(Clearwisdom.net) Ms. Sun Fuqin, a Falun Gong practitioner and schoolteacher from Chicheng County, Hebei Province, was arrested on July 2, 2011. She has been incarcerated in Zhangjiakou Detention Center to this day. She was tried on September 8 and 13, 2011.
Ms. Sun Fuqin is a teacher at No. 3 Elementary School in Chicheng County, Hebei Province. She has been a teacher for nearly 30 years and received much praise from the school, parents and her students.
On October 14, 2010, Ms. Sun and her family had just finished dinner at home when a group of police officers led by Mr. Zhang Yongxin, Captain of the Domestic Security Team of the Chicheng County Police Department, arrived at her home and claimed to be checking if they had been gambling. They were in plainclothes and did not show their police ID. Policewoman Zhang Yan and a male police officer ransacked her home and took photos.
Officer Zhang told Ms. Sun, “We had to come after we received a report.” Ms. Sun demanded, “Which law have I violated by practicing Falun Gong?” Zhang replied, “I am the law.” The police confiscated some of her belongings. After Ms. Sun managed to escape from the scene, the police officers detained her husband and son instead. They were not released until the next day.
At around 11 a.m. on July 2, 2011, Ms. Sun had reached her building when police officers, who had been watching the perimeter, arrested her and took her to the police department. She was transferred to Zhangjiakou Detention Center where she has been held since.
She was tried in the No. 1 Courtroom at Qiaodong District Courthouse in Zhangjiakou City by the Chicheng County Court at 9 a.m. on September 8, 2011. Her family was not notified of the trial date or time. It was not until one day before the trial that they were notified by the attorney. Ms. Sun’s husband, son, mother, and other relatives and friends were stopped by the bailiff from attending the trial.
Her husband demanded, “I am her husband. Why can I not enter the courtroom? It is a public trial. Why isn't it open to the public? Who made the law to prevent us from attending the trial?” The bailiff could not answer. He said, “I am following a notice from the Chicheng County Court.” Upon her husband’s insistence the bailiff went inside and asked for the judge’s permission. Finally only her husband, son, and mother were permitted to attend the trial.
There was no one else attending the trial, but two bailiffs were watching them. Ms. Sun had another bailiff watching her. She was not allowed to turn to look or talk to anyone else. When it was time for Ms. Sun to defend herself, the judge would not allow her to read her defense statement or mention the words “Falun Gong.” As soon as she said “Falun Gong”, the judge Ms. Li Xiumei would stop, reprimand, and threaten her, saying, “This is a courthouse, not a place for you to promote Falun Gong.”
Ms. Sun was tried for practicing Falun Gong. How could she defend herself if she was not allowed to even mention the words “Falun Gong”?
It was mid-summer when Ms. Sun was arrested. After a few months, when the weather turned chilly, her family tried repeatedly to deliver warmer clothes, but the detention center refused to take them. Ms. Sun was apparently trembling in the courtroom. She could hardly keep standing due to the chill and the constant warnings from the judge. Her mother was in tears. The trial did not follow any normal procedure according to her attorney. Before the trial ended, her mother removed her own coat and asked the bailiff to take it to Ms. Sun, but the bailiff refused.
During the trial, the Chicheng Domestic Security Team mentioned a witness named Xing Shujun. However, the address was later found to be false as the property had been sold several years ago. Later it was found that the man is just a driver for the Domestic Security Team. The attorney made a complaint because the witness should be disqualified according to the law.
On the afternoon of September 13, 2011, Chicheng County Court held another trial against Ms. Sun at the Qiaodong District Courthouse. They did not notify her family this time either. In fact, even the attorney was not notified until one hour before the trial. There was no audience. The second trial was held because the so-called evidence was not available at the first trial. The attorney pointed out that the time had expired to produce new evidence.
Ms. Sun stated at the second trial, “I have not violated any Chinese law by practicing Falun Gong. I ask to be released right away.” Actually the so-called evidence was materials containing important facts about Falun Gong, but the Chinese Constitution warrants the freedom of speech, press and religious belief. The second trial lasted for about half an hour.
Ms. Sun’s case is representative of the many cases of persecution taking place in China against people who practice Falun Gong. Since July 20, 1999, when the Chinese Communist regime began its suppression of Falun Gong, millions of Falun Gong practitioners have been subjected to the same injustice while their constitutional rights have been deprived in similar fashion.
References:
Constitution of the People's Republic of China
Article 35. Citizens of the People's Republic of China enjoy freedom of speech, of the press, of assembly, of association, of procession, and of demonstration.
Article 36. Citizens of the People's Republic of China enjoy freedom of religious belief. No state organ, public organization or individual may compel citizens to believe in, or not to believe in, any religion; nor may they discriminate against citizens who believe in, or do not believe in, any religion. The state protects normal religious activities. No one may make use of religion to engage in activities that disrupt public order, impair the health of citizens, or interfere with the educational system of the state. Religious bodies and religious affairs are not subject to any foreign domination. (http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/constitution/constitution.html)
