Government's Harassment Since Wu's Release
As a Buddhist leader, Wu is regularly called upon to appear before large audiences, which the Chinese government absolutely forbids. Assemblies larger than 20 bring on harsh consequences to those in attendance, including interrogations, surveillance and other forms of monitoring, and threats of arrest.
April 20 – May 1, 2010 Beijing & Shanghai Visit - Police follow all the way
From April 20, 2010, to the beginning of May, Wu went to Beijing and Shanghai to see his friends and students whom he had not seen for eleven years. During his Shanghai trip, as he deplaned from the aircraft, Wu was met by Shanghai police. The next day the police from his hometown came as well. It is obvious that Wu is being watched and does not have freedom!
August 25, 2010 - Wu Arrested on His Birthday
On August 25, 2010, a 43rd birthday celebration was planned for Wu. Early on the day of the party, the top director of the Minister of the Public Security Bureau, approached Wu and requested the party be canceled. Although dismayed by the continuing harassment, reluctantly, Wu agreed. Wu did not want to be responsible for bringing trouble to any of his followers or students. However, just a few hours later, before the celebration was scheduled to begin, policeman stormed Wu’s home and took Wu into custody anyway. The arrest was without cause or justification. Wu was detained for 24 hours and then released.
During the months that followed, government officials turned their focus to punishing those who participated in planning the event. Although the celebration involved fewer than one hundred students, friends, and supporters, Chinese authorities reacted as though the event represented a threat to the nation’s security and subjected its organizers to increasingly unjust and harsh consequences, including: repeated interrogations by national security officials and local police; warrantless searches of their homes; round-the-clock monitoring, including video surveillance and telephone wiretaps; requests to neighbors and friends to watch for and report suspicious activities; and threats of consequences to family members should there be further involvement with endeavors controlled or directed by Wu.
May 9, 2011 - Wu Arrested & Beaten on Buddha’s Birthday Festival
On May 9, 2011, at 9 pm, eight police entered Wu’s home and seized Wu, his younger sister, and two other students. They searched every room and failed to present any warrant for the search. Handcuffed and not allowed to put on his shoes, Wu was taken by police for questioning.
Along the way, Luo Yu, Director of the Zhu-hai Quian-shan Police Station (ID No. 082846), beat him in the head with a mobile phone and yelled profanities at him. During the interrogation, which went until 10 am the following morning, police told him “We can do anything we want. We can arrest you at any time if we want and that is our right.” Wu was told that he would not be allowed to do anything, but that if he stays in his hometown, he will not be bothered. He was also warned not to participate in Buddhist ceremonies or to have his students visit him. Wu and his family were released the next day.
Subsequently, seven police raided the Biluxinhai Buddhism store, in which Wu has an interest. The store sells Buddha figures, reading materials, tapes, statues, bracelets, and related Buddhist materials. Police made two trips to the store seizing approximately 50,000 yuan (US$7,370) in merchandise, including more than 1,000 religious CDs and large Buddha statues. The police provided no warrant for the search or seizure of materials. Two employees and five students who were in the store were detained.
The merchandise has never been returned.
In response to such violations, Wu’s Chinese followers immediately posted an online petition as well as posting this news to different twitter and media outlets in China. They were demanding that Luo Yu be punished and the Zhu-hai Public Security Bureau apologize to Wu. Although the petition was online for only two days, it gathered over 2,000 signatures before the site was blocked by the Chinese government and forced to close down.
November, 2010 - Travel Agency Forced to Cancel Wu’s booking on Personal Trip
On November 4, 2011, Wu intended to take his family on a two-hour drive from his home. He had arranged a package tour with a local travel agency. At the last moment, he was informed by the travel agency that it had cancelled his tour because local police had contacted them and warned them not to provide services to him as a client.
Restrictions on Freedom of Expression - Blog, Website Blocked
On Jan 31, 2011, Wu’s Chinese blog was blocked.
On February 15, 2011, Huazang Center’s website at http://www.huazangcenter.com , which advocates Wu’s ideology was shut down even though it was legally approved by the relevant authority and allowed to launch. The relevant authority shut it down citing that the website was disseminating religious information.
Harassment, Arrest, Wu’s Chinese Followers Received
On at least a dozen occasions over the past two-and –a-half years, Wu’s students in four Chinese provinces have endured harassment, detention, and/or arrest by local police and security officials. For example, in March 22 2012, students in Wei-hai city (Shan-dong Province) were attempting to hold an online charity gathering, “Fasting for Charity and A Good Deed Per Day.” However, public security officials from Wei-hai city told the students “having an online gathering is okay, doing charity work is okay, but because this Fasting for Charity and Doing a Good Deed per Day was promoted by Wu Zeheng, anything he said is not allowed.
Restrictions of Freedom of Movement - Difficulties on Applying for Passport
On July 12, 2010, Wu went to Hui-lai County Public Security Bureau in Jie-yang City of Guangzhou Province to apply for an ordinary passport and visa to Hong Kong/ Macau. The scheduled pickup dates were July 27, 2010, for the passport and August 2, 2010, but he has not yet heard any news from them.
Around August 2010 Wu made an inquiry through the complaint phone number provided on the receipt that was given to him when he submitted his applications for the passport and visa. Wu was told that for “unknown reasons” his applications had not yet been approved, but that they would reply to him within 15 days according to China Passport Law. He still has not heard from them.
Wu made a complaint through the website of Bureau of Entry-Exit Administration of Guangdong Province, also indicated on the receipts. He explained his situation in detail and left a phone number and e-mail address. But he has heard nothing so far from them either.
On December 12, 2010, he sent an express delivery ‘letter of inquiry’ to the relevant authorities (the Division of Supervisors of the Bureau), but they have not yet responded.
On March 9, 2011, he went in person to the Bureau of Entry-Exit Administration of Guangdong Province to complain that he had not received a reply after having applied for his passport eight months earlier, but there has still been no clear answer.
On Sep 7, 2012, Wu went to Jie-yang Public Security Bureau again to apply for a new passport. His application was refused based on the fact that he had already applied for a passport, which was still being processed, and therefore could not apply again. According to information on the passport pick-up receipt given to Wu in July 2012, and according to passport law, he should either receive his passport or a written reply within 15 days stating the reason for refusal. Neither has happened.
On Sep 10, 2012, Wu sent a letter to both the local and the province level security bureaus to begin legal proceedings to protect his basic rights for liberty.
For further information, please refer to process details in category of this web “Wu’s latest legal steps.”
November 8, 2012 - First day of Chinese Communist Party Meeting, visited by over twenty police officers
On November 8, 2012, earlier in the morning, over twenty policeman from ZhuhaI Qianshan police station went to Wu's house for an illegal search and arrested and held a student for half a day under "suspicion of possession of drugs", even though no drugs were ever produced in evidence.
December 6 & 7, 2012 - Visited by Zhuhai policemen for the excuse "Illegal Gatherings"
On December 6, 2012, Zhuhai local police, using the excuse of "illegal gatherings," entered Wu's Buddhist store without presenting any legal warrant. Not only did they check every visitor's ID, but they also parked their car in front of the store to discourage people from coming to the store.
From 9:00 to 11:00 am of December 7, 2012, the police again parked their car in such a way as to block the store's entrance, stating that they received this command from the top leaders. A store employee called 110 asking for help, but was refused. Now the store cannot operate its business. Wu and his followers posted this information on Chinese twitter, causing more and more public anger for such police violations.
The Wu Show continues to play on police monitors after 34 months.
