On January 27, Mr. Zhang Lin and Mr. Wang Tingjin traveled to Beijing to attend Mr. Zhao Ziyang’s farewell service. However, authorities refused them entry, and they were forced to return to Bangfu, Anhui Province, where at noon on January 29th they were subsequently arrested by the Bangfu National Security. Wang was released the same day at 5 pm; however Zhang was detained. Zhang Lin has a history of wrongful imprisonment due to his involvement in democratic movements since his student years.

Epoch Times reporter, Xin Fei, spoke on January 29 with both Zhang Lin’s wife, Ms. Fang Cao, and Wang Tingjin.

Fang Cao: Police Informed Me of Zhang Lin’s Arrest

Fang Cao told the reporter that the police had notified her of Zhang’s arrest by phone and had told her to bring over comforters, his spare clothes, and 200 yuan (about US$24) cash. The police said they planned to detain Zhang for 15 days, depending on his level of cooperation. If he was cooperative, then it would be 15 days. Fang said she hadn’t received any formal written notice.

Fang said that Zhang Lin and Wang Tingjin came back from Beijing on the 29th and at 11 am she went to the train station to pick them up. When she saw the people from National Security, she grabbed Zhang and said, “Let’s hurry home, they are here.” Zhang said, “We are fine.” The people from the National Security caught up and said, “You two are back, come with us.” Zhang and Wang were then escorted away.

Fang Cao said that on the 27th when Zhang Lin went to Beijing, the police had come and knocked on her door. They said nothing, but the moment she opened the door, they searched the house thoroughly. “It was scary”, she said.

Wang Tingjin: Denied Right to Mourn Zhao in Beijing and Arrested on Return to Anhui

Wang Tingjin told the reporter that he and Zhang Lin took the train to Beijing on Thursday. They arrived there on Friday and went directly to the funeral committee to register their attendance at Zhao Ziyang’s farewell service. People at the funeral committee told them that they had to go through the family committee, turning them down. They couldn’t get in touch with other friends and Zhao’s family, so they returned to Bangfu in Anhui.

At the train station in Bangfu, the political security division took them to the police station and asked them what had happened in Beijing. Upon their reply the police released Wang at 5 pm. Currently Zhang Lin is under administrative detention which could be as much as 15 days. The police said that if Zhang cooperates with them, it’s likely he will be released. Police also informed them that during ‘sensitive periods’, all their travels must be approved by the police.

Wang Tingjin asserts that there is no freedom in China. When they were in Beijing, they heard that there were many police standing in front of the houses of all the democratic movement activists. They haven’t heard from Li Guotao and Dai Xuewu for a long time, and hold fears for them. They have also lost contact with Che Hongnian recently.

Zhang Lin Wrongfully Imprisoned for 8 Years

Zhang Lin is from Bangfu, Anhui province. He was born on June 2, 1963. Zhang attended the Qinghua University in September, 1979, and participated in many democratic movements at school. He was head of the History and Geography Club at the Qinghua University. In 1986 he quit this job and participated full time in democratic movements in the Anhui, Hainan, and Yunnan areas. He tried many times to go back to China and was arrested many times.

In June 1989, Zhang Lin was sentenced to 2 years in prison for organizing democratic movements in the northern Anhui areas where he gave many speeches. In May 1994, Zhang took part in organizing the “workers’ rights safeguarding union” and other democratic movements, and as a consequence was sent to Anhui for three years in a forced labor camp.