(Minghui.org) Seven renowned lawyers in Mainland China were arrested on May 13th, 2013, for investigating the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners at the E'erhu Brainwashing Centre in Ziyang City, Sichuan Province.
Mr Jiang and six other lawyers arrived at the brainwashing centre at 10 a.m. on May 13th, 2013. When they were waiting for the gate to open, a black car without licence plates approached them. Two people jumped out of the car claiming that cameras were not allowed in the brainwashing centre. They rushed towards the lawyers, grabbed their mobile phones and called 6-10 Office agents.
The arrested lawyers included Jiang Tianyong, Tang Jitian, Liang Xiaojun, Lin Qilei, Guo Haiyue, Zhang Keke, and Tang Tianhao. When lawyers Li Heping, Wang Cheng, Yang Huiwen, and Wen Haibo went to help them, they were also arrested. All eleven lawyers have been released, but not before some of them were beaten.
Although named a “Law Education Centre,” E'erhu Brainwashing Centre is a vicious place where local 6-10 Office agents persecute practitioners. Practitioners are often arrested and directly sent and detained there for up to six years. Some have even died as a result of torture. About 260 practitioners were detained there over the Chinese New Year in 2013.
Police attacked and beat the seven lawyers. Mr Tang Tianhao was beaten the most severely, with bleeding injuries on his head. Mr Jiang Tianyong's leg was injured. Afterward the police took the seven attorneys to the Yingjie Town Police Station in the Yanjiang District of Ziyang City.
After hearing about this police brutality, lawyers Li Heping, Wang Cheng, Yang Huiwen, and Wen Haibo went to help. Six plainclothes police agents followed them and arrested them in the afternoon.
Wang Cheng, Yang Huiwen, and Wen Haibo were released at 2 a.m. on May 14th. The police still held Li Heping, claiming that he had spread “non-factual information” and his case required further investigation. The police threatened to take legal proceedings against him, but did not disclose what actions. These eight lawyers were detained separately and then released at 11 a.m. on May 14th.
It was reported that Sichuan Province officials ordered the Ziyang City Lawyers' Association to accompany these eleven lawyers to Chengdu City and force them to leave Sichuan Province.
Practitioners tortured to death at E'erhu Brainwashing Centre
E'erhu Brainwashing Centre is located in the Yanjiang District. It appears to be a holiday resort, but is in fact a vicious facility. According to information on the Minghui.org website, at least three practitioners have died as a result of torture at E'erhu Brainwashing Centre.
Mr Wu Yihua, 48 years old, was a medical doctor. Agents from Ziyang 6-10 Office and Domestic Security Division took him to E'erhu Brainwashing Centre on October 12th, 2010. Many torture methods were used against him, including physical abuse and deprivation of sleep for long periods of time. He was also pressured to give up his belief and to turn in other practitioners. Brainwashing centre head Xiao Hui added drugs to his food and drink that caused damage to his central nervous system and internal organs. This led to high blood pressure associated with kidney failure. Mr Wu died in pain on December 12th, 2011.
Mr Li Huabin, more than 70 years old, was a practitioner from Xinhe Town, Jianyang City, Sichuan Province. When Mr Li was informing people about the persecution in August 2011, someone reported him to the police. Agents from the Pingwu Town Police Station, State Security Bureau, and 6-10 Office arrested him and sent him to the E'erhu Brainwashing Centre. After returning home from the brainwashing centre in late December 2011, Mr Li fell into a coma within one month. Medical rescue failed and he died on the afternoon of January 12th, 2012. It is believed that he was given poisonous drugs in the E'erhu Brainwashing Centre which led to his death.
Ms Zhao Yuxia, 52 years old, was a former employee at the Ziyang 431 Plant. Ziyang 6-10 Office agents arrested her on May 9th, 2006, and took her to the E'erhu Brainwashing Centre. One month later when she returned home, Ms Zhao's physical health quickly deteriorated. Her entire body was swollen, symptoms of poisoning were apparent in her liver and kidneys. Ms Zhao died on May 1st, 2007.
