Location:
Haidian District Public Security Branch, Beijing

Perpetrators:
Police at Haidian District Public Security Branch, Beijing

Description:

On May 23, 2002 Yoko Kaneko, spouse of  Japanese citizen Atsushi Kaneko, together with two other Japanese Falun Gong practitioners traveled to Beijing to peacefully appeal Jiang Zemin's three-year campaign of defamation and persecution of Falun Gong practitioners.

In the afternoon of May 24, 2002, they went to Tiananmen Square and distributed Falun Gong materials to some tourists. They were followed by plainclothes police officers, got arrested immediately and taken to Haidian District Public Security Branch. For holding a Chinese passport, Ms. Yoko Kaneko has been detained ever since. It was disclosed that she went on hunger strike against her illegal detention.

Ms. Yoko Kaneko's husband sought help from the Japanese consulate and Japan government. However, she is still sentenced 18 months forced labor in China. The Chinese authorities have not informed her family where she was detained and how to contact her. Her family is very concerned her safety.  Her parents live in Helongjiang Province in China. They were disturbed by the frequent interrogations by police without being told what had happened to their daughter.

Ms. Yoko's family contact information:

Yoko's husband, Atsushi Kaneko: +81-0259-88-3074, Yoko's Parents in China: +86-467-2360-428,
Mayumi Abe (cousin, went to Beijing together): +86-90-6251-0319 Takehiko Kanai +86-90-27346706