Intensified Persecution in Tanghai County, Hebei Province, after More than 500 Citizens Sign Petition Demanding Release of Imprisoned Falun Gong Practitioner Mr. Zheng Xiangxing

(Minghui.org) After news of the 562 signatures from citizens in Tanghai County, Hebei Province demanding the release of Falun Gong practitioner Mr. Zheng Xiangxing spread, Li Fuguo, director of the Tanghai County Domestic Security Division and Police Department, hurried between police stations for several days, threatening and pressuring the villagers who signed the petition to write guarantee statements. Since neither the Tanghai County nor the Tangshan City 610 Office branches dared to persecute those who signed the petition, they began a new round of arrests of Falun Gong practitioners.

Li Fuguo arrested Mr. Zheng Xiangxing's wife, Ms. Sun Suyun, at 7:00 a.m. on June 13, 2012. The 610 Office of Tangshan City ordered the local Political and Legal Committee, 610 Office, and Domestic Security Division to launch a secret investigation regarding the 562 signatures and Ms. Sun's being interviewed by New Tang Dynasty Television, an overseas television station that reports widely on human rights issues in China. It is said that 610 Office staff from Tangshan City went to Tanghai County on July 3, 2012 to continue the persecution.

It's been said that Li Fuguo has set a quota for arresting practitioners. At 10:30 a.m. on July 4, Li Fuguo and Sun Jingsen from the Tanghai County Domestic Security Division, acting under orders from Qiu Zheng, head of the Tanghai County 610 Office, arrested Ms. Zheng Lanrong, the wife of Mr. Wu Qingmin, a drug store owner and neighbor of Zheng Xiangxing. Around 11:00 a.m., they told Mr. Wu to come to the police station and arrested him as well. The couple was detained together at the Tanghai County Detention Center that day. It was said that the main reason for their arrest was the 562 signatures. On July 17, Ms. Zheng Lanrong was sent to Shijiazhuang, the exact location and details not yet known. It has been reported that her husband Wu Qingmin will also be transferred in the next couple of days.

Qiu Zheng, head of the Tanghai County 610 Office, is the main person responsible for arresting Mr. Wu Qingmin and his wife. After the news of the 562 signatures spread, he personally directed the arrests of Falun Gong practitioners in Tanghai County.

In 2008, Li Kechun, deputy Party secretary of the Tanghai County Party Committee, was the head of the Tanghai County Political and Legal Committee. More than ten Falun Gong practitioners were arrested when he held that post. Four of the practitioners were sent to forced labor camps and five were illegally sentenced to prison terms, the longest term being five years. Some practitioners are still in Shijiazhuang Women's Prison. It is said that Li Kechun is one of the main people responsible for the persecution of Falun Going practitioners in Tanghai County.

Sun Zhidong, the current head of the Tanghai County Political and Legal Committee, has been actively persecuting Falun Gong practitioners since 2009.

Contact information:
Li Kechun, deputy Party secretary: [phone] (Office), [phone]
Sun Zhidong, head of the Political and Legal Committee: [phone] (Office), [phone]
Qiu Zheng, head of the 610 Office: [phone], [phone], [phone], [phone]
Li Fuguo, Team leader of the Tanghai County Domestic Security Division: [phone]
Sun Jingsen, deputy head of the Domestic Security Division: [phone]
Liu Jiaman, deputy head of the Tanghai County Police Department: [phone], [phone]