Anshan City Court Puts Practitioners on Trial, Arrests Dozens of Observers

(Minghui.org) At 9 a.m. on October 25, Tiedong District Court of Anshan City, Liaoning Province, illegally tried Falun Gong practitioners Sun Liqing, Ms. Liu Xuyan, Ms. Lu Qiuying, Jiao Guimei, and Liu Genxiu. Twenty minutes later, Anshan City Police Department officers arrested approximately 80 people who had gathered around the courthouse, including some passersby. Later, the police ransacked the homes of some of those they had arrested.

The five practitioners were arrested on the afternoon of July 13, 2012, in a joint effort by the Shannan, Shengli, and Shuguang police stations under the Anshan City Police Department. The officers ransacked Ms. Lu Qiuying's home at night, arrested her mother, and confiscated Ms. Lu's personal computer and Falun Gong books. Ms. Liu Xuyan's home was also ransacked, and her computer and printer were confiscated.

As the trial began, some of the practitioners' relatives and other practitioners went to the courthouse to observe the proceedings. However, when they were not allowed to enter the courthouse, many gathered in front of the building.

Several vehicles arrived at the courthouse, including two buses, a van, and a sedan. Over 100 police officers, some in uniforms and some in plainclothes, swarmed out of the vehicles and started arresting the practitioners and relatives who were awaiting the trial results. One of the relatives was beaten unconscious and fell to the ground. Another relative denounced the officers' gangster-like behavior. Some relatives said that they did not have any money or medical insurance, so the authorities should be responsible for the medical expenses for those who were injured by the beatings.

Several passersby said, “Basic human rights are non-existent. The police are outlaws.” Others cursed the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), “We should not have supported the CCP's red army in the beginning. Now they have become hooligans.”

According to one witness's report, the authorities arrested at least 80 people on the scene. They were taken to Changdian, Duilu, Gangcheng, and Jiefang police stations. The police searched the arrested practitioners and took their photos and fingerprints. They also ransacked the homes of the practitioners who gave their names. Practitioners' personal belongings and cash were confiscated.

After some verification, the majority of the arrested practitioners were released. Ms. Yong Fang was not released and is being detained in Anshan City First Detention Center. She is having serious health problems and has been taken to Anshan Police Hospital.

The arrests were a joint effort by Anshan City Politics and Legal Affairs Committee, the 610 Office, Police Department, and Domestic Security Team, which specifically targeted Falun Gong practitioners.

Tiedong District Police Branch of Anshan City Police Department
Telephone: [phone]

Duilu Police Station
Guo Jiangping, chief: [phone]

Shengli Police Station
Tian Gang, chief: [phone]

Yuanlin Police Station
Tu Lianshan, chief: [phone]

Shannan Police Station
Li Wenfu, chief: [phone]

Jiefang Police Station
Shi Xingren, chief: [phone]

Shuguang Police Station
Jia Yanjun, chief: [phone]