to Minghui (the Chinese version of Clearwisdom) website's report, at the end of May, 610 Office personnel in Sichuan Province had meetings in Luzhou City to prepare for another round of persecution against Falun Gong practitioners.

Lutianhua Group Inc. is the largest producer of urea (compound used to produce plastics, animal feed, and fertilizer) in China. Ms. Yuan Yuju's husband is one of the major founders of the company and an important figure. He is a well-known expert and professor in the local area. Yuan Yuju is a retired technician of the company. She is a very kind person. In 1995, she started practicing Falun Gong and benefited greatly. After the persecution of Falun Gong began on July 20, 1999, she didn't stop practicing and she often tells people how good Falun Gong is. The police searched her home many times and bugged her phone. She applied to visit her daughter in Hong Kong many times, but was refused.

Ms. Yuan Yuju's son, Liang Jinhui, had a high fever in 1994 and suffered brain damage from the medical treatment. He wanted to practice qigong, but his family didn't let him practice Falun Gong, as it is not recommended for mentally ill people. Still, he practiced on and off. After 2001, he appeared to have recovered, but still needed to take medicine regularly. Since he is knowledgeable about computers, the police see him as a major figure in the case and plan to sentence him to imprisonment.

The State Security Police Squad of Luzhou City Police Department in Sichuan Province
Address: Anfu Town, Naxi District, Luzhou City, Sichuan Province
Zip code: 646300
Telephone: You can call Naxi District Police Department 86-830-4292632 and ask for it.

The unit responsible for arresting Falun Gong practitioners
The Domestic Security and Protection Branch of Luzhou City Police Department, Sichuan Province
Address: 19 Jiangyang Road, Luzhou City, Sichuan Province
Zip Code: 646000
Telephone: 86-830-3199200 86-830-3199175
Captain: Hu Zeshu
Policemen: Ma Jinchuan, Chen Ge (who arrested Mr. Liang Jinhui), Luo Ning, Li Xinhua (who arrested Ms. Yuan Yuju)

Place of detention: Luzhou City Detention Center
Address: near Xinanfu Bridge on Dana Road of Anfu Town, Naxi District, Luzhou City, Sichuan Province
Zip Code: 646300
Telephone: 86-830-4270570, 86-830-4270572, 86-830-4270642

Police Department of Naxi District, Luzhou City
Telephone: 86-830-4292632
Chief Officer of the State Security Squad in Naxi District of Luzhou City: Huang Zhongjie

Luzhou City Police Department
Address:
19 Jiangyang Road, Luzhou City, Sichuan Province.
Zip Code, 646000

Telephone of the Commissioner and Party Secretary of Luzhou City Police Department: 86-830-3199006
Du Baoping, Deputy Commissioner (in charge of persecuting Falun Gong) 86-830-3199002
He Wenjun, Deputy Commissioner: 86-830-3199007
Ji Xiaomin, Deputy Commissioner: 86-830-3199008
Domestic Security and Protection Branch (persecuting Falun Gong) 86-830-3199200
Prison Management Branch: 86-830-3199156
Luzhou City Detention Center: 86-830-3111681

August 13, 2005

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