Investigation on CCP Persecuting Falun Gong Practitioners in the Name of the Winter Universiade

The 24th Winter World University Games (The 24th Winter Universiade, or the “Game” in short below) took place from February 18 to 28, 2009 in Harbin City, Heilongjiang Province. [1] Based on information channeled out of China, under the guise of the “Game”, a large number of Falun Gong practitioners were arrested in some cities of Heilongjiang Province.

The security arrangement for the “Game” was on a par with the “Olympics Standard”. [2] And the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) exploited the Beijing Olympics security arrangement to persecute Falun Gong. [3] Between October and December of 2008, under the command of the Political and Judicial Committee of the CCP Heilongjiang Provincial Committee, a three-month-long “Strike Hard” campaign called “Operation Autumn Wind” was carried out in the province. The official in charge at the Heilongjiang Public Security Bureau claimed that “We must win this battle. It's not our short term, but long term goal. We must strike so hard that local criminals dare not to make any trouble for at least 3 years, and out of province criminals dare not to come to Heilongjiang to cause trouble.” [4] From December 2008 onwards, “Operation Autumn Wind” was expanded into two other Northeastern provinces and Inner Mongolia area, and merged with the consolidated operation of “Striking the fleer, Seizing the escapee, and Safeguarding the Winter Universiade”. [5]

In January 2009, vice-minister of Public Security Liu Jing (also the director of the CCP Central “610 Office”) came to Heilongjiang Province to conduct the Northeast China, Inner Mongolia and Xinjiang “Five Province Public Security Organizations Coordination Conference”, thus bringing the security arrangement of the Winter Universiade to the provinces surrounding Heilongjiang. [6] Furthermore, to safeguard the “Game”, Heilongjiang police even worked with the Russian Far East Bureau of Internal Affairs for international cooperation. [7] After six days of review and inspection, on February 17, 2009, one day before the opening of the “Game”, secretary of the Political and Judicial Committee of the CCP Central Committee Zhou Yongkang participated the “Northeastern Region Political and Judicial and Safeguarding Stability Work Conference” held in Shenyang and spoke at the conference. [8]

In Harbin City, one of the major competition sites of the “Game”, Nangang District head Ding Jian emphasized to strike "Falun Gong" harder, in his speech at the first meeting of the event leadership team. [9] Regarding the event safety, the Police Department of Wudalianchi (belongs to Heihe City) in Heilongjiang listed "10 preventions" goal, of which two targeted at Falun Gong. [10] In Qitaihe, one of the six cities that the “Game” torch passed through, Falun Gong practitioners were strictly monitored even in towns and streets. [11] In Qiqihaer, among "five major targets" of the event security concern, Falun Gong practitioners were listed at the top. (The other four types of people were: bank buyout personnel, veteran, lay-off worker, and forced-moving resident) [12] In the "Security Work Plan of Appealing Safety during Harbin Winter Universiade" of Bei'an (belongs to Heihe City), Heilongjiang, "sticking to the principle of initiating attack and striking at first appearance" was stated in dealing with Falun Gong issue. [13] Harbin custom also enhanced checking and blocking of "Falun Gong related publications". [14]

In Jiamusi City, one of the six cities that the “Game” torch passed through, from December 1 to 4, 2008, provincial event security supervising group arrived there for inspection. [15] Just before and during the “Game”, large scale arbitrary arrest of Falun Gong practitioners took place in that city. According to Falun Dafa's website minghui.ca, many practitioners were kidnapped including Fu Yu, Shen Guo, Wang Guizhen, Huang Weizhong, Luan Xiuyuan, Liu Xiaobin, Sun
Qinghe, Li Xiurong, Zhang Shuying, Zhou Furong, Zhao You, Tian Haitao, Zhang Peiqing, Zhang Guizhi, Song Yuzhi, Shan Yuqin, Yu Xiaoling, an so on. All of them were subject to persecution of various extent, some were tortured and some were beaten violently. [16]

Major responsible persons include:

Zhou Yongkang, secretary of the Political and Judiciary Committee of the CCP Central Committee

Liu Jing, vice-minister of Public Security, director of Central "610 Office"

Huang Jiansheng, standing committee member of the CCP Heilongjiang Provincial Committee, secretary of the Political and Judiciary Committee of the CCP Heilongjiang Provincial Committee

Sun Yongbo, vice-governor, secretary of the provincial Public Security Bureau's CCP Committee, director of police department

Guo Yan, provincial supervising group leader, deputy secretary of the Political and Judiciary Committee of the CCP Heilongjiang Provincial Committee

Teng Xiaoguang, provincial supervising group leader, deputy secretary-general of the Political and Judiciary Committee of the CCP Heilongjiang Provincial Committee

Jiang Zhifang, vice mayor of Jiamusi City, secretary of municipal police department CCP committee and director of police department, Winter Universiade security leadership group head of Jiamusi

Qu Zhenyuan, secretary of the Political and Judiciary Committee of the CCP Jiamusi Committee

Liu Yan, deputy secretary of the Political and Judiciary Committee of the CCP Jiamusi Committee, director of city "610 Office”.

For a long time, the CCP has exploited those international business, culture and sports events held in China into human rights violation opportunities, especially toward Falun Gong. The World Organization to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (WOIPFG) raises this issue with the international community, and reminds people attending the events not to forget those who suffer persecution because of those events. WOIPFG also warns those involved in persecuting Falun Gong during those events, that every act of yours has been recorded, and may eventually become evidence of your human rights violation crime. WOIPFG advises those participating in persecuting Falun Gong passively stop evildoing immediately from now on, collect and keep crime evidence of your supervisor, co-worker and subordinate, so as to ask for pardon and forgiveness from the victims.

