In mid July 2011, four Falun Gong practitioners were illegally arrested by the Chinese authorities. Their names are Li Wenyu, Li Zerong, Tan Mei, and Zhou Bangqin. Currently, the whereabouts of Ms. Li Wenyu and Ms. Li Zerong are not known. Ms. Tan and Ms. Zhou have safely returned home.
1. The whereabouts of Ms. Li Wenyu and Ms. Li Zerong are unknown
On July 22, Ms. Li Wenyu and Ms. Li Zerong, residents of Chishui City of Guizhou Province, were arrested illegally while they were speaking to people about the persecution of Falun Gong. They were followed by plainclothes police officers after being reported by Huang Lihua. Even Wen Tao, who was just showing them around, was detained for 24 hours. All three of them had their houses ransacked. Ms. Li Wenyu and Ms. Li Zerong are currently detained at an unknown location.
In 2006, Ms. Li Wenyu and Ms. Li Zerong were persecuted in the Zhongba Forced Labor Camp of Guizhou Province.
2. Falun Gong practitioners Tan Mei and Zhou Bangqin persecuted again
In mid July, Falun Gong practitioners Ms. Tan Mei, Ms. Zhou Bangqin, Ms. Ming Fongti and Ms. Dai Wanying went to Wanglong Town to explain the facts about the persecution of Falun Gong to people. Local village official Ming Zuquan reported them and the four practitioners were taken into custody by the police. They were forced to have their fingerprints taken. Ms. Tan Mei resisted and was beaten up by the police. Ms. Tan and Ms. Zhou, however, were able to return home safely.
A week later, policemen Li Zhongming, Qianyong, Li Tao and Duan Tao, and some local officials forced their way into Ms. Tan and Ms. Zhou's home. They took away Falun Gong books and related materials from the two ladies and threatened to detain Ms. Zhou for 15 days.
Ms. Tan is Ms. Zhou's sister-in-law, and she has been beaten up for speaking up for Ms. Zhou.
In early 2009, several policemen also forced their way into the pair's home, ransacked the house and detained them for 24 hours.
Before practicing Falun Gong, Ms. Tan Mei was severely hunchbacked. Her condition improved dramatically after practicing the Falun Gong exercises. She is grateful towards the practice and often goes out voluntarily to inform people of the persecution of Falun Gong.
Ms. Zhou Bangqin is currently 35 years old. She had severe arthritis before practicing Falun Gong. Her hands and feet were badly deformed and she had to take medication long-term. She was unable to work and she suffered a lot of pain from the condition. After practicing Falun Gong in 2007, her health quickly improved. She was able to walk outside and perform household duties. She is currently illegally detained.
Ms. Zhou has a father over 80 years old and a daughter aged 5.
