(Minghui.org) Shuangyashan is a small town in the northeastern part of Heilongjiang Province, with a population of less than 400,000. Since the Chinese communist regime launched the persecution of Falun Gong in 1999, 19 Falun Gong practitioners have been confirmed to have been persecuted to death in Shuangyashan.

Recently, in preparing for the the upcoming 18th National People's Congress, the Political and Legal Affairs Committee and 610 Office in Shuangyashan devised a plan to detain as many Falun Gong practitioners as possible in brainwashing centers.

Over 10 Falun Gong practitioners in Shuangyashan have been illegally arrested to date in 2012. Their homes were ransacked and their personal belongings confiscated by the police. In fact, ransacking Falun Gong practitioners' homes has become a way for police personnel to acquire wealth.

Du Zhanyi, deputy team leader of the Public Security Bureau in Shuangyashan, said: "If they were not allowed to ransack homes, who would go to arrest Falun Gong practitioners? If there is no personal benefit, who would suppress Falun Gong?" In the past few years, Du personally confiscated practitioners' money to buy gas for his old car; he also confiscated all types of other personal belongings. Du's superiors selected him as an Advanced Worker, giving him a certificate to show off at home.

Below is a summary of some of the major cases against Falun Gong practitioners in Shuangyashan in 2012:

1. Ms. Sun Shuzhi Harassed and Arrested; Her Home Ransacked

Ms. Sun is in her 70s. She has been continually harassed by the authorities due to her belief in Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, the main principles of Falun Gong.

On May 10, she was arrested by agents from the Lixin Police Station when she distributed Shen Yun Performing Arts DVDs. She was sent to the Shuangyashan Detention Center the same evening. However, the detention center refused to accept her, so she was released after 11 p.m.

On the morning of July 4, officers from the Lixin Police Station enticed her to come to the police station in Shuangyashan to pick up her computer. When she came to the station, however, she was arrested again.

Cheng Jiayu, Qin Hao and other officers from the Lixin Police Station in Shuangyashan tried to forcefully open Ms. Sun Shuzhi's door on the morning of July 31, but failed. They then climbed over the wall to enter her home. Without any warrant, they confiscated photos, pictures, calendars and other personal belongings.

2. Ms Xu Qilan Arrested; Home Ransacked; Family Members Abused

Ms. Xu Qilan, 47, was arrested by Lixin Police Station agents on May 10 while she distributed Shen Yun Performing Arts DVDs. Her home was ransacked.

On May 14, her two daughters, accompanied by other family members and friends, went to the Lixin Police Station to visit her. Her elder daughter and the daughter's boyfriend were beaten by police. Policeman Dai Zhiyuan choked the daughter, and another group of policemen beat up her boyfriend. Later on, the daughter and her boyfriend were locked in a cell. The daughter was released the same evening, but her boyfriend was detained for 10 days. The daughter's aunt, in her 60s, was also pushed down to the floor twice and threatened with arrest; she was blackmailed for 10,000 yuan.

The police tried to forge evidence to sentence Ms. Xu, but the case was rejected due to lack of evidence. Nevertheless, Lixin Police Station chief Qu Zhifeng has refused to release Ms. Xu.

Ms. Xu is currently detained in the Shuangyashan Detention Center.

3. Ms. Du Xiuqin Detained at a Brainwashing Center

Ms. Du Xiuqin, 50, is a retired teacher from the kindergarten of Shuangyashan Mining Bureau. The first branch of the Social Insurance Bureau in Shuangyashan Mining District was her former employer, as well as the main culprit in arresting her.

A female social insurance worker and a male worker with a surname Liu knocked on her door on the morning of June 4. They convinced her to come outside, where she was arrested by several policemen called in by the Security Insurance Bureau. Ms. Du was detained in a local brainwashing center, and after a week, she was transferred to the Yichun Brainwashing Center.

Because Ms. Du Xiuqin refused to be brainwashed and give up her belief, she was not allowed to eat or sleep, and was tortured. Three people took turns trying to indoctrinate her with communist propaganda and forced her to watch videos denouncing Falun Gong. They tried to wear her down both mentally and physically. Every week, her former employer sent someone to monitor her and report her condition to the 610 Office and to the Social Insurance Bureau.

Ms. Du has been detained for over a month. When her family members went to ask for her release, they were told that she could not be released before the 18th National People's Congress.

4. Practitioners Liu Junying, Lu Jun and Wang Limin Arrested

On February 20, Liu Junying, Lu Jun and Wang Limin were arrested by officers from the Dongcheng Police Station in Baoqing County, Shuangyashan. At 11 a.m. the same day, those policemen ransacked Liu's home and confiscated many personal belongings. Three police cars came to her building.

Liu, Lu and Wang were detained in the Baoqing Detention Center. Wang was later released.

Liu was illegally sentenced by Baoqing Court. She underwent a physical examination at the People's Hospital in Shuangyashan on July 20 to be considered for medical parole.

5. Four Practitioners in Youyi County Arrested

Mr. Xu Jiacheng from Youyi County was arrested by officers from the Shuangyashan Police Station on March 19. At 10 p.m. the same day, Li Yafan and two other elderly practitioners, Ms. Li and Ms. Wu, from the Paper Plant were also arrested; they were detained for 15 days.

Mr. Xu was beaten, resulting in chest hydrocephalus. He is now in Hongxinglong Hospital and is being watched by police.