Note: At present, the following abducted Falun Gong practitioners have been released and gone home: Zhang Peiqing, Zhang Guizhi, Song Yuzhi, Shan Yuqin, Yu Xiaoling, and so on.

References:

[1] The official website of “The 24th Winter World University Games”
http://en.harbin2009.org/ (Back)

[2] The Guangming Daily, February 25, 2009, “Winter Universiade : How Much You Know about the 'Olympics Standard'”: According to organization committee official of the Winter Universiade, the 2009 game security arrangement was conducted according to the “Olympics” standard. The mobilization scale and level of police force were unprecedented in Winter Universiade history. (Back)

[3] WOIPFG website, “An Investigative Report on the Persecution of Falun Gong by Chinese Communist Regime in the Name of Olympics” (Back)

[4] Xinhua Net, February 16, 2009, “All Security Details in Place, Heilongjiang Went All Out for the Gold of a Safe Winter Universiade”: From October to December of 2008, under the unified organization of the provincial Political and Judicial Committee, with the Public Security as the main arm, provincial wide political and judicial organizations launched the unprecedented “Operation Autumn Wind” to strike criminals. “This battle must be won. This is not a short term objective, but long term. We must strike so hard so that the local criminals would dare not to make trouble for at least 3 years, and out of province criminals will not dare to come to Heilongjiang to cause trouble.” Public Security Department official stated. (Back)

[5] Heilongjiang Public Security Net, January 12, 2009. “Four Swords to Safeguard ‘Winter Universiade’: The On the Spot Report of the Unified Operations to 'Strike the fleer, Seize the escapee, and Safeguard the 24th Winter Universiade' by the four provincial public security establishments in the Northeastern and Inner Mongolia Region” (Back)

[6] China Legal Publicity Web, February 15, 2009, “This ‘Gold of Safety’ is Under Our Belt for Sure”: Heilongjiang cracked down on criminals to secure a safe and peaceful environment for the Winter Universiade (Back)

[7] Heilongjiang Public Security Net, February 18, 2009, “Every Effort for a 'Safe Winter Universiade'”: At the same time, vice governor, party secretary and director of the provincial Public Security Department Sun Yongbo led attaché group to visit the Russian Far East Bureau of Internal Affairs, held joint talks with Russian police authorities, and received strong support from them, and obtained timely information on a group of criminal suspects. (Back)

[8] Xinhua Net, February 18, 2009: Zhou Yongkang emphasized in the Northeastern Region Political and Judicial and Safeguarding Stability Work Conference... (Back)

[9] Nangang Info Net, December 4, 2008, “Comrade Ding Jian's Speech at the First Leadership Team Meeting of Serving 'Winter Universiade' in the Whole District”: In the meantime, we should strike harder at "Falun Gong" and other illegal organizations, enhance interaction between departments, so as to ensure social stability during the game. (Back)

[10] Heilongjiang Economy Net, February 21, 2009, “Wudalianchi Police Department: Set '10 Preventions' Goal and Ensure 'Winter Universiade' safety”. (Back)

[11] Qitaihe News Net, December 23, 2008, "Taoshan District Ensures Safe, Stable and Clean Environment for Winter Universiade": Public security authorities enhance monitoring target groups, work units and positions, to ensure a complete and full coverage without omission. Specific personnel from each street and town should maintain safety well together, pay close attention to the movements of Falun Gong followers and some other illegal religious groups. (Back)

[12] Qiqihaer's Longsha District, February 27, 2009, "Jiang'an Street Security Status on Greeting Winter Universiade": Secretary Chen commended our focus on stability during the game while starting full construction of the street; our full construction work would also make security better, since they are complimentary and will benefit each other. The "five key types of people" to watch out (including Falun Gong followers, bank buyout personnel, veterans, lay-off workers and force-moving residents) was set complete and right. Our organization setup was tight, preparation was thorough, and plans were detailed and easy to operate. Our multi-dimensional protection would be effective because we adopted various means including joint security by police and posseman, informants, volunteers, public education and strict checkup and fixed monitoring positions, etc. (Back)

[13] Bei'an City Government Public Info Net, December 10, 2008, "Bei'an Security Plan for Appealing Safety During Winter Universiade in Harbin": Secondly, we should spare no effort on driving public security and protection work. Set a goal of "Safe Bei'an", increase prevention and striking power at oversea anti-forces' infiltration and damaging activities, and stick to the principle of initiating attacks and striking at first appearance, especially work hard to stop "Falun Gong" organization and other anti-forces from using opportunity to make troubles. (Back)

[14] Harbin Custom, January 4, 2009, "Harbin Custom Actively Monitors Prints and Video/Audio Products During the 'Winter Universiade'": Thirdly, We perform risk analysis and enhance examine. Borrowing successful experience from Olympics safety work, we implement 100% machine screening on mails into and out of China and select mails for check from targeted nations and areas, so that the harmful political publications from overseas, "independent Tibet" and "Falun Gong" related publications or promotion materials would not have chance to enter China. (Back)

[15] Jiamusi Daily New Net, December 5, 2008, "Winter Universiade Provincial Security Supervising Group Came to Jiamusi City for Inspection" (Back)

[16] Minghui website
http://www.clearwisdom.net/emh/articles/2009/3/11/105498.html
http://search.minghui.org/mh/articles/2009/2/23/195955.html
http://search.minghui.org/mh/articles/2009/2/20/195783.html
http://www.clearwisdom.net/emh/articles/2009/3/2/105243.html
http://www.clearwisdom.net/emh/articles/2009/3/9/105415.html (Back)

World Organization to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong

Tel：1-347-448-5790；Fax：1-347-402-1444；
Mailing Address：P.O. Box 84， New york, NY 10116
Website： http://upholdjustice.org/, http://zhuichaguoji.org/en